Why It is The Best Time To Travel During Off Season

Aruba in October. Death Valley in January. Italy in early May. These are just some of the destinations I have traveled to during the months that are considered “off season.” I’m not going to lie, my favorite time to visit a new city is during their off season, and it has become a trend with my travels. As a couple who wants to travel to as many places as possible, traveling during the off season allows my husband and me to do just that because of lower prices. But there are many more reasons to travel during the off season in addition to the prices! Let me tell you why…

What Does Off Season Mean?

First, let’s clarify what ‘off season’ means. Off season, also called low season, is the time of the year when a city or destination has less travelers visiting. Peak season is the time during the year when the city or destination is jam packed with tourists. For example, peak season in the Caribbean would be during the winter when everyone is trying to get away from the snow and cold. Off season would be fall when it is hurricane season and more likely to be rainy.

Perks of Traveling During Off Season

Traveling during the off season has so many benefits. First, there are more options for hotels, tours, and air because less people are visiting destinations during off season. There is the chance that the number of flights to a destination lower during off season, but I have never found that to be a problem.

Less travelers means less demand for hotels, tours and airfare, which results in lower prices! Hotels want to entice people to visit during off season and they do this by lowering their prices or adding in extras that you can’t get during peak travel season. 

Another benefit of traveling during off season is fewer people and less crowds. Imagine walking around the Cinque Terre during peak travel season verse off season. Off season sounds better to me. You are able to explore at your own pace and not worry about (literally) bumping into other people all the time. 

And finally, you can enjoy a better cultural experience when traveling during off season. When business is slow in a city because it is off season, the locals are also able to slow down and connect with travelers. It is a great time to connect with locals and truly learn the culture of a destination.

Research Each Travel Location’s Off Season

Traveling during the off season can be great in so many ways, but you also want to make sure you are doing research on the destination you want to go to. Rainy season, monsoon season, hurricane season and more can vary throughout the world.

For example:

• Costa Rica’s rainy season is May to November. The dry season with the best green colors is December and the foliage gets dryer and more brown up until May when the rains come back.
• Cabo’s hottest month where it’s almost unbearable to be outside (unless you’re in a pool) is September, which is also hurricane season. 
• Patgonia’s winter is during the United State’s summer, so unless you want a winter getaway in July, head to Patgonia in December.

Where to Head During Off Season

Here have been some of my favorite destinations to travel to during off season.

Fall

Crested Butte – September
For some reason, fall in Crested Butte is considered the off season. I understand. Winter is peak ski season and summer is great for hiking, biking, and more. But fall in Crested Butte is incredibly beautiful and it is my favorite time to visit!

Aruba – October 
Most people know that fall in the Caribbean means hurricane season. But what most people don’t know is that Aruba is so far south (just 15 miles from Venezuela) that it is considered outside of the hurricane belt. That means the odds of you experiencing bad weather in Aruba during hurricane season is very low. October brings low prices and smaller crowds to Aruba, making it my favorite island to visit in fall.

Belize – October
Even though it is technically Belize’s rainy season, October is a wonderful time to visit this country. When I visited in October, it only rained twice and it only lasted 10 minutes. That is the beauty of tropical rain. I liked visiting Belize in October because there was almost no one visiting. It gave me the chance to really talk to the locals. I also felt really good about supporting the locals and their economy during the slow season. Since tourism is a big moneymaker for Belize, during off season many locals have to get second, third or fourth jobs just to make do.

Winter

Death Valley – January 
I get it. Summer is when kids are out of school and families are traveling the country to check off National Parks. But Death Valley in summer sounds awful to me. Even for someone who loves the heat, being in a desert in summer does not sound enjoyable. But that is when it is peak season. I chose to head there in January. Off season meant very small crowds, perfect temperatures, and basically the park to ourselves! 

Disney – January
If there is any off season for Disney, my guess would be January. And by off season, I mean a slightly less busy season. The kids are just heading back to school, it’s one of the coolest months weather wise in Florida, and after the holidays, parents aren’t wanting to spend the money on a pricey vacation. Which is why I decided to go to Disney World in January! For me, it was perfect. Still busy, obviously, but seemed to be less crowded, not insanely hot like in the summer, more hotel options, and better prices on flights!

Spring

Pacific Northwest
If you head to the Pacific Northwest, expect a lot of rain. But, you could also get lucky! I went to Washington in April and Oregon in May and experienced very little rain. I was prepared with all my rain gear, though, so I would not have been disappointed! Smaller crowds and more affordable flight and accommodations made for two very fun vacations. 

Italy – April/May
Italy in late spring is perfect. It is warm enough to enjoy being outside but it’s not quite summer yet when the crowds and temperatures get unbearable. I found some great hotel deals, got the chance to get to know the locals because there weren’t as many people around, and was able to go at a slow pace and enjoy the locations I was in. 

Where have you loved or would love to travel to during off season? If you have questions about traveling during off season, send me an email at hello@thekeystotravel.com.