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“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” — Henry Miller
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read a page.” — St. Augustine
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Whether you call it journeying, tripping, vacationing, globetrotting, roaming, or wayfaring, I have always loved traveling to other places.
My parents loved traveling and the experiences that travel provide. As a child, I traveled extensively in the United States. By the time I was 18 years old, I had been to many of the continental states, the state of Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe.
The majority of this travel occurred during the summer months when my siblings and I were on summer vacation from school. The weather was usually hot, and because it was summer vacation time, there were always many other families traveling at the same time. This meant that everywhere you went was hot and crowded.
As a child, I didn’t consider this, or consider that there might be better travel times during the year. As I grew into adulthood and became a parent, this summer schedule continued. We traveled as a family when our children were on vacation.
Once our children left home and we were no longer constrained by their schedules, we started exploring other travel options. We began exploring other travel periods and realized that certain times of the year were more or less advantageous. We also realized that the cost of the same trip could vary greatly depending on the travel period.
If traveling when demand is highest, the trip cost is also highest. If traveling when demand is lower, the trip cost is less.
We also realized we enjoyed traveling when temperatures were more moderate, and travel sites were less crowded.
My wife and I recently returned from trips to Georgia, Tennessee, and Destin, Florida. In the past, we traveled to both of these areas during the summer months. This year we traveled in May.
What a difference!
The Smoky Mountains and the beaches of Florida are two of the most heavily traveled Summer destinations in the continental United States! Anyone who has visited either of these areas is aware of the crowds and heavy traffic. Traffic flows at a crawl, and it’s normal to have long wait times at restaurants and attractions. Because my wife and I traveled in May, ahead of the summer rush, we were not subjected to either heavy traffic or large crowds.
There were vacationers at both destinations, just not as many as during the heavy summer travel season. Traveling between different attractions was less of a problem. It was also nice to be seated without having to wait at most places we dined.
There are disadvantages to traveling in the shoulder and off-season, but traveling when others are not traveling is a good strategy.
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There are now names assigned to different travel seasons. Travel seasons describe the ebbs and flows of tourists at a given destination. The year is typically broken down into Peak Season (highest demand/cost), Shoulder Season (a balance of good weather and lower prices), and Off-Season (slowest period, but rock-bottom prices).
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Peak Travel Season (High Season)
- What it is: The busiest time of year to visit a destination, driven by ideal weather or major holidays (e.g., summer in Europe, winter in the Alps).
- The Good: All attractions, tours, and restaurants are open, and the destination is buzzing with energy.
- The Bad: Demand is at its maximum. One will pay premium prices for flights and hotels, along with long lines and heavy crowds.
During the early years of my working career, and when our children were in school, most of our travel occurred during peak season when our children were on vacation. Summer travel meant we paid more, traveled during the hottest times, and had increased crowding. Part of this decision was due to ignorance, but our decision to travel during peak season was primarily based on our children’s schedules. If you like heat, crowds, and paying more to get less service, then this is an ideal time to travel.
I want to spend more time speaking about shoulder season and off-season Travel since these are the times that make more sense for more seasoned travelers.
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Shoulder Travel Season
- What it is: The transitional period between the peak and off-seasons—usually in the spring and fall.
- The Good: Often considered the travel “sweet spot.” You get pleasant weather, lighter crowds, and significantly better prices than during the peak rush.
- The Bad: Weather can be unpredictable.
Examples:
- Spring or fall in many destinations
- Late April/May or September/October in beach and mountain areas
Pros Lower prices than peak season. Hotels, flights, and attractions are often discounted but still fully operating. Fewer crowds. Shorter lines, less traffic, easier reservations, and more relaxed sightseeing. Pleasant weather. Often the “sweet spot”. It’s not too hot, cold, or humid. Better service. Staff are less overwhelmed than during peak periods. More authentic feel. You experience destinations with more locals and fewer tourists.
Cons Less predictable weather. Can be beautiful—or rainy, chilly, or hot, depending on the destination. Some limited schedules. Attractions, ferries, tours, or restaurants may reduce hours. Seasonal transitions. Pools may close, landscaping may be less attractive, or beach water may be cooler.
Best for: Most travelers, especially if desiring a balance of value, comfort, and activity.
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Off-Season (Low Season)
- What it is: The quietest time of the year for a destination, typically during the least favorable weather (e.g., winter at the beach or monsoon season in parts of Asia).
- The Good: Rock-bottom prices on accommodations and flights. You’ll experience the destination without the crowds and can enjoy a more authentic, local feel.
- The Bad: Many seasonal businesses, hotels, and tours may close entirely, and you risk extreme or disruptive weather.
Because seasons depend heavily on the specific geography, climate, and local attractions, Travel seasons occur at different times of year in different locations.
Examples:
- Caribbean during hurricane season
- Mountain towns after ski season
- Europe in winter (outside holidays)
Pros Biggest savings. Flights, cruises, hotels, and rentals can be dramatically cheaper. Minimal crowds. You may feel like you have attractions almost to yourself. Upgrades and deals. Hotels and cruise lines may offer incentives or room upgrades. Slower pace. Less stress, easier parking, reservations, and sightseeing.
Cons Weather risks. Heat, storms, rain, cold, or hurricanes may be why it’s off-season. Closures and reduced availability. Some restaurants, tours, shops, and attractions may be closed entirely. Limited entertainment. Shows, excursions, or transportation schedules may be cut back. Less lively atmosphere. Some destinations can feel “shut down.”
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers, flexible travelers, or people who mainly want relaxation rather than a packed itinerary.
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Quick Rule of Thumb
- Shoulder season = best balance of weather, crowds, and price.
- Off-season = best value, but you accept more risk and fewer options.
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Final Thoughts
Recent travels have solidified our desire to travel during the shoulder season.
Is shoulder season ideal in all respects? No.
As with most things in life, you have to give up some things to get some things. We are willing to forego some services and attractions in return for the luxury of reduced crowds.
Our recent trips to Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida are examples of shoulder season travel. In Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, attractions and restaurants were operating on reduced schedules or closed on certain days. We definitely experienced fewer crowds and less traffic in both locations.
The weather for both of our trips was mostly ideal, being cool in the morning and warming up during the day. We did experience occasional rain, but we adjusted our schedule to accommodate the inclement weather.
Neither my wife nor I enjoys being in crowded situations. Shoulder season provides the optimal mix of activities in a less crowded environment.
Regardless of the season, travelers will be subject to the uncertainties associated with flights, weather, traffic, and schedules.
Scheduling travel during the shoulder season and off-season can minimize some travel uncertainties. These uncertainties are part of the agreement you make with yourself when you decide to take a trip. Understanding that snafus will probably occur reduces their psychological impact. Instead of asking “why me?”, ask “what does this make possible?”
A classic example of a “what does this make possible?” event occurred several years ago. My wife and I scheduled a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We decided to travel to the port on the day of the cruise. Our flight was very early in the day, and our cruise didn’t leave until 6 PM that evening. We felt we had plenty of time to travel and get to the ship. Our travel day plans were disrupted as our flight was delayed for several hours and then ultimately canceled. We realized we would not be able to make our cruise! I was aware that another ship following the same itinerary was leaving from Fort Lauderdale two days after our scheduled cruise departure.
When I realized that our cruise was in jeopardy, I called our travel agent to apprise her of the situation. I requested she check on cruise availability leaving two days later. All arrangements, including flights, had been scheduled by the travel agent through the cruise line.
Even though the cruise line was not responsible for the flight disruption, it had scheduled the flights. Our travel agent was able to secure a guaranteed booking on the cruise embarking two days later. Because of the inconvenience we encountered, the cruise line also offered a complimentary stateroom upgrade. While the travel agent was on the phone with the cruise line, I was on the phone with the airline. I was able to rebook flights for the cruise two days later without penalty. Since the Airline was at fault, the agent booked priority seating on our flights and a $400 voucher for both my wife and me. I booked our flight for the following day with an overnight stay in Fort Lauderdale. Once this was accomplished, our travel agent finalized cruise details and booked a hotel for us for the following evening. We left the airport and went back home. Our packed bags were placed by the front door, we spent an additional day at home, and left for our cruise the next day. Using a “what does this make possible” philosophy allowed us to reschedule our cruise and receive additional perks not available with our primary booking. All of this was possible because my wife and I were open to change and had a flexible schedule.
Readers and listeners should consider traveling during shoulder-season or off-season travel periods, especially if they can be flexible with travel dates.
My wife and I take advantage of our freedom to travel at off-peak times and have found that the advantages of off-peak travel outweigh the disadvantages.
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