Is there a travel off-season anymore?

It feels that there used to be a time for travel that was the off-season.  Years ago, the prices plummeted right after the end of August.  That was when summer ended, kids went back to school, and people figured out that they had to work to make a bonus for the year.

Now prices in September don’t drop.  Summer prices linger on almost to the end of October now.  For long-time travelers, something doesn’t feel right about it.  It could be that everyone else started traveling on the edges of the off-season.  Hotels and airlines figured they might as well keep prices up with demand.

Travel has become more equalized.  More people can travel for cheaper.  There are so many websites, apps, and ways to find the cheapest price on flights and hotels. It’s no wonder that more folks are out. We have more information at our fingertips than we could ever dream of decades ago. More people traveling is good.  Travel opens up the world so folks might see things in new ways. I can’t fault them for wanting to roam.

Some of this surge in travel might be a leftover of the past few years.  People had more open work schedules, remote work, and such, giving them much time to travel.  But up until mid-2022, there were still enough pandemic restrictions in place to slow people’s roll.

All that is off now, and we have seen some real cases of revenge travel, along with all the mistakes the travel industry has been making as they attempt to keep up with demand.

But it feels that some of that demand is bleeding off.  Return-to-office mandates from bosses, increased credit costs, and life in general are starting to creep back into travel decisions.  Hopefully, we will see a leveling off soon.

Even with that, there might not be much of an off-season anymore.  Maybe only for those that don’t mind loosey weather.  There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.

It’s getting to be that the only time to fly in the dead of winter.  But not to a sunny place, and certainly not around the winter holidays.  It might be the best time to go if you can bear it.  Just be ready for a lot of museum days.

Even the road trip is not immune from this.  For me, summer has become nearly a no-travel zone.  Getting up early to get to my local trails is bad enough.  I don’t want to do the same thing on vacation. Driving to and trying to get into national parks and open spaces has been an even worse experience than staying in a large urban area.

But there might be some things that can improve your not-so-off-season travels.

• Be flexible with your travel dates. Avoid traveling during the peak season (school holidays and summer months) if you can.
• Consider traveling to less popular destinations. You’ll find fewer crowds and lower prices. Places that tend to be colder are the most common option.
• Book your accommodations in advance. This is especially important if you’re traveling to a popular destination during the off-season. Some places close in the off-season.
• Check out what attractions to do are an option. Think seasonal.  Kayaking in October might be out, but renting a sled in Oslo in February might be in.
• Be prepared for all types of weather. The weather can be unpredictable during the off-season, so being prepared for anything is important. Layers, my friend, layers.
• Pack light. You’ll be doing more walking and exploring, so it’s important to pack light so you’re not carrying around a heavy suitcase.

Exploring in the off-season is the best way to travel.  You get a lot of the sites more to yourself. (I rarely have the luck to have it alone, but it happens!) Brave the weather and get out there.