Best Times Of The Year To Travel
There’s a vast world to explore, so you can always find a great place to go on vacation. The key is to know where to head during different times of the year so that you can get the best travel bargains. These times are called shoulder seasons.
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You run a little higher risk of the weather not being quite as pretty as during peak travel seasons, but you will save a lot of money. Of course, that means you can go on your next adventure sooner.
Worse Time to Travel
If you are going on a travel adventure, consider avoiding times when everyone else will be traveling. This includes North American winter holidays and during July. Since children are out of school during this period, families are looking to get away from their regular routines. Hospitality businesses know this, and they will raise prices. Of course, if this is the only time you can go, save up a little more money and go anyway because you cannot put a price tag on the memories you will be making.
If you are bound for international destinations, there are some dates you may want to try to avoid. If Southeast Asia is on your itinerary, try avoiding Spring Festival. If your plans include a Muslim-based country, like most of the Middle East, attempt to avoid traveling during Ramadan as you may find many businesses closed. Keep in mind that while North Americans are engaged in winter holiday plans, those in the Southern Hemisphere are in the middle of enjoying their summer vacations.
Even with those restrictions in mind, there are still many beautiful places to explore.
January
January is the perfect time to explore North Africa destinations. Consider:
- Exploring the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt
- Shopping on the narrow streets of Marrakesh, Morocco
- Relaxing in the coastal city of Tunis, Tunisia
- Scuba diving at Ras Mohammed National Park in the Red Sea
- Going on a camel safari near Merzouga, Morocco
February
February is the perfect time of year to visit Nordic and Baltic countries. You are likely to escape the crowds heading to the Swiss Alps from Germany because of school vacations, and there are plenty of wonderful winter activities to do in this section of the world. Consider:
- Taking a canal ride in Amsterdam
- Driving a dog sled team in Rovaniemi, Finland
- Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland
- Going on a Baltic cruise
March
If you have always dreamed of seeing the top sights in South Africa, then March is the perfect shoulder season to go there. Consider:
- Playing on the white sand beaches on Benguerra Island, Mozambique
- Hiking on the sand dunes in Namibia
- Going horseback riding at Kruger National Park in South Africa
- Exploring Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls area in a canoe
April
April is a beautiful time for Middle East travel. The media tends to make you think that this whole region is a dangerous place to travel, but there are many perfectly safe places to explore that you will adore. Consider:
- Taking a stroll on the sandy beaches of Salalah, Oman
- Exploring history at the UNESCO World Heritage site Al Balad
- Surveying Jerusalem's religious sites
- Touring the architectural heritage of Petra, Jordan
- Swimming in the Dead Sea
May
May is the perfect month for a Central European vacation. Think about basing your travel in Switzerland and exploring it and the five adjacent countries. Consider:
- Climbing the Matterhorn near Zermatt, Switzerland
- Appreciating the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris
- Shopping for cuckoo clocks in Germany’s Black Forest
- Watching the Lipizzan horses perform at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria
- Smelling the heritage roses at Gutenberg Castle in Liechtenstein
- Going on a wine tour in Italy
June
The start of summer can be a hard time to find real travel bargains, but you can find some in Central America. Consider:
- Kayaking in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez
- Snorkeling in Belize’s barrier reef
- Ziplining in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Cruising through the Panama Canal
- Participating in a chocolate-making class in Antigua Guatemala
July
Like June, it can be challenging to find real travel bargains in July. There are definitely July travel bargains to be enjoyed in Southeast Asia. Consider:
- Seeing the elephants at Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park
- Swimming with whale sharks at Donsol Bay, Philippines
- Going museum hopping in Kuala Lumpur, Maylasia
- Cycling in Luang Namitha, Laos
- Surfing in Lombok, Indonesia
August
Especially as many people’s attention turns back to school, you can find some real travel bargains in the United States. Consider:
- Golfing in Arizona where there are over 200 golf courses in the Phoenix metro area.
- Exploring San Diego’s Balboa Park where there are over 17 museums and cultural institutions.
- Thrifting at Highway 127 Yard Sale, which winds its way from Addison, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama in early August.
- Motorcycling at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
- Watching the Little League World Series
September
September is a great time to explore Northern Eurasia. There are many outstanding places to travel to in this area that is anchored by Russia. Consider:
- Riding the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok
- Seeing snow leopards at Ile-Alatau National Park in Kazakhstan
- Learning ancient fishing techniques at Ventspils, Latvia
- Soaking in an underground hot spring lake at Bakherden, Turkmenistan
- Riding the mountain cable car at Tbilisi’s Old Town, Georgia
October
October is a gorgeous time to explore Mediterranean countries. This is especially true of the Southern European coastline, where many travel destinations are cheaper than they are doing any other time of year. Consider:
- Touring the Gothic Church of St. Francis in Évora, Portugal, where about 5,000 skeletons adorn the chapel’s walls and ceiling.
- Ghost hunting at the House of Seven Chimneys and Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, Spain.
- Hiking through the Tunnels of Gibraltar
- Sunbathing on the black volcanic beaches of Santorini, Greece
- Shopping on the Carré d'Or in Monte Carlo, Monaco
November
With summer crowds gone and hurricane season over, November is the perfect time for Eastern Caribbean travel. Consider:
- Snorkeling with stingrays at Stingray City, Antigua
- Dining on 17 Mile Beach near Codrington, Barbuda
- Seeing the Boiling Lake at Morne Trois Pitons National Park near Laudat, Dominica
- Taking a glass-bottom boat ride to the Underwater Sculpture Park near Molinere Bay, Grenada
- Climbing the Pitons in the Pitons Management Area on Saint Lucia
December
Forgo the expensive Winter Holiday presents that the children will only play with for a few minutes by gifting them with a trip to explore the India subcontinent in December. Consider:
- Sipping tea on a tea plantation near Sreemangal, Bangladesh
- Trekking through history at Paro, Bhutan
- Going on a wildlife viewing expedition at Chitwan National Park near Chitwan, Nepal
- Taking an early morning stroll through the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
You can learn a lot when you travel the world. Doing it during shoulder seasons allows you to save money to have even more great adventures. Start planning your shoulder-season trip today.
Author: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice regarding health or finances. It is not intended to endorse any individual or company. This article is AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should consult a qualified professional for personal advice.
