I am writing this blog as both a creative outlet for myself but also to educate others on how to travel more enjoyably. Brendan and I have discovered that traveling in the off-season has given us the most peace and relaxation while traveling and is a feeling we want to continue to replicate trip after trip. Off-season are the “shoulder season” months (March-May & September-November), or the time of year the majority of people do not travel. And the reason off-season is so great is because of just that, less people. Less people mean less tourists, empty beaches, cheaper flights and accommodations, open dinner reservations, and seeing a place in its natural state to name a few.

Traveling can be daunting, especially depending on where you are headed. For example, going to new countries where English is not the primary language alone can seem like a lot. But imagine stepping into that atmosphere and having that still be true, but you are not concurrently bombarded with thousands of obnoxious tourists complicating your travel. Imagine having the locals taking you under their wing and giving you their honest and personal recommendations because you are the only foreigner there. Imagine learning something about their culture you probably would have not otherwise discovered due to being there in off-season. We love traveling in the off-season for these exact reasons. And when traveling, relaxation has to be at the top of my priority list and this way of travel gives us just that!

The off-season can vary depending on what your destination is and when you are traveling there. This can be hiking in Yosemite in January, cliff jumping in a small Croatian town in July, or tasting Italian wine in October.  Even if you are traveling during a peak-season there are still ways to emulate the off-season feeling. When planning a trip, be mindful of researching the less touristy areas of your destination and get creative with where you want to stay. For example, you are traveling to Italy in June, instead of going to the hot spots like Rome or the Amalfi Coast, check out Piedmonte or Puglia instead. Any time of year can be your off-season, but you just have to know how to navigate it to get that true “having the place to yourself” feeling.