Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust
Slide Nr 1One little secret about the travel world: Even the most incredible destinations on the planet have what the pros call an “off season” or “low season”, which is basically the yin to the yang of a destination’s peak season. While any time of year has different factors to consider, off-season travel can’t be beat for stretching that travel budget in some pretty incredible places — you might be surprised by the possibilities.
0/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 2Swap Skis For Trekking Poles In The Alps — Spanning eight European countries, the majestic Alps have no shortage of world-class winter holiday destinations. But there are plenty of reasons to head to such charming Alpine resort towns as Verbier, Switzerland and St Anton, Austria, in the summer months and early autumn, too. A vast network of hiking trails in each region connects hundreds of kilometres of marked trails and rewards with some pretty spectacular views. Cheese lovers, take note: The Swiss village of Le Châble hosts a raclette and fondue festival every September. [Hiking in St Anton. Photo courtesy TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/Wolfgang Burger]
1/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 3The Off-Season Mystique Of Utah’s “Mighty 5” — Road trip season in the US aligns with the summer months when kids are out of school, which means you’re bound to run into queues and crowds at national parks as popular as Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion — aka Utah’s “Mighty 5”. While a road trip itinerary is still the best way to see these parklands, which are known for terrain awash in orange and red hues, an autumn or winter sojourn promises sunsets that are just as spectacular – and nary a soul in sight.
2/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 4Safari During The Green Season — One incredible fact about the natural world in Africa is that it’s constantly changing. During the green season, the landscapes of Eastern Africa are blanketed in green grasses and abundant flora, baby animals abound and nightly rates at any of Elewana Collection’s 16 properties across Kenya and Tanzania are at their lowest. As an example, rates for Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli — Kenya’s first eco-lodge — start at $234 per person, per night (full board included). [Photo courtesy Elewana Collection]
3/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 5Embrace Costa Rica’s Off Season — If finding blissful solitude on a palm-fringed tropical beach ranks high on your list of travel goals, then consider booking a holiday to Costa Rica during the country’s green season, May through mid-November. Popular coastal destinations including Quepos, the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, and even Costa Rica’s northwestern Guanacaste province are lush and verdant, thanks to the rain showers that typically roll through in the afternoon or evening (which means plenty of daytime sunshine, too). Make sure to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle, as some of the country’s more rugged roads are impassable otherwise.
4/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 6Soak In The Indian Summer In Portugal — While the summer months are the peak travel season here, Portugal benefits from relatively mild weather year-round, and autumn temps in Lisbon still have a summery feel, minus the crowds. You might even have the iconic palaces of Sintra — including the Palácio Nacional de Sintra and the Palácio de Pena — all to yourself. And you’ll have the keys to the castle, quite literally, when you check in for the night at Tivoli Palácio de Seteais Sintra, an 18th-century palace that’s now a 30-room boutique hotel. [Photo: Kačka a Ondra/Flickr]
5/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 7An Artful Off-Season Getaway To Beijing — While visitors flock to China’s sprawling capital year round, the height of summer (July-August) and the depths of winter (January-February) are considered the low season here, which is an ideal time to visit if you’re looking to explore some of Beijing’s cultural offerings at an easier pace. Highlights of an art-centric itinerary include such Chinese treasures as the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China, as well as the contemporary 798 Art District; art and design lovers will appreciate The Opposite House‘s artful vibe. [Photo courtesy The Opposite House]
6/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 8Do Winter, Icelandic Style — While May through September is considered peak season to visit this country of contrasts and otherworldly natural beauty, Iceland’s winter months have their own charms. In accordance with the old Norse calendar, Iceland marks the first day of winter in late October, ushering in the season of late-night aurora borealis quests and every excuse to don cosy, Icelandic wool apparel and sip hot chocolate by a fireplace. If you can, try to plan your free Icelandair Stopover to coincide with November’s Iceland Airwaves music festival, which takes over every venue (and pub) in Reykjavik.
7/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 9Plan A Comfort Food Foray To Toronto — One of the major perks of visiting Canada’s largest city during the cooler months? Every excuse to indulge in belly-warming comfort food, Canadian-style. The Made in Canada Food Tour with Culinary Adventure Co. covers all of the country’s greatest hits, from maple syrup and bacon to artisanal cheese and, of course, poutine, while Ku-Kum Kitchen celebrates the culinary heritage of Canada’s indigenous peoples. Soufi’s restaurant serves up comfort food of a different sort — Syrian favourites including cheesy knafeh and manaeesh flatbreads.
8/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 10Head To Luang Prabang In Rainy Season — A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers in northern Laos, Luang Prabang has long been something of a pilgrimage site, thanks to its many gilded Buddhist temples, known here as wats. While you can expect afternoon showers during the the rainy season from May to October, the sun shines the rest of the time – and a little rain means the jungle vegetation and rice paddies are lush and green. Relax and recharge at the AVANI+ Luang Prabang hotel, which opened last year. [Photo: laurentdav/Flickr]
9/11
Travel
11 Off-Season Travel Ideas To Stoke Your Wanderlust.
Slide Nr 11Book a DTLA Getaway In Los Angeles — While summer in the City of Angels means beach days and endless sunshine, a winter visit will have its fair share of sunny days and pleasant temperatures, too. But instead of beelining for the coast, set your GPS for Downtown Los Angeles, which has experienced a renaissance in recent years, as hip hotels, restaurants and new cultural offerings have moved in. The Freehand Hotel offers both traditional rooms and shared room options and has an über-cool vibe throughout; lunch at Otium before a visit to The Broad is a must for any itinerary.
10/11
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.