7 Best Shoulder Season Destinations
If you don’t travel frequently, you might not be familiar with the term “Shoulder Season.” You should familiarize yourself with it because it’s one of the best travel tips!
Shoulder season is the period between two main seasonal times for a destination. Now let’s look into the best shoulder season destinations because there are countless benefits to considering traveling during this time.
A big bonus for traveling during shoulder season anywhere is significantly fewer tourists.
This also means those popular tourist attractions you’d like to visit and photograph are less crowded. Most importantly, hotels and flights are cheaper during shoulder season.
To ensure you save as much as possible on your flight to your chosen shoulder season destination, use SkyScanner to look for the cheapest flights.
What Is Shoulder Season?
Shoulder season is the travel period between peak season (or high season) and off-season (or low season).
Summer is the peak season, while Winter is off-season; spring or autumn are usually the shoulder seasons for most destinations worldwide.
But some countries vary. For example, in Thailand and Australia, the peak season is actually from November to April because that’s when summer is.
To encourage tourists to travel during shoulder season, hotels, airlines, and travel agencies tend to offer shoulder season deals for most destinations to encourage you to travel during this slower time of year.
The shoulder months for most regions include September, October, November, February, March, and April.
Portugal
One of my favorite countries is Portugal; visiting any time of the year is excellent. Of course, each season has its benefits and disadvantages.
Shoulder season for Portugal is April through May or September through October.
From September to October. It won’t be warm enough to visit beaches or anything. But it’s the perfect time to explore Portugal as a whole. The big cities, like Lisbon and Porto, will keep you busy with many things to do regardless of the season.
For those looking for a European destination, Portugal is at the top of the list regarding cheap European countries to visit; this is applicable for the overall year.
Prices are higher during the summer months in Portugal but are still more affordable than in other European countries.
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Lisboa (capital city)
- Porto
- Lagos
Croatia
Croatia is one of the most popular Summer European destinations. The country is also considered one of the cheaper countries in Europe to visit all year round. Croatia has stunning beaches and old towns with beautiful architecture and rich culture.
Shoulder season for Croatia is during the months of May and September.
One of the main reasons Croatia is more affordable to visit is that the country uses its own currency instead of the EURO currency despite being in the European Union.
Since it’s a popular Summer European destination for singles and families during the Summer, the price difference between the high and shoulder season time is quite different.
Most accommodations in the popular Croatian cities can be found for almost half price during shoulder season. Quite the difference when you’re looking to budget yourself for a trip!
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Zagreb
- Pula
- Dubrovnik
Italy
Who doesn’t want to go to Italy any time of the year? Italy is at the top of most travelers’ lists. The food, culture, history, and vast lands full of wine farms in the South.
There’s something to do in Italy all year round, making Italy one of the most popular destinations to visit all year round, no matter the season.
Italy is far from cheap, so going during shoulder season will save you on your trip there.
Shoulder season months in Italy are April, May, September, and October.
Italy is a popular country to visit during the high season: June, July, and August. The price difference for accommodations, flights, and everything in Italy between the shoulder and high seasons is significant.
An excellent example of this is Positano, Capri, and the entire Amalfi Coastline, which are considered some of the top European destinations for many to vacation during the Summer months. Go during the shoulder season to see Italy on a budget!
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Milano
- Rome
- Venice
- Florence
- Naples
- Positano
Greece
Visiting Greece and going island hopping should be at the top of your travel bucket list. Greece is beautiful; I’m sure you’ve seen the panoramic photos of Greece on Instagram and Pinterest, but they don’t do it justice. You need to see it in person.
The shoulder season for Greece is between April to June and September to October.
Greece is another country that is very popular among travelers during summer. Greece can be pretty expensive during this time, especially in trendy places like Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens.
Avoid high season unless you want to pay a premium to see Greece. If you’d still like to go to Greece during the summer, visit places like Milos and Crete, which are far more affordable.
Cities to Consider Visiting:
Indonesia
Famous for its nature, beaches, and a wide variety of cultures and religions, Indonesia is a place I highly recommend visiting.
Over the last few years, many nomads have made Bali and other places in Indonesia their home because of its nature and growing nomad community.
Shoulder season for Indonesia is between March to May and September to November.
Indonesia shares the same weather patterns as Australia. The Summer in Indonesia starts at the end of April and continues until October.
Known for its extensive tropical forests and pristine beaches, Indonesia is a famous country for tourists to visit all year round.
Indonesia is relatively cheap to visit all year round, but if you’re looking to go when there are significantly fewer tourists, go during the shoulder season months.
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Bali
- Jakarta
Iceland
Looking to go off-grid and see the mesmerizing views of mother nature? Go to Iceland.
In the last few years, Iceland has become a more popular country to visit. It may not be full of beaches and stunning islands like your typical vacation destination.
But the country is naturally rich and has stunning waterfalls, miles of colored completely green cliffs, and the famous Blue Lagoon hot spring.
Iceland doesn’t have much of a shoulder season, but the months of September through mid-October and mid-May tend to be the cheapest time to visit.
During this time, both accommodations and flights are the cheapest for visiting Iceland.
Iceland is considered one of the most beautiful and unique countries to visit. Iceland is so remote and not close to any countries, making visiting an extra fascination.
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Reykjavik
- Hafnarfjorour
- Akureyri
Mexico
One of my favorite countries to visit is Mexico; the food is to die for, the country is full of culture, and beaches are a go all year round.
Mexico is your best choice if you’re looking for a beach-like vacation during shoulder season.
The shoulder season for Mexico is May, June, September, and October.
The weather is warm all year round, so even if you decide to come during the off-season, it’s still hot enough for the beach! Here’s a list of the cheapest beach towns in Mexico to visit!
Despite May and June being popular times for vacations worldwide, May is when the rainy season starts in Mexico, and the weather is a bit rainier and humid until November. You can expect cheaper hotel prices and flights to Mexico.
Cities to Consider Visiting:
- Playa Del Carmen
- Mexico City (capital)
- Tulum
- Cozumel
Shoulder Season by Region
Different regions in the world have shoulder seasons at different times of the year. Here is a breakdown of when shoulder season is for popular parts worldwide to visit.
Shoulder Season for Europe
Europe has two shoulder seasons; the first is Spring, from mid-April through mid-June. Prices start to increase dramatically in late June due to the popularity of European summer holidays.
During the Fall, the second one is from September through mid-October. Summer holidays are over in Europe, so hotels/airlines see a significant drop in European travel these months.
Shoulder Season for Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, like Europe, also has two different times of the year, referred to as shoulder season. The first one is from mid-May through June.
At the same time, the monsoon season begins, which is the optimal time to visit Southeast Asia (Nov-May) for most destinations.
October is the second shoulder season when monsoon season is on the verge of ending. Though accommodations may be cheap then, it’s a gamble to come then weather-wise.
Shoulder Season for the Caribbean
The first shoulder season time in the year for the Caribbean is April, when the high season is coming to an end, and the off-season is approaching in May.
November is the second time for the Caribbean, hurricane season just ended, and the dry season is here. However, be careful not to book your holiday too close to the end of November. This is when prices increase due to holiday travel.
RELATED: 8 Cheapest Caribbean Islands to Visit
Shoulder Season for Canada & US
Shoulder seasons in Canada and the US are from March through May and September till mid-November. Weather will depend on your destination of choice.
Shoulder Season for Australia
Shoulder season in Australia is from March through May (late Summer into Fall) and September through October (the beginning of Spring). Australia shares a different weather pattern than most countries in the world.
5 Reasons Shoulder Season is the Best Time to Travel
1: Hotels are cheaper
Hotels are far less busy; hotel chains, VRBO, and Airbnb struggle with less demand. That’s why prices are lower during this time; they entice you to book their accommodations.
It’s all about supply-demand when it comes to the tourist industry. With far less demand for accommodations, they can’t just sit there and allow the place to be empty for too long. So they get aggressive with their pricing!
2: Popular Attractions are less crowded
If you’re visiting popular tourist attractions like the cenotes in Tulum, the islands of Greece, or big cities in Italy, you can expect a large crowd of tourists there during busy times.
But during shoulder seasons, tourist spots are far less busy, making it the perfect time to visit them!
For those who enjoy photography like myself, taking that perfect shot is possible during shoulder season because there are fewer tourists! I’m the type of person who will wait until I can take the perfect photograph.
3: Restaurants aren’t as busy
Whether you’re going to a popular restaurant or a restaurant with a cliffside view in Italy, during high season, restaurants tend to be busy in the high season.
That means waiting in line, making a reservation, or settling for a restaurant you didn’t plan to visit.
You don’t have to worry about this when visiting during shoulder season. Fewer tourists mean getting a table at your desired restaurant won’t be too hard!
4: Beaches and Tours calmer
Famous beaches like the Tulum main beach, Praia do Camilo in Lagos, Portugal, and Bondi Beach in Australia are very busy during the high season in any of these destinations.
During shoulder season, beaches are emptier, and excursions are far less crowded.
5: Planes/Airports are less crowded
Fewer people in the queue, quicker service, and the opportunity for a loud crying baby onboard is lower.
And if you’re fortunate, you will be more likely to get a whole row of seats! What’s better than an empty row of seats on a plane you’re taking for a long flight?
READ ALSO: 12 Cheapest Places to Travel in 2024
Shoulder Season – Final Thoughts
Go where best suits you. Which country in this list has been on the top of your list to explore for the longest time?
What type of vacation are you looking to have? Somewhere warm? or Somewhere adventurous?
Whatever destination excites you and has been on your list for a while to visit, go there!
1: Mexico
I chose Mexico as my first shoulder season destination because it’s warm all year round. It’s the only warm-climate country on this list you can visit during shoulder season.
There is also lots to do in Mexico, many islands to visit, cenotes and the food is excellent!
Mexico is an ideal choice if you enjoy the warm weather and are looking for a beach vacation with great beaches.
2: Italy
As mentioned earlier, Italy is a country everyone wants to see. So even if you visit during the off-season when you can’t go to the beaches in the South, it doesn’t matter because there’s so much to explore anywhere you visit in Italy.
Positano is my favorite place in Italy, a place that’s quite costly to visit in the high season; visiting during the off-season is far more affordable.
You can go sightseeing and learn more about the culture; things are more relaxed, so you’ll be able to enjoy the cities and towns in Italy. And the food, who doesn’t love Italian food?
3: Portugal
I choose Portugal because it’s home to two of the best European cities to explore despite cooler weather during the off-season, Porto and Lisboa. Both offer many things to do, beautiful landscapes, and the food/wine is amazing.
On the other hand, you can also visit Lagos in the Algarve region, but this is a beachside town, so you will enjoy it less than visiting during the high season.
What is shoulder season in the travel industry?
Shoulder season is a time for a destination when the seasonal weather is transitioning, and hotels/airlines offer deals to entice travelers to come visit.
During this time, you can find excellent vacation package deals and hotel/flight deals.
What is shoulder season in Italy?
Shoulder season in most parts of Italy is during April, May, September, and October. These are months when the season is transitioning.
What is shoulder season in Greece?
Greece has two shoulder season periods: April through June and September through October.
What is shoulder season in the USA?
Primarily, Autumn and Spring are the shoulder season periods for most destinations in the US.
Though it depends on where you visit, places like LA, Miami, and NYC aren’t as impacted by shoulder season pricing.
Happy & Safe Travels
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