HARTFORD, Conn. — While this summer’s busy travel season was highlighted by a record number of air travelers, others are choosing to vacation at a quieter time when costs are more affordable and popular tourist sites and destinations are less crowded.
The American Automobile Association said in a release that there has been an uptick in interest regarding traveling during this period as more Americans feel the need to scale their budgets amid economic pressures.
AAA considers this time to be “shoulder season,” or the time of year between a destination’s peak season and off-season. Shoulder seasons vary by destination, climate and the main attraction but typically occur in the spring or fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring months roughly include March, April and May, while fall months can be considered September and October.
In the Southern Hemisphere, AAA said the seasons are swapped.
While some people travel during the holidays to visit family and friends all over the country and world, many destinations see lower demand the week before or after a major end-of-year holiday and offer deals for people who can travel at any time of the year, according to AAA.
Meanwhile, off-season in the travel industry typically occurs from November through February in the Northern Hemisphere. AAA said there are advantages to traveling during this time of year when the weather is cold and wintry. It might be ideal for some and undesirable for others.
Some attractions or businesses may have reduced hours during the off-season, but others such as ski resorts are busiest during the winter. Thanksgiving week and Christmas through New Year’s Day are also considered peak travel times, when airlines, hotels and rental cars are all in high demand.
AAA Club Alliance Spokesperson Tracy Noble said that while interest in travel is still very high, more people are looking for bargains.
“Shoulder season and off-season travel offers a variety of benefits, including more options for cost-conscious adventures,” Noble said. “And while many families must travel during the summer when kids are out of school, other travelers purposefully choose autumn and winter when more affordable pricing to popular destinations is available, and those locations are less overrun by tourists.”
AAA described many benefits associated with shoulder and off-season travel. First, smaller crowds can allow people to explore at their own rate without feeling rushed. There also might be shorter lines and less demand for tickets at popular attractions/destinations and more availability at tables in favorite restaurants.
During the fall and winter, the intense summer heat has subsided in the Northern Hemisphere, making some destinations such as Florida easier to visit. AAA also says airline seat assignment and flight time availabilities are often better at booking than during high season.
Shoulder season and off-season trends also include better prices than at peak season for airfare, tour packages, hotels, rental cars, train tickets and more. There are additionally fewer tourists, which increases opportunities to interact with locals and have a more authentic experience in the country or destination.
Lastly, AAA said that many theme parks, cities and regions host cultural and food festivals in the fall and spring, providing tourists the ability to experience local cuisines and traditions in a unique way.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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