Before You Google “The Best Time to Visit…”
The answer depends on you.
Googling “the best time to visit Italy” or “the best time to visit Alaska” seems like a perfectly reasonable place to start planning a trip.
And it is.
But the answer isn’t always as simple as “May through September.”
Because what does best mean to you?
Is it the best weather?
The best value?
Fewer crowds?
The best time to see wildlife?
Or the right time for a particular experience you’ve been dreaming about?
The truth is, there’s rarely one perfect time to visit a destination. There’s a best time for you to visit, and that can be very different from the answer you’ll find at the top of a Google search.
Here’s a simple way to think about the different travel seasons.
PEAK SEASON
Peak season is when a destination is experiencing its highest demand. That might be because of great weather, school vacations, special events, or simply because it’s the time everyone traditionally wants to go.
The upside: There’s usually a good reason it’s popular. The weather may be beautiful, seasonal attractions are open, and you have the greatest number of options.
The tradeoff: Higher prices, less availability and more people.
Peak season can absolutely be worth it, especially when the experience you want is tied to that particular time of year. But if your dates are flexible, it’s worth looking at other options too.
SHOULDER SEASON
This is often one of my favorite times to recommend traveling.
Shoulder season falls between the busiest and quietest times of year and can offer a nice balance of weather, crowds and value.
The upside: There may be fewer crowds, better availability and more favorable pricing, while the weather can still be very enjoyable.
The tradeoff: The weather may be less predictable, daylight hours could be shorter, and some seasonal experiences may have limited schedules.
And as more people discover the benefits of traveling in shoulder season, it isn’t quite the secret it once was, especially in popular European destinations.
Still, for travelers with some flexibility, it can be a wonderful time to go.
LOW SEASON
Low season can offer some terrific values and a very different experience of a destination, but there’s usually a reason fewer people are traveling then.
The upside: Lower prices, better availability and fewer crowds.
The tradeoff: Depending on the destination, you could encounter more rain, heat, cold or shorter days. Some hotels, restaurants and attractions may operate on reduced schedules or close completely for the season.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel during low season. It just means we want to make sure you understand what you’re trading for that lower price.
So, when should you go?
Before choosing a month because Google says it’s “the best,” think about what matters most to you.
Would you pay a little more for better weather? Are you comfortable with an occasional rainy day if it means fewer crowds? Is there something you absolutely want to experience, like seeing Denali, visiting the Christmas markets, cruising the Rhine, seeing New Zealand during its summer, or spending long days exploring Alaska?
And, of course, sometimes work schedules, school calendars or family commitments determine when you can travel. That’s okay too. Then our job is to find the destination and experience that work best for those dates.
These are the conversations I love having with my clients.
At Premier Travels, we’re not simply looking for the “best time to go.”
We’re looking for the best time for you to go, and the trip that fits the way you want to travel.
Ready to start planning?
BEGIN PLANNING NOW
P.S. Already know where you want to go but have no idea when you should go? That’s exactly the kind of question I can help you answer.