Shoulder season goes mainstream

15.11.2024 - 14:49 / thepointsguy.com

Shoulder season. By now, you've likely heard this unusual phrase referenced in the media and by travel agents, or perhaps it popped up while you were searching for cheap dates to travel. In most cases, shoulder season is the time of year between a destination's peak season, when it receives the most visitors, and its offseason, when the fewest guests arrive. Shoulder seasons can last a few months or even just a few weeks.

As travelers try to stretch their trip budgets further, more people can work remotely and destinations experience higher temperatures beyond the summer months, shoulder season travel has risen in popularity over the last few years.

High-interest destinations in Europe, Asia and Africa have seen visitors increase during the nonpeak seasons, and travel agents have noticed more clients interested in traveling during less busy times of year.

"We've seen a dramatic shift toward the shoulder season over the last several years, particularly in places like Italy where the increased demand has reshaped how and when people chose to travel," says Carly Moss, travel expert at Black Tomato. "When travel picked back up [post coronavirus pandemic], we've noticed our clients were increasingly drawn to the allure of experiencing destinations with more intimacy and authenticity that come with fewer crowds."

"I also think there's consumer fatigue around the rising room rates," adds Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora travel agency, "and for those who are willing to skip the summer splashiness of insta-sharing your July jaunts around Europe, there's a lot more ability to stretch a dollar (or euro)."

When exactly shoulder season falls can depend on where you are — it's not strictly between high and low seasons for a specific place. Some destinations might have shoulder seasons between two peak seasons, like a mountain spot that welcomes hikers in summer and skiers in winter.

However, Fora's Vazquez points out that shoulder season can also happen around major events.

"The funny thing that happened this summer in Paris was a sort of fake shoulder season right before and after the Olympics," Vazquez says. "Many travelers avoided the city due to concerns about Olympic-related headaches, but I went in early July before the games started and it was a magical time to be there — so much excitement about the upcoming event, but hotels had plenty of space and lower rates. So don't assume shoulder season refers to a specific time period."

Italy, which has been seeing record crowds in summer and has many places dealing with overtourism, is an ideal shoulder season destination. For example, Calabria makes a great fall destination thanks to a longer beach season and cooler temperatures that are more amenable to hiking