If you listen too closely to conventional travel wisdom, you’re bound to have a conventional trip. That’s often a good thing.
There is a reason you safari in the dry season (the animals are easier to see). It makes sense to save the Gulf for winter (unless you like being burnt to a crisp). But you have to wonder . . . what happens all of those other months of the year? What animals thrive in the wet season? What cultural festivities go down when it’s too damn hot and too damn cold for mass tourism? Have you been missing out? Should you have been targeting the off-season after all?
According to travel experts, the answer is a resounding “yes.”
“I can certainly wax poetic on the benefits of off-season travel,” says Gary Portuesi, managing partner of Authentic Explorations. “Last summer, we sent out an email blast proclaiming November and December to be the best times to visit Italy. Isn’t it a nice idea to visit the Roman Forum in a jacket instead of trying to find shade while wiping the sweat off your brow? The ‘wrong’ time of year can yield lots of great benefits.”
The other benefits are obvious: smaller crowds, more authentic interactions with locals, better rates. The downsides are, too: Roads can become impassible in the wet season, temperatures can be even more extreme, some businesses shutter.
Is it still worth bucking your travel agent’s advice? That’s up to you. But here’s a convincing look at five “wrong season” destinations packed with crowd-less “only-then” cultural celebrations and natural wonders.
To catch the rays, you’ll need to head to the Maldives off-season.
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Peak season: November to April
Off season: May to September
Last festive season, the Maldives saw a record number of private jets touch down in its atolls. Frequented in December for its postcard-perfect weather, thanks to climate change, it may no longer be so perfect.
Locals say the weather now is unpredictable, meaning travelers can see sunny skies in July and rain in January. So switching up the season here is starting to make sense.
So head here at the start of the rainy seasons to witness an incredible marine phenomenon in the Baa Atoll’s Hanifaru Bay. Every May through November, giant manta rays come to feed, amassing by the hundreds, doing somersaults to catch plankton in their open mouths while snorkelers watch on in awe.
Stay nearby at Soneva Fushi or Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, where the marine team will give you a “Manta on Call” phone that rings as soon as they spot manta rays in the bay.
Chiang Mai
To make a splash during Songkran, you’ll have to travel in the wet season.
Chakarin Wattanamongkol/Getty Images
Peak season: November to February
Off season: April to October
In the north of Southeast Asia, January through April is known as burning season. Farmers slash and burn their land to prepare it for planting, creating harmful smoke and occasionally forest fires that carry across the region.
Although skies can look downright apocalyptic during this time, as the smoke peters out in April, a must-experience cultural festival happens throughout Thailand: Songkran, a.k.a. Thai New Year.
Beginning on April 13 of every year, the country stops for the biggest water festival on Earth. Arguably the world’s most joyous festival, Chiang Mai is the best place to partake in the party. Children and grandmas throwing buckets of icy cold water from pickup trucks that circle the city’s moat, spraying passersby with hoses and squirting water guns at each other for three days straight. It’s also a great way to cool down during the country’s hottest months.
Nantucket turns into a winter wonderland when all the tourists go home.
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Peak season: June to September
Off season: November to March
Nantucket is booming like never before in the summer, and no amount of lobster rolls and striped umbrellas can hide it. Housing is now so expensive and in such short supply that businesses have closed due to lack of local staff.
But in winter, when the year-round locals rule the roost, Nantucket becomes nostalgic. Like something straight out of a Hallmark movie, the island’s Main Street turns on the Christmas lights and the charm.
During the first weekend of every December, the Christmas Stroll takes place with tree lighting, a holiday market, a visit from Santa, and live music. Celebrated for over 50 years, this island tradition is as beloved as July 4th. So grab a mulled cider and marvel at the illuminated shingled houses that look even more magical in winter.
Dubai offers summertime perks to those willing to brave the heat.
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Peak season: November to April
Off season: June to September
Under the blazing desert’s summer sun Dubai gets a bit sluggish. Local pastimes include: drinking tea and coffee under fluorescent lighting in an air-conditioned shopping mall. No wonder, tourism dips when the sun shines brightest.
But in typical Dubai fashion, they aren’t going to let trivial facts like 110-degree temperatures get in the way of a booming economy.
To tempt the crowds, the city is promoting a “Dubai Summer Surprises.” Running from the end of June to the beginning of September, its famous malls, over-the-top resorts, and entertainment venues are offering drool-worthy sales. Tax-free shopping, slashed designer prices, and ultra-competitive room rates are just the start.
Family-friendly activities are the other major emphasis and they roll out as part of the city’s Kids Go Free initiative. Little ones get free stays and food at nearly every hotel and free admission into the city’s coolest sites: like the View at The Palm, the Dubai Balloon, Legoland Water Park, and Reel Cinemas.
Just stay inside.
Embracing the darkness, and you’ll be rewarded with a psychedelic picture show.
Arctic-Images/Getty Images
Peak season: December to March
Off season: Spring and fall.
A winter trip to the Arctic Circle, where midnight darkness prevails 24/7, may seem tantamount to torture. But it’s actually the busiest season for this northern Norwegian town.
In Tromso, located at 69° North above the Arctic Circle, the pitch-black “polar nights” lasts for about six weeks. While it may mess with your circadian rhythm, this stunning island town still has something special to offer.
The black sky means you can see the colorful solar flares of the Northern Lights almost 24/7 and scientists predict this year will be the best in decades. Sure, you’ll need to watch out for frostbite while you wait, but thanks to its location, Tromso is one of the best places in the world to see them.
