Paris in September
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The Perks of Shoulder Season
By Michelle Palmer
No one wants to pay premium prices for hotel rooms and airfare only to wait in long lines—or have a bunch of strangers in the background of photos. But what can you do about it? More than you’d think! If you can be flexible with your travel dates, do a little research and consult a trusted travel professional at your nearest AAA branch office, you can enjoy the best parts of a destination with fewer crowds and maximized cost savings by traveling during shoulder season.
What is shoulder season?
Shoulder season is the period of time at a travel destination that is between off-season and peak season. Depending on the destination, shoulder season may be before or after peak season. That means most attractions and tour operators will be open and active, but there will be fewer crowds.
Why should I travel during shoulder season?
The benefits of traveling during shoulder season are the opportunity to save money by enjoying lower rates for hotel rooms and airfare, the likelihood of dealing with fewer tourists, and the satisfaction that comes from traveling more sustainably. Keep reading to learn more about traveling during shoulder season and its benefits.
The Sky View Ferris Wheel in downtown Atlanta
1. How does traveling during shoulder season save money?
One of the big benefits to traveling during shoulder season is saving money. Hotels and sometimes airlines will offer special deals or lower pricing during this period to attract customers. If you are able to be flexible with your travel times, you still get to have fun seeing new places and visiting various points of interest in your desired destination while spending less. With the money saved, you could do something extra that you may have otherwise skipped, upgrade an experience or roll over the extra money in your travel budget for your next trip.
2. Does travel during shoulder season mean no crowds?
By definition, shoulder season is a slower period of time in a travel market. It’s still close enough to peak season that you get to enjoy the same things to do, but the attractions and activities tend to be less crowded. You also are likelier to get more personalized service from tour operators since fewer customers are sharing the experience.
If you really want to avoid crowds while you travel, check the area’s school holidays. Even during shoulder season, local travelers are likely to visit museums, beaches, parks and other points of interest when school is out.
Fall is a colorful shoulder season in Boston, notably at Boston Public Garden.
3. How is traveling during shoulder season more sustainable?
Traveling during shoulder season can boost local markets by putting money into the economy during slower times of the year. This can be helpful for local tour operators and small business and restaurant owners, too.
Shoulder season travel can also be “greener” or better for the environment. Sometimes peak travel seasons can be difficult for ecosystems, so by traveling during shoulder season instead of peak season, you may be helping the environment.
4. When is shoulder season?
Shoulder season varies from place to place, but for many destinations, it tends to be April and May, just before summer vacation, and fall through part of winter. Check out these shoulder seasons at 20 popular destinations.
An October sunset at Imperial Beach Fishing Pier, San Diego
1. Atlanta, Georgia: March-April
2. Boston, Massachusetts: September-December
3. Charlotte, North Carolina: March-May and September-November
4. Chicago, Illinois: May and September-October
5. Denver, Colorado: March-May and October to mid-December
6. Honolulu, Hawaii: Mid-April to early June and September to mid-December
7. Las Vegas, Nevada: December-February
8. Miami, Florida: February-April
9. Nashville, Tennessee: March to mid-May and mid-September to November
10. New York, New York: April-May and September-October
11. Orlando, Florida: Mid-January to early March, late April to mid-May and mid-September to mid-December (Note that Disney World is busy throughout the holiday season)
12. Paris, France: April-May and September-November
13. Phoenix, Arizona: Labor Day-Thanksgiving
14. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: October-February
15. Rome, Italy: April-May and September-October
16. San Diego, California: October-November
17. San Francisco, California: April-May and September-November
18. Seattle, Washington: March-April and September-October
19. Vancouver, Canada: mid-September through May
20. Washington, D.C.: September-November
Interested in shoulder season travel? Ask your AAA Travel Agent for suggestions about when and where to book, then let them handle all the details once you’ve decided where you want to go.