Travel Trends Report 2025: Off-Season Travel

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Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedinThis eighth article in my annual Travel Trends series investigates the rise in off-season or shoulder-season travel. It is a trend that has been bubbling away for the past two years, in which travelers are looking to travel to a destination at non-typical times. The benefits include fewer crowds, lower costs and the opportunity to find once-overlooked beauty in pivotal times of the year as the seasons change.
Ben Martin, principal of HKS Advisory Services, an architectural and design practice that works with the world’s leading hoteliers, says: “In 2025 we anticipate seeing a continued rise in demand for low season travel in response to both a series of ‘push’ factors from the market and ‘pull’ factors from destinations. The ‘push’ factors include concern among some travelers around the rising temperatures in the summer months in many well-established sun, sea and sand destinations over the last few years. In short, tourists are showing increased interest in holiday bookings during the cooler, shoulder months. Traveling outside of the peak season can also provide greater value for money and fewer crowds can result in an enhanced overall ‘tourist experience’.

He continues: “From a ‘pull’ perspective, some of the most popular destinations have introduced targeted campaigns to encourage off-peak travel. This growing awareness can help ease the pressures associated with visitor demand at peak times, thereby enhancing long-term sustainability from both an environmental and social perspective. In addition, strengthening low-season demand provides a platform for year-round operations and, therefore, both enhanced economic sustainability and full-time employment within the sector. It is a shift to a more host-community focused ‘regenerative’ approach to destination management.”

Tim Hentschel, co-founder of HotelPlanner, says that if you can be flexible with your time, shoulder season travel “feels like a no-brainer”. He comments: “It puts consumers in a far more favourable position if they are willing to let go of some of the sentimentality surrounding peak season travel. For example, New York may be seen as the ideal Christmas experience, but January gives the same charming winter appeal, with far fewer crowds. Ice skating at iconic locations like Rockefeller Centre or Central Park are still available in January, plus hotels and Broadway shows will have better availability and lower prices. Equally so, throughout February, Seville can see highs of 25 degrees—a more pleasant temperature for sightseeing and outdoor activities when compared to the heat in the summer. The summer months attract very large crowds which drives hotel prices up, whereas you can get more for your money during Seville’s off-season months. Hotelplanner.com has shoulder season deals that are over half price.”
Grand Hotel Fasano on Lake Garda.(Credit: Grand Hotel Fasano)

The Italian Lakes are one of the most visited places on earth, renowned for their idyllic scenery, but says Grand Hotel Fasano, a 125-year-old hotel overlooking Lake Garda, it is early April—typically regarded as pre-season—that is one of the best times of year to visit.
“Lake Garda is one of Europe’s best-kept off-season travel secrets, and early April is truly one of the best times of year to visit,” says Alice Lancini, director of Sales and Marketing at Grand Hotel Fasano. “It’s a little known fact that Garda enjoys a very particular Mediterranean micro-climate, with April seeing plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures of around 18°C. In fact, the most important royal and noble families of yesteryear picked the destination as their winter retreat for this very reason and Grand Hotel Fasano was originally built as the former hunting lodge of the Habsburg dynasty.”
She says: “These conditions offer the perfect opportunity to stroll around the lake and observe the magnificent Mediterranean flora and fauna—including almond, cypress and olive trees—begin to bloom. It is also the ideal time to visit the numerous historical sights and attractions around the area, including the world-famous hillside estate, Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, before the summer crowds descend.”Villa d’Este is embracing the winter season.(Credit: Villa d’este)
In the same region of Italy, but this time on Lake Como, Villa d’Este is embracing another time of year. Two seasons ago, it remained open for Christmas and New Year to great success. “As a consequence, Villa d’Este continues to remain open throughout the winter, paving the way for a new era on Lake Como with other hotels on the Lake following suit.” The hotel has introduced a number of experiences for its winter-time guests, including helicopter rides for ski days to Monte Cervino; two cosy glass houses for guests to enjoy views of the lake and winter jazz nights and wine dinners.W Algarve reports a significant rise in shoulder season bookings.(Credit: Yves Garneau Copyright 2019)
In Portugal, meanwhile, W Algarve reports a significant rise in shoulder season bookings following hot weather in September and early October. The hotel has revealed new stats that showed a 30% increase in September and October bookings, compared with the same time last year; while May and June bookings increased by 25%. This echoes findings of a Virtuoso survey that found 82% of its clients are now looking for escapes with more moderate weather. Soaring temperatures in the UK and Europe mean travellers are increasingly shunning super-hot temperatures in favour of shoulder season holidays, making beachside locations, like the Algarve, an ideal choice for an autumn or spring break.The Algarve’s mild weather means all seasons make for great travel, says Conrad Algarve.(Credit: Conrad Algarve)
Also in the Algarve, Conrad Algarve, located between the idyllic Ria Formosa Nature Park and the Atlantic coastline, says that the region’s year-round warmth and varied terrain, makes it one of Europe’s sunniest destinations, and perfect for off-season travel. No matter the time of year, guests can experience farm-to-fork foraging experiences as well as having access to six world-class golf courses.Grecotel Amirandes, in Crete, is extending its season for the first time, to offer year-round hospitality.(Credit: Grecotel Amirandes)
Meanwhile in Crete, where most hotels close at the end of the summer, Grecotel Amirandes is extending its season for the first time to offer year-round hospitality. “This will give guests the chance to experience the charming side of local Cretian life that comes alive on the island after the high tourist season,” says the property. To celebrate its longer season, the hotel has curated a new menu of shoulder-season experiences that highlight local culture and traditional customs to encourage a meaningful connection with its island home. For example, the autumn marks the start of harvest season on Crete with the olive harvest in full swing. Hotel guests are invited to celebrate the ‘liquid gold’ during a private olive harvesting experience. For those with a penchant for history, Amirandes can organise winter day trips to the grand Minoan palaces at Festos and Knossos, as well as to Gortyna for those interested in marvelling at the Gortyn Code, the earliest recorded laws in the Mediterranean, with no crowds in sight.

The tiny town named world’s ‘most beautiful’ just a 1hr drive from popular tourist hotspot

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In 1977, two villages – Rupit and Pruit – were united under the official name of Rupit i Pruit. Now, the municipality which is home to less than 300 people has been branded “the most beautiful town in the world”, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Rupit i Pruit boasts a 1,000-year-old history and has many well-preserved buildings dating back to the 17th century.It is also surrounded by natural beauty, located in the heart of the Collsacabra Space of Natural Interest in Catalonia, Spain.It is located at 822 metres above sea level and is just 60 miles from the tourist hotspot of Barcelona – but it may as well be a world away in terms of visitor numbers. The town originally grew around a castle, which, alongside the church of Sant Joan de Fabregues, was documented from the year 968.The paved streets and stone houses take you back in time and it boasts a wooden suspension bridge which can only support 10 people at a time.The old part of the town sits on a narrow ridge above the river and some streets climb up the hill. There are also some new houses built near the river and in a small valley behind the ridge.Some of its properties boast prices of around €1million. Outside the village itself, there are many lush forests, caves, prehistoric tombs, waterfalls, and cliffs to enjoy.This area spreads out across the Montdois Plain, to the left of the Ter Valley, which is famous for Aiats Plain and its surrounding sheer cliffs. The Rupit or Sallent River is a tributary of the Ter and provides the town with water, while the Torrent del Gravet also ends here.Birds including the exotic-looking Egyptian vulture live near the cliffs, as well as eagle species. Rupit i Pruit has a Mediterranean mountain climate, with warm to hot summers and cold winters, much colder than on the coast thanks to its altitude and distance from the sea. While frost is common on most clear nights between October and April, snow also typically falls in this period but does not stay for long. UNTWO wrote: “In the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Rupit is one of the jewels of Catalonia in Spain. “The cultural and natural heritage of Rupit has a unique singularity that must be protected. Hence, it has been named as a ‘European Charming Village’. Much of its resources are recognised and protected at regional and national levels.”Its medieval alleys and relaxed atmosphere seems a world away from the bustling streets of Barcelona, which saw almost 26 million tourists in 2023, according to Destination Barcelona. The Catalan capital is a popular destination in Spain and its tourism sector is a key part of its economy. However, some Barcelonaians are concerned about the impact of mass tourism on the city’s identity and authentic tourist experience. To address this, Barcelona city hall has announced plans to ban short-term tourist apartments from 2028.

Passengers stranded at Ho main station ahead of Christmas travel    

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Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Ho Main Station on Friday and extending into Saturday as they tried to travel to various destinations with just five days remaining until Christmas.   
The unavailability of vehicles to transport them caused frustration and significant delays.   
Travelers heading to destinations such as Accra, Ashaiman, Hohoe, Aflao, Dzodze, and other areas reported waiting for vehicles for over six to seven hours.   
When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the station at around 1700 hours many passengers lamented that they had been at the station since morning, hoping for transportation as the situation escalates into Saturday.   
The situation created a ripple effect, contributing to heavy traffic around the station as both passengers and vehicles congested the area.   
Some drivers admitted to loading passengers along the roads rather than at the station, citing the overwhelming number of travelers waiting for transportation.   
One driver, popularly known as “Our Father,” who operates on the Ho-Dzodze route, explained that during this period, drivers often prioritize their regular customers, particularly market women, over other passengers.   
He added, “We try to focus on our loyal customers, especially the market women, because they depend on us for their businesses.”    
This year’s holiday travel rush appears to have intensified due to the increased demand for transportation, leaving many passengers frustrated as they attempt to reach their destinations before Christmas.   
A stranded passenger shared with GNA, “I have been here since 0800 hours, and I still have not found a car to take me to Accra. It is stressful, especially with the holiday approaching.”    
The shortage of vehicles has been attributed to a combination of high passenger turnout, limited availability of transport, and the prioritization of certain passenger groups. Some stranded travelers resorted to walking further down the roads in hopes of securing a vehicle.    
Drivers have appealed to authorities to address the annual Christmas travel congestion by creating better systems to manage the influx of passengers and improve the overall travel experience, while fixing the roads  
Passengers, however, are advised to plan their journeys earlier to avoid similar situations during peak travel periods.  
Transport union leaders were not readily available for comments, but some loaders claim large numbers of the travelling public were solely responsible for the situation and what happens around Christmas and Easter festivities.  
Source: GNA  

The once beautiful paradise islands now wrecked by too many tourists – ‘we won’t be back’

Travel

As far as island paradises go South East Asia feels like a number one destination – but it’s precisely this popularity with tourists that has led one sun-kissed location to rack up very bad reviews.Located just off the north west coast of the larger island of Lombok, The Gili Islands in Indonesia are a beautiful little archipelago that became famous in the 1980s as a destination for backpackers.Being close to the heavily-touristed island of Bali, the Gilis initially seemed like a secret getaway for visitors wanting a break from all the crowds.But the once-tranquil beaches are now just as busy as Bali and some feel that paradise may have been lost when looking at the travel review site, Tripadvisor.One recent scathing reviewer, writing under the heading “We will not come back”, said: “Filthy places, polution (sic) evident on the beach.”You can see in the water, polution (sic) that looks like a white frothy spit, disqusting (sic). All sort of rubbish everywhere and rather unhappy people compared to Bali. We visited all three Gilis and stayed 3-4 nights in each one of them. Will not come back.”Another person added: “Nothing near the ‘paradise’ these islands are advertised to be.”The villages are slums and extremely sad and depressing to see how the locals live. Both my partner and I felt unsafe. The smell of garbage/ waste/ human waste is disgusting.”Another traveller expressed dismay at the environmental impact of so many visitors to the region, writing: “It’s easy to imagine what this island once used to look like, and deeply saddening to see first hand the devastating effects of mass tourism on this fragile ecosystem.”The beaches are now dirty and polluted, with dead corral everywhere making it impossible to walk without water shoes. The island itself is covered in rubbish, and the streets are smelly and dirty. The prices are also inflated compared to Lombok.”Since 2009 it’s reported the number of visitors to the Gili Islands doubled year-on-year from around 30,000 in 2009 to more than a million today.More than 2,000 visitors can travel on the small boats to reach each island every day, that’s 500 people more than the permanent population of the of the area.Being part of a volcanic region, the islands and Lombok suffered a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 2018 which killed at least 130 people and left hundreds more injured.Thousands of buildings have collapsed, and at least 20,000 people were left homeless.