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EVERY type of vacation relies on the weather or season. To go skiing you need snow, to lay on a beach and get a glowy tan you need sunshine, and being able to admire Asia’s cherry blossoms depends on the right temperature.
This not only causes airlines and hotels to increase their prices, leaving eager holidaymakers to pick up an expensive bill; but also leads to overcrowding at destinations.
This period of travel is known as peak season and if you have kids, you’re bound to know all about it.
However, if you can afford to be flexible with dates, there’s a whole other vacation season you should know about because it’ll save you a lot of money and give you an experience others don’t get to see.
It’s called “shoulder season”, the period of travel time between peak and off-peak seasons. While this season may not be a secret to some, people are often scared to book getaways in these months out of fear they’ll have a lousy time or the weather won’t put out.
But this mentality couldn’t be more wrong and while shoulder season will involve a little more planning, it’s worth it.
First, you need to find out what months are shoulder season as they can vary across continents and from country to country.
In Southeast Asia, for example, June through October is considered the low season as it’s the rainiest time of year.
However, it doesn’t rain all day, every day so it’s still a great time to visit if you’re not fussed about getting a tan.
November through February is when most people jet off to Southeast Asia as it’s the coolest and driest time of the year.
But shoulder season can also be enjoyed from March through to May when temperatures reach their highest.
Unlike other destinations where peak season coincides with the warmest weather of the year, Southeast Asia’s hottest season doubles as an unfavorable time to visit due to the heat and humidity.
That having said, Southeast Asia is blessed with some of the finest beaches in the world, perfect for cooling off at. Plus, nearly every hotel, car, mall, and restaurant has air conditioning.
If you’re still not sure you’ll be able to deal with the heat, maybe these pros of traveling during shoulder season will seal the deal for you.
It’s much cheaper
During shoulder season, travel companies, airlines, car rental firms and hotels drastically reduce their prices to entice travelers after the peak season ends.
You could end up saving hundreds of dollars to spend on diving lessons in the Philippines, extreme bungee jumping in New Zealand, or turtle conservation in Malaysia.
Smaller crowds
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Fewer people mean small to non-existent crowds, so you won’t have to wait for six hours to go on a ride at your favorite theme park or get stuck behind a gaggle of whining, hiking children on a mountain or be left with hotel buffet scraps.
Smaller crowds also mean hotel staff, tour guides and other people working in the hospitality industry have more time to spend on making your experience unforgettable.
Ambiance
Imagine walking around Angkor Wat and not seeing another soul or strolling across an Indonesian beach and having the first pick of seashells to take home as souvenirs.
These experiences which make a vacation unforgettable and shoulder season can provide you with them.
The absence of crowds also makes locals happier so you’ll be more likely to gain a kinder, more genuine reaction from them. They might even show you their favorite hidden beach spot or point you in the direction of a restaurant only locals know.
Thunderstorms
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If you decide to travel around Southeast Asia between June and October, brace yourself for the most awesome thunderstorms you’ll ever see.
Tropical thunderstorms are one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena and they can come out of nowhere.
All of a sudden the skies turn dark, the air becomes unbearably humid, and lighting starts forking across the clouds.
Make sure you’re somewhere safe to watch them and we recommend wearing rubber-soled shoes, just in case.
If the pros of vacationing in shoulder season resonate with your traveling desires and you’re not tied down to rigid dates, head over to Skyscanner and book yourself a bargain vacation.
Just be sure to check when shoulder season is.
The post Find out why you should be traveling during ‘shoulder season’ appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com