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Attractive prices, fewer people on the roads and on site, more flexibility and peace of mind… Going on vacation out of season has real advantages which are attracting more and more vacationers.
What does it mean to go out of season?
Going on vacation out of season is going on vacation outside of the busiest tourist times of the year. In general, these periods coincide with school holidays. In fact, these are the only times when families can go on vacation without causing the children to miss a day of school. So bookings for stays are more important at these times. The high tourist seasons are often localized, in seaside resorts in summer, and in ski resorts in winter. To develop tourism outside of these periods, which are generally much calmer, professionals no longer hesitate to offer competitive prices on accommodation rental and other tourist activities.
Why go out of season?
More and more vacationers prefer to book stays out of season. The first reason that motivates them is undoubtedly the promotions and preferential prices practiced during this period. Off-season rental prices can sometimes drop up to 50% compared to peak season. The same goes for the prices of on-site activities which may vary depending on the season and crowds. Going out of season is therefore a real boon for your vacation budget .
The other advantage of traveling out of season is to avoid traffic jams on the main roads. The crossover between the Julyists and the Augustians will no longer be anything but an old nightmare. And fewer people on the road mean fewer people during your on-site visits. So less stress in perspective. In addition, tourism professionals and locals are happy to receive tourists out of season, so you will be well received. The tranquility on site will allow you to fully recharge your batteries. A real vacation, in short.
Finally, in companies, taking off-season leave is often appreciated by management and this allows employees with children to go away during school holidays. The organization of the business is thus facilitated. However, certain periods are more suitable for taking leave, so do not hesitate to discuss this with your employer before booking your stay.
When to leave?
The principle of off-season vacations is to avoid school vacation periods and busy periods such as bridges. Before deciding on a destination, take the school calendar and establish the times when you can go on vacation. In general, you can book holidays out of season:
Depending on the activities you want to do, you will not leave at the same time. Obviously, if you want to ski out of season , there is no need to wait until June. January and early February are perfect times to enjoy quality snow. Conversely, if you want sun and mild temperatures, prefer spring and the end of summer (September) to go on vacation.
Going out of season: how to choose your destination?
One of the first misconceptions about off-season vacations necessarily concerns the weather. Just because we go outside of school holidays doesn’t mean the weather will necessarily be bad. We all experienced a rainy July and a warmer than usual September, so the weather, although it must be taken into account when leaving, should not be an obstacle to your off-season vacation.
When choosing the destination for your next off-season vacation, you will need to determine the period of your stay and, above all, what you are looking for there. Sport, rest, the mountains, the beach… Depending on the seasons and everyone’s desires, the answer will not be the same. If you’re looking for sun, the south of France is generally the destination of choice in almost all seasons. You can also choose the north of France, Brittany or the Alps and the Pyrenees for example. These destinations promise breathtaking landscapes, even in the winter mist. The opportunity to take beautiful poetic photos .
Should you plan your stay out of season?
When planning a vacation in high season, you obviously have to do it in advance to avoid finding yourself without accommodation on site. Out of season, this constraint is no longer relevant. Establishments are generally more flexible and offer more availability. In some places, you will even have a choice. However, you need to organize yourself a minimum and plan the activities you want to do. Not only can the opening hours of tourist sites vary outside of peak seasons, but sometimes some sites are completely closed out of season. To avoid any disappointment, once there, it is therefore essential to check that everything is open beforehand.
