Trip Ideas An Ode to Shoulder Season: Travel’s Best-kept Secret In travel, like in life, timing is everything. By Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 24, 2023 Visit a destination during its high season and you’re bound to encounter sticker shock and wall-to-wall crowds. Low season, conversely, swaps steep flight and hotel rates and tourist throngs for closed attractions and crummy weather that could crash even the best-planned itineraries. A happy middle ground? Shoulder season. This brief, in-between period, typically the sweet spot following a busy summer vacation and just prior to the off-peak winter months (or as the curtain closes on winter and just before the summer rush gets underway) is perhaps the best time to travel. Prices are more palatable, temperatures are comfortable, crowds have evaporated, and local businesses have yet to close up shop. Who knows, you might even be able to nab an impossible-to-get seat at that hot restaurant everyone’s talking about. All this to say, shoulder season offers the chance to experience a brand-new destination, even if you’ve been before. So, now that you’re in on our secret, join other savvy, in-the-know travelers and book your shoulder-season getaway. What Is Shoulder Season and How Can It Help You Save on Travel? I'm a Travel Writer, and This Is My Favorite Time of Year to Travel Why Shoulder Season Is the Best Time to Visit Amsterdam — and How to Plan the Perfect Trip Shoulder Season Is the Best Time Visit Frankfurt — Here's Why Why I Love London in Shoulder Season — From Access to Insider Events to Deals on Incredible Hotels 8 Tips for Making the Most of Your Shoulder Season Getaway, According to T+L Editors 5 Mistakes to Avoid While Traveling During Shoulder Season This Season Is the Secret to Landing Your Dream European Vacation on a Budget