There’s a reason why most European city-dwellers don’t stick around in July or August if they can afford a holiday somewhere else.
Historic European streets are taken over by slow-moving tour groups and ticket lines. You might be turned away from that bucket list thing because you didn’t reserve in advance. And it’s stinking hot, but cooler outside than your hotel room without air conditioning.
The theme of this month’s newsletter is travel in the off-seasons: spring and fall. And yes, even winter. That’s when you can enjoy the destination along with the people who actually live there. It can also be less expensive.
No way! My kids are in school!
Some of you are thinking, “I don’t have a choice!”
That’s what I thought, too. Until I worked for a mean TV station that decided not to approve any of my vacation requests during my son’s middle-school holidays. For the last several years of an ironclad five-year contract. I think they were hoping I’d quit, rather than give up my family travel time.
Instead, we spoke to my son’s teachers about a lesson plan we could take on the trip with us for a week or so. Kind of like home-schooling, except on the road. Having your young student learn about art, music, history and cultural differences through personal travel experience? Priceless.
Granted, off-season travel won’t work for everyone. And if you absolutely MUST plan a summer trip anyway, I’ll end this post with a few survival tips.
Top Things to Do in Lake Bled All Year Long
The good news is that most of the things you came to see in Europe can be done all year. Case in point: Lake Bled, a UNESCO world heritage gem in Slovenia. It fills up in the summer. The rest of the year? Not so much.
So when I told the friendly people at Visit Bled that I was writing about off-season travel, I got a warm welcome on a misty October weekend. Check out this video on the top things to see and do:
Read all about it here: Top Things to Do in Lake Bled All Year Long. The only thing you might have to skip is a swim in Lake Bled if it’s too cold. Warm up in one of the thermal spas! And definitely check out the lakefront winter holiday market.
Holiday Markets and Winter Fun in Europe
Most European cities and towns light up during the Christmas and New Year holidays. In Slovenia, the holiday markets are open from late November to mid-January.
Click here to find out why Ljubljana might have the best Christmas market! Festive December in the capital city actually celebrates THREE separate holidays:
Saint Nick arrives on his Dec. 6 feast day.
The birthday of Jesus Christ is celebrated on Dec. 24 and 25.
Dedek Mraz (Grandfather Frost or Old Man Winter) brings even more gifts on New Years’ Eve. Plus fireworks over the castle.
And there’s a party every night under the lights in the streets of the Old Town. I have no problem trading in that summer gelato for a cup of hot mulled wine and a cozy winter fireplace.
Museums are just as interesting in the winter as they are in the summer. Most off-season days you might be the only visitors that are not school children on a field trip.
Indoor and Outdoor Winter Adventures
Visiting Rome in February? Bring a warm jacket as you make the most of the photo opportunities at the Trevi Fountain, the Forum and the Coliseum. Read more about visiting Italy without the crowds.
You don’t have to give up outdoor adventures in the winter On a chilly January day, I heard the snow crunch under my feet on the abandoned Olympic bobsled track in Sarajevo. My friend and I were the only people on the trail. Click here to read more about my Olympic bobsled moment.
And if you MUST Go in the Summer…
Avoid Popular Cruise Ports: These floating skyscrapers discharge an obscene number of day trippers onto the ancient infrastructure. While overcrowding the major sights, people who eat and sleep on a ship don’t contribute as much to the local hotels and restaurants. Small wonder that destinations like Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik are discussing measures to limit this type of travel, or tax it more heavily.
Be an Early Bird: Rise and shine to be at the city’s most popular attraction when it opens. By arriving before 10 am, you have odds of seeing everything before the tour groups take over. Read why getting up early made it possible to beat the August crowds in Dubrovnik.
Making Money for Travel
Who doesn’t want a little extra money to travel more? Or enjoy a bit of luxury? I was among the travel writers featured in this Travelers Talk by Sonia and Wojtek of Happy Little Traveler. My top tip for stretching the budget: plan a few personal days before or after a business trip. Something else you can do all year long!
Substack Shoutout
This month I’m recommending
who writes . Their Substack newsletter also covers overtourism issues. But their post on the reality of staying in a mosquito-infested Tuscan villa made me laugh out loud. Well done, guys.