Affordable off-season destinations for cash-strapped travellers
Spain, Greece, Italy. Rather than following everyone else to the same ol’ seasonal holiday favourites this summer, consider a trip to an off-season gem further afield.
You might have to contend with less-than-perfect weather or adjusted flight schedules, but then again you might not – and in turn you’ll get relatively quiet environs and rates that typically sit well below those charged during high season.
If you needed an excuse to finally book that once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Indian Ocean, then this is it...
The Maldives
May to November in this idyllic Indian Ocean stalwart is technically the wet season – but don’t let that put you off. Showers are typically short and sharp, temperatures are still blissfully warm, and it’s not unknown for entire weeks to pass during this period without a drop of rain hitting the paradisical sands. Unlike in some other tropical destinations you needn’t worry about pesky mosquitos (most private island resorts spray for them) and service is still delivered to an impeccable standard, even if some hotels close at times for seasonal upkeep. If anything, you might get even more pampering as there are fewer guests vying for staff’s attention.
Off-season win: Visit now and your bank balance will thank you, as savings on a couples’ holiday often amounts to thousands of pounds per person. For example, from May to July, seven nights in a Water Villa with Pool at Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island costs from £4,555 per person half-board, including flights and transfers – that’s a discount on peak months of up to £7,455 per couple. elegantresorts.co.uk
Bangkok, Thailand
Travellers can be hesitant to visit the Thai capital during the wet season from May to October. But in truth, apart from particularly soggy September, most of the time showers pass by quickly, leaving you plenty of sun-warmed opportunity to soak up the city’s sights. Take in the gilded exterior of the Grand Palace or browse thousands of stalls at the Chatuchak Weekend Market. You’ll have to contend with some intense heat, but then again with hotel rates heavily discounted – sometimes by around 50% – you can afford to check in somewhere swish with plenty of space and hopefully some decent air-con.
Off-season win: The plush five-star Peninsula in Bangkok, which comes with white-suited bellboys, three-tiered outdoor swimming pool and skyscraping spaces overlooking the city, has rooms costing from a relatively thrifty £296 per night during the summer months. That’s around £100 less than what you’ll pay between November and January. peninsula.com
Western Cape, South Africa
During South Africa’s winter – from May to August – many visitors are focused on the safari reserves, as the dry and cool temperature provide ideal conditions for spotting game. But for much of the rest of the country, it’s lower season. In vibrant cultural capital Cape Town, known for its beaches, temperatures in the mid-teens see hotel rates dip; but it’s still pleasant weather for hiking on Table Mountain, taking advantage of the thriving dining scene and visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
It’s also a quieter time to road trip along the epic Garden Route, a 125-mile scenic coastal drive taking in little towns, nature reserves and whale watching hotspots. As for the Western Cape’s famed wine regions, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek? The cellar doors are open for business and provide a much more tranquil scene for tastings than during the busy southern hemisphere summer.
Off-season win: Lush Babylonstoren hotel in the Cape Winelands, with its white-painted buildings, farm-to-fork cuisine, plush spa and on-site winery, typically has a two- or three-night minimum stay policy through the high season months – meaning you’ll likely pay upwards of £2,000 for your visit. But in July you can book just a single indulgent night online for a much more wallet-friendly £500. babylonstoren.com
Tokyo, Japan
Compared to oversubscribed cherry blossom season in spring and buzzy leaf-peeping period in autumn, Tokyo in June and July enjoys a relative dip in visitor numbers. Climes can be hot, humid and a bit wet, but what does it really matter when you’re in the city for the culture anyway? The world-class Shibuya department stores – such as high-fashion Parco and classic Isetan – are all refreshingly air-conned, as are major museums (try avant-garde Yayoi Kusama and Kengo Kuma-designed Nezu). Meanwhile, with fewer other tourists to compete with you may have an easier time booking in-demand experiences like immersive digital gallery teamLab Borderless or a traditional tea ceremony.
Off-season win: During March and April’s peak cherry blossom season a 13-night Japan Unmasked small group tour with InsideJapan Tours costs £3,650 per person. But take the exact same tour in June and July and you’ll pay only £3,310 per person – saving nearly 10%. insidejapan.com
Barbados
From 1 June to 30 November it’s officially hurricane season in the Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean that you should necessarily expect a damp break. A few islands, Barbados included, lie out of the usual path for passing storms – so while you might get some short and sharp showers, you’re less likely to suffer from prolonged or ultra-extreme bad weather. Kick back and enjoy the soft blonde sands of the west coast, tour the famed Mount Gay rum distillery and get a reservation at legendary restaurants like The Cliff; all without the crowds that descend during the oversubscribed winter months.
Off-season win: Travel in early July with British Airways Holidays and you’ll pay around £1,350 per person for an all-inclusive week at Barbados Beach Club on the South Coast, including flights. But if you want to visit in mid-December, you’ll need to drop more like £1,640 per person instead. britishairways.com
Marrakech, Morocco
Spring and autumn are often touted as the best times to visit this northern African nation but in truth, it comes down to exactly where and what you’ve got on your travel agenda. It’s true that temperatures in sun-baked Marrakech can climb to average highs of 36C in the sultry months of July and August – but that can still be perfectly pleasant if your main to-do is checking into a luxurious resort and lolling by the pool area. Meanwhile, in the rugged Atlas Mountains, July and August temperatures usually hover around 30C, so you can still make the most of the excellent hiking trails in cooler early mornings. Coastal Essaouira also has very friendly temperatures in summer, but note that it bucks the national trend: thanks to the local beach, August here is considered high season. If you want coast, try cheaper Casablanca instead, where 25C is about standard.
Off-season win: Marrakech’s swankiest hotel, The Royal Mansour, charges from around £1,030 per night for its spectacular riad-style villa rooms during the months of July and August. But in October the lead-in rate is typically double that. royalmansour.com
New Zealand
Dreaming of a trip Down Under? If you don’t mind having to pack a jacket, the quieter southern hemisphere winter months are prime time to visit New Zealand. Be willing to embrace temperatures of around 15C in Auckland and 8C in Queenstown, and you’ll get plunging prices, fewer tourists and, in some areas, epic snow-dusted scenery in return. The South Island can feel properly wintery with its dramatic mountain ranges capped in white – and is a ski and snowboard wonderland if that’s your thing. Meanwhile the milder climes in the North Island provide the perfect setting for trekking, winery touring and visits to steaming hot springs.
Off-season win: Haka Tours has a low-season New Zealand Winter Wonders group tour taking in the highlights of both the North and South Island across 20 days, from £3,772 per person in July, including accommodation, some meals and plenty of sightseeing experiences but excluding international flights. Meanwhile the same tour itinerary in busier September costs from £4,438 per person instead. hakatours.com