Many people are under this false assumption that the summer is the only time to take trips. This is not true! There are so many reasons as to why you should wait to take a trip in the fall or winter (or if you are lucky enough, take one every season!).
Just because the summer season is over does not mean that your vacation escapes need to be over as well. In fact, there are many benefits to waiting until the fall or winter to travel.
6 Reasons To Take A Trip This Fall or Winter
1. It is usually cheaper.
Summer is a busy travel time. That is no secret. Because of this, prices for flights, hotels, and so on tend to be raised during this time.
With not as many people traveling during the fall or winter months, there is more incentive for airlines and hotels to offer lesser rates or better deals, encouraging folks to take advantage of them.
Keep in mind that prices tend to go back up for long weekends (such as Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, President’s Day, and over the December holiday break) but for the most part, you can find much cheaper travel during this time both in terms of flights and hotels.
2. There are less people.
Less people means that airport wait time is less. Less people need to go through security and board your plane. It means less congestion while waiting for your Uber or Lyft. It also straight up means having to deal with less people.
Lots of people want to escape reality (and, well, people) when they go on vacation and by going at a less popular time, you are better ensuring that you are doing just that. Especially if you are from a high-congested urban area, when you are on a trip, that is not something you are looking forward to dealing with.
3. It’s easier to take off from work.
For those who work a full-time job, properly using PTO can be a juggle. You are not always able to take the days whenever you would like, especially if other, more senior members of the organization have already booked their trips.
As most people travel in the summer, you have a better chance of being able to get the days off from work in the fall/winter, where there will likely be an influx of others still in the office to cover for you while you are gone.
4. You need to escape the cold.
Now not every trip has to be to somewhere warm, but for many people, when we are in the midst of our third snowstorm of the season, we need the beach desperately.
Now I am not saying that you cannot benefit from being on a tropical beach in the summer, but there is something about escaping 30 degree weather and submerging yourself in 80+ degrees for a week. It’s a great little warm up, especially if you live in an area with long winters and you are not the biggest fan of the cold.
5. You need more of a break.
If you are like me, you are the most relaxed in the summer when the sun is out and the days are longer. You do not need as much of an escape (especially in terms of going somewhere to warm up). Whereas in the winter, you may be suffering from that lack of Vitamin D more, or you may be feeling more overwhelmed due to a busy season at work.
These are times when it makes sense to use your PTO and get away for a little bit. Go relax on a beach somewhere or go immerse yourself in a new city where you are too busy to even think about work or everything going on in your home life.
6. There’s different things to see.
In the fall/winter there are obviously different things to see in different places than in the summer.
For instance, travel somewhere during the fall months where you can see beautiful fall foliage or go pumpkin picking. Go to a haunted town during Halloween. Visit Europe during the winter and visit all of the Christmas markets. These are things that you just will not be able to get during the summer months.
There should not be one set season for everyone to travel. If you have that travel bug, I encourage you to go! If you have never considered traveling in the fall or winter months, now is the time to think about it. There are so many great reasons to travel during this time, take advantage of them! Especially if you have a job where you are not confined to one season off, traveling during the not as popular seasons may be a great move for you.
Have you traveled in the fall or winter before? Where’s your favorite place to travel to during these seasons? Comment below and inspire us, too!
About the Author
Michelle graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelors of Arts '13 and a Master of Arts '14. She's currently working in corporate America with a side of freelance writing. She wants you to learn from her experiences and mistakes so your 20s can be your best decade. When she's not working, she's likely planning her escape to a tropical island.