End of Season Travel

By Jay

End of season travel has its advantages and drawbacks. Smaller crowds, cheaper fares and rates are appealing. For us empty nesters it also means fewer distractions from juvenile behaviors, but we have to examine the reasons that end of seasons exist. We all recognize the return to school phenom is a factor. For people with children this is a major consideration when planning their vacations. People engaged in the tourism business react with reductions in staff and services as end of season approaches and they begin to adjust their mode of livelihood for the months between seasons. They may also begin to display that they are tired of catering to tourists.

Now for the drawbacks. Weather patterns in both hemispheres begin to have more precipitation and colder air and we generally refer to this period as Fall. For people living in hot arid climates, this may, in fact, be a welcome change, but for many travelers, wet and cold are not conducive to vacation activities. The exception being of course the travelers seeking winter sports. Transportation systems are also impacted by inclement weather, with increasing numbers of delays and cancellations.

So then there is the other shoulder season that precedes summer with its unique benefits. Coming out of winter and preparing for high season finds our hosts with a little more energy and enthusiasm. While we as travelers may have to contend with slightly cooler,  perhaps damper weather we can enjoy some of the same aforementioned benefits on costs. We might also find transportation systems not quite up to snuff. All in all it is incumbent on each of us to determine the conditions that we find best suits our needs. For many the height of season may be the choice;  to have the benefits of services that are prepared and without regard to costs.  We may be able to counter out the disadvantages by paying a little more to secure higher levels of service.

Ex-pats, travelers, wanderers and tourists. If you are not sleeping in your own bed at night there is a good chance you are one of these or you are in the military or in prison.