The Joy of Travelling Out of Season

Fewer crowds, slower mornings and the pleasure of discovering somewhere at its own pace.

There's a different feeling to arriving somewhere when the summer crowds have gone home.

The beach umbrellas have been packed away, restaurant tables are easier to come by and the streets that were bustling just a few weeks earlier have settled back into their usual rhythm.

You might need a jumper in the evening. The weather forecast could be a little unpredictable. And that restaurant you've been looking forward to visiting might have decided to close for a few weeks.

But travelling outside the usual holiday season has a charm all of its own.

In fact, once you've experienced a place without the crowds, you might find yourself wondering why you ever insisted on visiting in August.

When places feel like themselves again

There's nothing wrong with a busy summer holiday. Long sunny days, lively streets and the atmosphere of everyone enjoying themselves can be wonderful. But there's also a pleasure in visiting somewhere when everyday life has returned.

The cafés are filled with locals rather than tourists studying Google Maps. Market traders have more time for a conversation, and you can wander through the streets without feeling as though you're part of a procession. You begin to notice things you might otherwise have missed.

The little bakery on a side street. An elderly couple taking their usual morning walk. The sound of someone opening the shutters of their shop.

It's a chance to experience a destination beyond its busiest, most polished version.

And sometimes, that's when you really begin to fall in love with a place.

The pleasure of having nowhere to rush

One of the biggest advantages of travelling out of season is the freedom to slow down.

During peak summer months, there's often an unspoken pressure to make the most of every moment. Popular attractions need booking in advance, restaurants fill up quickly and even finding a quiet spot on the beach can feel like an achievement. Outside the busy season, the pace changes.

You can linger over breakfast without worrying about getting somewhere before the crowds. Spend an afternoon wandering around a town with no particular destination in mind, or sit in a café long enough to order a second coffee. There's more room for spontaneity.

And while we're all for seeing the sights, some of the best memories from a trip have very little to do with famous landmarks. They're the afternoons when you got slightly lost and found somewhere lovely instead.

A different kind of beauty

We tend to associate holidays with sunshine, blue skies and temperatures that require little more than a linen shirt. But there's plenty to love about destinations at other times of the year.

Think of Paris on a crisp November morning, when the leaves have turned golden and the cafés feel especially inviting. Or the Italian countryside in early autumn, with vineyards changing colour and long lunches that stretch well into the afternoon. Even seaside towns have their own appeal once summer is over.

Take Essaouira, for example. It's a place we love for its relaxed atmosphere, windswept beaches and maze of little streets. Visit outside the busiest months and you may find more space to wander through the medina, browse the shops and enjoy a leisurely lunch overlooking the sea.

You might not spend every afternoon sunbathing, but perhaps that's part of the appeal.

There's a particular pleasure in wrapping up for a walk along the coast before finding somewhere warm for lunch. And if it rains? Well, that's a perfectly good excuse to find a bookshop or settle into a café for a while.

Your money might go a little further

It's no secret that travelling during school holidays and peak summer months can be expensive.

Flights and accommodation are often in high demand, particularly in popular destinations.

Travelling during the shoulder season -the months just before or after the busiest period -can sometimes mean finding better value.

You might be able to stay in a hotel that would otherwise be beyond your budget, extend your trip by a couple of nights or simply have a little more money to spend while you're away.

Of course, cheaper prices aren't guaranteed. Festivals, local holidays and major events can make certain destinations surprisingly expensive at any time of year but if your dates are flexible, it's worth looking beyond the obvious summer weeks.

A few days in September or October can be every bit as enjoyable as a holiday in July.

Possibly more so, if you prefer your sightseeing without the queues.

Packing becomes a little more interesting

Travelling out of season does require a slightly different approach to packing.

You can't always rely on sunshine, particularly if you're heading somewhere coastal or visiting a city in autumn. Layers become your best friend.

A good lightweight jacket, comfortable shoes and a few pieces that can be worn together will usually serve you better than a suitcase full of outfits planned around perfect weather.

We'd also recommend leaving a little room for the unexpected. An afternoon might begin in sunshine and end with you searching for somewhere to shelter from the rain. But those unexpected changes often become part of the story.

Besides, there are few things nicer than coming in from a chilly afternoon walk, ordering something warm and watching the world go by.

A few things worth remembering

As lovely as off-season travel can be, it does pay to do a little research before booking.

Some coastal resorts become very quiet once summer ends, and certain restaurants, hotels and attractions may close for the season. Ferry services and public transport can also operate on reduced timetables.

If there's somewhere you've particularly wanted to visit, check that it will actually be open.

It's also worth being realistic about the weather. A Mediterranean destination in November might offer beautiful sunny afternoons, but that doesn't necessarily mean swimming weather. And if you're dreaming of a beach holiday, the shoulder season may suit you better than the middle of winter.

The trick is choosing a destination for what it offers at that particular time of year, rather than expecting it to feel exactly as it would in summer.

Perhaps the best time to go is when everyone else isn't

We spend so much time thinking of holidays as something that happens in the summer.

But some of the loveliest trips happen in the quieter months. A long weekend in a European city when the streets are lined with autumn leaves. A few days by the sea in early spring, before the cafés fill up and the beaches become busy again. Or an October escape somewhere warm enough to sit outside with a coffee, watching the afternoon unfold.

Travelling out of season reminds us that a place doesn't have to be at its busiest or sunniest to be worth visiting. Sometimes it's the quieter version that stays with you.

The one where you had time to wander, found your favourite café by accident and came home feeling as though you'd experienced somewhere rather than simply ticked it off a list.

And really, isn't that what travelling should be about?