Did you know that the number of tourists has steadily increased in the past decades? Worldwide, more than 1.3 billion people travel annually, domestic travel excluded. An all-time increase of 7%, representing around 1.322 million people, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Africa, the Asian and the Pacific regions recorded significant growth. And in Europe, particularly the Mediterranean destinations counted more visitors. The result of this is mostly overflowing beaches, crowded hiking trails, packed city parks, and marketplaces; a phenomenon known as over-tourism. For this reason, you should consider adopting off-season travel.
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The increasing numbers and overflowing holiday regions leave lasting damage. Nature and animals suffer from the crowds, and their traces, which often consist of plastic bottles and cigarette butts. Destinations are exploited to entertain tourists, while locals lose affordable housing and the destination its authentic charm. Off-season travel has many benefits for the environment, locals, and travelers.
Why You Should Consider Off-season Travel
Beach vacation: building snowmen on the beach
Spending the winter months on northern beaches does not include swimming, but is best for tranquility and slowing down. After a long walk on Juist’s beach, you can warm up in a Thalasso bath and the extensive spa area at the Strandhotel Kurhaus Juist. A winter holiday on the North Sea Island has other advantages as well. In spring, climate therapy is available, which strengthens the immune system and improves self-healing powers and digestion.
If you stay at the Lifestyle hotel SAND on Timmendorf beach, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Baltic Sea from the hot whirlpool on the rooftop terrace in winter. LakeZiegelsee in Schwerin is also inviting for long walks. Afterward, the excellent restaurant aurum at the Hotel Speicher amZiegelsee will pamper you with selected regional and organic dishes.
Hiking vacation: Gold mountains
If you are yearning for seclusion and solitary hikes, avoid the mountains during summer. Why not escape grey November and marvel in an Indian summer in the Alps? The Berghotel Rehlegg is the starting point for various hiking and cycling trails in the Berchtesgaden Alps. You can enjoy the last warming sunrays best at the Dolomites. Surrounded by mountains and nature, the Dolomit BoutiqueHotel is the ideal starting point for outdoor activities and yoga in fall. Those still planning to hike in summer should consider the highlands. The Black Forest and the Bavarian Forest are less crowded than the Alps. Sustainable accommodations can be found at the selfness-hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA and the hotel RefugiumLindenwirt.
City trip: Hot chocolate instead of iced coffee
Visiting cities is popular during summer. Sitting outside in cafes or parks results in more waste, an increase in environmental pollution, and a tight rental market for residents. Queuing in front of a crowded Tower for hours and being unable to see the attraction due to numerous selfie sticks is neither pleasing for travelers. Thus, visiting cities during off-season travel is worth considering. Whether romantic winter days in winterly Paris staying at the Hôtel Le Pavillon, parks and warming mulled wine at the Christmas market in Erlangen combined with a relaxing stay at the Creativhotel Luise, or spring in Milan enjoying the rooftop terrace of the Hotel Milano Scala. A perfect city trip does not require high season!
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Holiday during the monsoon season: Lush greenery
Not traveling during the monsoon period is often recommended. Consequences are overcrowded and polluted holiday regions resulting in the closure of beaches, for example, such as Maya Bay in Thailand famous for “The Beach.”
The monsoon seasons differ in time and region in each country. So, traveling to Thailand during the monsoon is worthwhile between September and December in Koh Samui at the green hotel The Tongsai Bay, and in Phuket at the Keemala Resort between April and October. Moreover, the rain oftentimes is weaker than expected and usually lasts only for a couple of hours per day.
Besides, the more it rains, the greener it is – areas rich in nature, in particular, such as Asia and South America, are most impressive during the rainy season. In Peru, nature around the luxurious eco-cottages of Inkaterra ReservaAmazónica flourishes most due to the rains in December through May.
Ski vacation: Escape the slopes
Off-season travel has one advantage above all, exploring a destination without mass tourism. And that is what a holiday is about – enjoying a peaceful vacation. From a sustainable perspective, skiing off-season does not make sense since supplying ski slopes artificially uses up many resources. An alternative to crowded slopes could be snowshoe crowded the National Park Hohe Tauern guided by the Naturhotel Outside, or cross-country skiing in the Maira Valley. Winter athletes can subsequently relax at the sauna in the vaulted cellar of the historic eco-village of SagnaRotonda.
