This article suggests that due to climate change more people are trending toward off-season travel.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/europe-mediterranean-travel-future-climate-change-1.6912589
Selfishly, I'm hoping it's only a blip in traditional habits. I enjoy my April/May and September/October trips and don't want to share it with others. How early or late in the season are you willing to travel and put up with poorer weather?
This year certainly marked the demise of "less crowded" shoulder season travel to Europe. Paris in May was more crowded than any May we had ever visited, a half dozen times in the 15 years prior to covid...if necessary, I am willing to travel in the dead of winter to Paris in years to come to avoid the crowds and we have been to Paris several times in December and loved it. I am less concerned about winter weather when I am in a large city like Paris or London, but I likely would not go on a regional tour outside of large cities in the winter.
So, people MAY be finally clueing into the fact that hitting the Med in the hottest time of the year may not be the best idea they ever had. But since large numbers of travellers are restricted to school vacation periods, I think they may well just shift to areas likely to be cooler in those months. Maybe Scandinavia will become the new "in" place to see and be seen.
The only time I've traveled in Europe in the summer was when we lived there. And even then we would head north, not south. Our preferred times for Europe are early spring/late autumn. Or occasionally winter city visits.
We have never been to Europe in the Summer. We love Europe in the Fall and in December for the Xmas Markets.
It has been 101-118 these past 2 weeks in Greece, Italy, Spain, etc - NO WAY for us. I understand that many people with kids can only travel in the Summer.
We are returning in December for the German Xmas Markets & a River Cruise. In April 2024 for a River Cruise thru France & Switzerland. In October 2024 to Italy. We always avoid the Summer due to weather, crowds, cost.
We have been lucky as we have never had poor weather in September, October, December, or April.
I like May and October, maybe April or November if a southern location. I'm thinking about a winter trip back to Paris and/or London, where weather doesn't matter as much. I hardly ever travel in the summer because it's so nice here at home (don't tell anyone!). But I'm also thinking about Iceland and/or Scotland, which might be best in June.
Weather is always a crapshoot, all you can do is look at averages, bring the right clothing, and be flexible. I've had some very good rainy days, mostly indoors, but like anyone else I prefer sunshine or mixed clouds.
Besides climate change, the trend toward off-season travel might also have something to do with an aging population that cares less about school vacations in timing its trips. Neither of these things are "blips," so Allan may have to adjust -- either travel closer to winter or share with more people.
EDIT -- Another thought, re air conditioning. This is less prevalent in Europe than US but that seems likely to change, as it is here in the Northwest with warmer summers. I've never cared about AC in Europe as I don't travel there in summer, but it may become more of a consideration in the future. I think it will become more prevalent, not so much for the tourists as for the locals.
I would normally not travel in August due to heat possibilities but I'm going to Orkney and Shetland Islands soon and love the temps that I have been seeing for the last 6 weeks. Highs in the 50s and 60sF - sounds perfect! I just cannot tolerate heat anymore. I might have done my last trip to Italy unless it's Jan-March.
No problem sharing with others...I just need cooler temps!
July/August in Southern Europe was never a great idea, but this year certainly seems to be a tipping point.
I was one of those people who had to travel in summer, worked for the board of education. We really tried to travel north, Finland, Denmark, Tallin, Russia, Ireland, Scotland you get the idea. When we did go to Croatia to visit family it was different cause we stayed in our apartment.
We would do one city visits during winter Break in February. Had a great time just being in Rome for 8 nights, no day trips. We would like to do more one city winter trips but with the price of airfares today it just isn’t cost effective. Gone are the winter travel days of $599 or lower r/t fares. In early 2020 we actually scored $399 r/t London. I could be wrong, fingers-crossed.
I can deal with some crowds but not heat.
For me, there is no poorer weather than relentlessly sunny days and temperatures above, say, 75 degrees F. I can take any amount of cold, rain, blizzards, deep snow, fog, gray skies, etc. at home or when traveling. We have now given up on Italy in September after three "boiling hot" (to me) Septembers there. There are little problems with going November to April, but none of them are about weather except when it screws up transportation, like sleet and ice delaying a flight (which has only happened to us in NYC).
Potential weather issues would be only one factor in our travel decisions. And while it may be a good assumption that this summer's temps are the new normal, we can't really presume that.
I, for one, am wondering if RSE will consider adding earlier and later tour dates, in the near future, if this trend continues.
I have no limits as to when I will travel. I have spent 10 days in Rome when it snowed on us. That was a March. I don’t care for hot weather so don’t particularly care for traveling in summer but I would if everything else aligned. I got home from the Adriatic tour mid June and the weather was perfect everywhere. Certainly not “dead of summer”, though. Stan, I would love to see that.
Up until we retired 9 years ago we could only travel mid July to mid August. We made a decision not to travel south of Rome due to heat. We have experienced several record shattering heat waves in our July-August travels and are so thankful to be able to expand our travel to other months of the year. This summer we found ourselves back in Europe in July where it was uncomfortably hot again. The warming climate was something that several locals talked to us about with examples and concerns.
Thanks to the internet, everyone can write sensonalized nonsense.
Soaring summer temperatures across southern Europe could prompt a
lasting shift in tourist habits, with more travellers choosing cooler
destinations or taking their holidays in spring or autumn to dodge the
extreme heat, tourism bodies and experts predict.
“Could”, but hasn’t or we would quote the statistics.
Demand for travel has soared again this summer as tourists leave
behind years of pandemic restrictions, and travel companies say the
heat hasn't caused many cancellations — yet.
Despite our best efforts to paint a dreary picture, we are still looking for an example.
Britons in particular have booked fewer holidays at home and more in
the Mediterranean, often many months in advance, as they continue to
crave post-lockdown beach escapes, said Sean Tipton of British travel
agent group ABTA.
Actually, every indication is that we are incorrect.
James, given the article is referencing the current month, it is a bit soon to have statistics for what ‘could’ be a future occurrence. Those who have no choice but to travel in the summer will likely continue to do so.
This summer and late spring’s crowds in some places may also have an impact. Our travel plans are pivoting for 2024; early March for the Netherlands and not staying long in Amsterdam and later fall for secondary cities in Italy, Turin and Naples.
BTW I have never seen so much interest in travel forums for travelling to Norway as I have this year (my family is Norwegian so I do tune in for those questions) so perhaps the tide is turning away a bit from southern Europe in the summer, assuming most aren’t planning for Norway in the winter:)
This summer and late spring’s crowds in some places may also have an
impact. Our travel plans are pivoting for 2024; early March for the
Netherlands and not staying long in Amsterdam and later fall for
secondary cities in Italy, Turin and Naples.
Like you, shoulder seasons I have always found to be more enjoyable. And my son just went to Norway.... go figure.
Those crazy crowds this year were very real, but in what appears to be very limited locations and not as a generl rule across Europe. I would love to see some research as to why Rome and Paris and few others did 105%+ of pre-COVID numbers while the majority of the secondary destinations did 90%. I did read where a disproportionate number of the tourists are coming from the US, which maybe explains it; Americans are not that educated in the options so go to the names they have heard all their lives and seen on TV.
April earliest and October latest if I’m on a tour. If I’m staying in a big city, I’m with Jojo Rabbit..I’d love to see Paris in November or December. Pam and I have been chatting the last couple of months about our favourite place, Paris, and I’m seriously considering a winter week there at some point.
Mister E, I have 3 words for you for why some Americans (and probably some Canadians) have chosen Paris: Emily in Paris…
Susie, we went to Paris in December a few years ago and it was quite perfect. The only part that was a bit challenging was the cold temperature/wind (?), which did a real number to my skin, compared to our west coast winter cold.
I have not traveled. a lot but choose to travel in the shoulder season. I usually travel in September or October.
I prefer the shoulder season because weather is usually cooler but can still be problematic. However cities and ports are supposedly less crowded in the shoulder season. And costs are supposedly lower.
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of publicity about the perks of traveling in the shoulder season and it is becoming more popular.
I think the shoulder season will continue to become more popular for travel. In fact, doesn't R S have an article on "traveling during the shoulder season" in his July issue. I have not read it yet.
I would like to travel in the spring (April / May) but I can only take one vacation a year and have chosen September or October. thus far.
I would be willing to take a short vacation in January or February depending on where I was going. I do not feel like sitting in an airport for two days because somewhere is frozen up.
I do not travel in the summer but I also do not travel; during the holidays because of crowds and chaos.
I have not traveled. a lot but choose to travel in the shoulder
season. I usually travel in September or October.Unfortunately, there has been a lot of publicity about the perks of
traveling in the shoulder season and it is becoming more popular.
We prefer the shoulder seasons as well, my fear is like yours and those dates will become more popular and the shoulder season will adjust to be later in Fall and earlier in Spring.
I have plans to travel to Greece next week. When I booked flights several months ago i thought "Oh, I can handle the heat". "Oh I'll just go for a swim!". Now half of Attica has burned up, Rhodes is being destroyed, and Corfu and Evia are also dealing with blazes.
Never again will I book a trip to go to southern Europe in the summertime. Fall/Spring/Winter only
We prefer the shoulder seasons as well, my fear is like yours and those dates will become more popular and the shoulder season will adjust to be later in Fall and earlier in Spring.
That is the takeaway from everything I have read plus what we experienced first hand in Paris in May that the old concept of shoulder season starting in mid April and ending in early June is dead, or at least shifting. So next trip to Europe, whenever that is, will almost surely occur between October and March.
In the meantime, I am focused on Asia and the South Pacific for my next big adventure. I have been to Europe many more times than the far side of the Pacific, and I am not getting any younger...
Good luck to all.
Spring and Fall are our favorite times to travel and we will probably continue to do so in the near future, even with bigger crowds. I could envision a city trip in the winter, but I love gardens and I just think Luxembourg Gardens in February is not the same as in May. We've yet to visit places like Lake Como and Provence and I don't think a winter trip to those areas would be as enjoyable for me.
Like others have noted above, we plan to change up some things to help lessen the impact of crowds and scorching hot weather on our travels:
Campo de Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain areas were unbelievably crowded in May. Other areas of our short stop in Rome were perfectly fine. We were last there at the same time of year in 2016 and it was not this bad, but we had to throw a coin in the fountain (worked two times before).
Just an FYI for those May travelers …. we were in Italy in mid-May it was not too hot but hot enough to want AC at night to sleep. Hotels in Italy are not allowed to turn the AC on until July 1. There were a couple mornings it seemed no one in the hotel slept well because it was too hot in the rooms. We were told it was something the Italian government imposed due to the was in Ukraine and the high cost of fuel.
My travel times are dictated by work (education) and we have kids, so summer the the best time for us. On our most recent trip (2021) we stuck with mostly mountains and coastline (Switzerland and Italy) and had a lovely trip that never felt uncomfortable hot, save for our one night stay in Stresa. For our next trip we are going to take advantage of my winter break and travel in December.
Meg, the same for me most of my life (4 kids and not a government worker).
Good news is that there are websites that show the temperatures each year going back decades and bumps up like are occuring in many places have a pattern, so part Climate Change and part just the Natural Cycle of things; so maybe next year its cooler.
There might be some travel pattern change thanks to Work At Home and the growning Government workforce. It will be interesting to see. So far, its all speculation and very few if any statistics. I think it just makes for good click bait.
Of course, the warmer weather is making some of the places that were too cold during the shoulder season a lot more attractive.
There might be some travel pattern change thanks to Work At Home and
the growing Government workforce.
Not only the work from home but also the work from anywhere. I've been having my retirement and exit strategy discussions with my employer for the past few months and a carrot is being dangled in front of me to keep me partially in the workforce by offering me projects that I could do much of the work from anywhere. I'm not sure if it means a change in travel habits in terms what time of year I go, but it may make for longer, trips with less risk of being bored.
---------- "Hotels in Italy are not allowed to turn on AC until July 1st".
Is that statement correct? I was on a tour in 2019 and we were in Rome around the end of May. Our hotel room had the AC working. I remember because it was somewhat loud when running at night.
We had AC available in April in Sorrento. The maid made a habit of turning it off when she was in the room, but we'd turn it back on as needed.
Climate change will not change my travel habits to Europe, always have traveled there in the summer from the very first time over.
Traveling shoulder season, ie, Oct. I tried once in Germany, didn't like it, certainly have no desire to redo another Oct travel ,
.basically, not interested. It comes down to being a trade-off, one weighs the pros and cons of summer travel.
The earliest I go over is May, preferably after 15 May.
Re: southern Europe: Those visits to the South of France, ie, Avignon, Toulouse, Toulon, and other towns there were all done in the summer, ie, July. True, it was a broiler each time.
I have no desire to put up with poorer weather by opting for Oct or even late April travel.
