Travel plans are hardly spur of the moment. Months earlier, corners of travel magazines are folded, a lot of Instagram pictures ‘liked’, and a couple of travel agents looked up on the internet. One begins to weave dreams of nights camping under bright stars, days savouring fresh drinks along the poolside and scavenging old relics and hardcovers in antique shops nestled in cobblestone streets. There’s the mandatory scanning of bank accounts, sifting of travel documents for the whole family to see everything is in order and nothing has expired since the last time a trip was planned. One needs to research flight rates, cheap accommodations with comfortable facilities and local attractions along the way. It is all a long process that pans out over months. So one of the realities facing anyone who has ever planned a trip is that timing matters. There’s always a good time and a bad time for travelling. This is subject to a couple of factors that are explained below.
Where you’re going
London is dripping wet in winters. Dubai is blistering under the sun in summers, and the sand on all the postcard beaches burns your feet, which is a not so idyllic conclusion to your fantasy. Moral of the story is that no place is the ideal tourist destination throughout the year. So, you have to schedule your travelling plans according to the particular destination you are interested in. The same place can offer a totally different experience in different months of the year.
If you’re going to Europe, the best time to visit is summer and fall. This way, you can escape the dreariness of the winter months. It can get bitterly cold during winter, and if you come from a warmer climate, you might spend the entire visit cooped up in a hotel room with flu. However, that is not the big picture. Winter is also the low season, which means most people won’t be planning their European holiday at the same time. So, you might be able to escape the swarming crowds in peak season when all the attractions are overbooked. You can also schedule your trip around Christmas, which is one of the most beautiful things to witness in a western country.
Now, if you’re planning a little getaway to Asia, perhaps summer wouldn’t be a great choice. The humidity is sky-high in Indonesia, Cambodia and other South Asian countries. Moreover, the monsoon season will attract plenty of mosquitoes, leading to viral infections, dirt pools on roads and general inconvenience. On the other hand, winter and fall is a pleasant time to visit the region. The temperature has cooled down, but there are still sunny days to get tanned and take a dip at the beaches. Island countries are usually open for business since its high season. You can rent cosy cottages along the coast and lay low for a while, sipping iced mojitos and trying out local cuisines.
When it comes to Central Africa, spring and summer is the best time to plan a trip. Meanwhile, the most exciting time for a visit to the Americas is winter. Christmas time brings with it cheers and confetti unlike any other month of the year. Just witnessing the bubbling excitement in the streets is a visual treat.
What you can afford
Remember when your elders used to say ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees.’ Well, how true was that. Your travel plans may put a significant dent in your savings. Of course, the costs increase exponentially if you’re travelling as a family. Hence, your travel itinerary should be carefully budgeted. Firstly, everything is cheaper in off-peak seasons. Flight fares are higher during July, August and December because that’s when most people are taking their vacation. But they are much cheaper otherwise. Local attractions may have shorter opening times off-season, but they are also likely to cost less. There are always local museums and galleries offering free classes. You might even get a great deal on clothes due to off-season sales and discounts.
Moreover, you won’t have to worry about popular tourists spots bulging beyond their capacity. So, visiting London in March or April, just before the tourist tide sets in may help you cut back on basic expenses like lodging, food and travel. Moreover, it might be price efficient if you book flights and hotels months in advance.
Your schedule
If you’ve ever planned a trip for more than two people, you’d know how difficult it is to make plans with conflicting schedules. For families, big issues are getting time off work and circumventing your kids’ classes, exams and other school activities. So, often the only time family trips are planned is during the peak summer months of July, August or during the equally busy December. However, shorter trips can be planned around the year if everyone can get time off their respective social and work-related commitments.
Your health
Where you come from has a significant impact on how you react to environmental conditions in a completely different time zone. If you have tonsils, a cold climate can increase the chances of irritation. Moreover, people who are sensitive to extreme temperature may face difficulties in very cold or hot weather. The whole purpose of a trip is that one can enjoy some time away from daily stresses and experience the culture and geographical terrain of another country. So, if you are prone to flu and sinus headaches, perhaps it would be better to visit Europe during the summer months. But if you must go there in the winter and end up falling sick, you can order medicine off Click Pharmacy to get it delivered to your hotel without needing to visit a doctor in a foreign country.
At the end of the day, there’s no one-fits-all style guide for travel. You have to figure out an itinerary and schedule according to your unique requirements and situation. All is good with a trip if you (and your companions) feel good and remain healthy.