Why Cheap Season Travel Is Hard to Find in 2026
Remember when you could get a vacation deal by waiting a few weeks after the end of summer? That is history.
“The off-peak season has almost disappeared in many parts of the world,” said Whitney Haldeman, luxury travel consultant at Embark Collective.
It’s a perfect fit for travelers like Gerri Hether, who used to visit Disney World the first week of December – traditionally one of the slowest times in Orlando. Heather, a retired nurse from Mesa, Arizona, remembers enjoying the short lines and attentive service.
But not on his last visit. It was like everyone was there.
“Boarding lines often have 90-minute wait times,” she said. “It was no longer fun and certainly not worth the several hundred dollars for tickets and daily parking.”
It turns out that the tourist season — that magical window when you can escape the crowds and find deals — is shrinking and in some cases disappearing. Remote work, social media frenzy, and wildly volatile prices have turned fall and spring into high-season clones. Even in winter there is no shelter.
“The idea of off-season disappears 100%,” said Kyle Townsend, a hospitality professor at Georgia State University. But it’s not just the travelers’ fault. Tourism boards, hotel managers, and marketers have been striving to turn their seasonal destinations into year-round attractions. And in some cases, they have succeeded.
The numbers tell the story:
- Fall, often considered the “shoulder season,” has seen a 30% increase in bookings by 2025, according to Virtuoso.
- Only about 18% of American travelers plan to visit Europe during the winter season — down from 28% year over year — according to a study by the European Travel Commission.
- Short “microcations,” which often occur during the off-season, now cost $700 per night, according to Allianz Partners.
Where the off-season disappears
“June and September are now mirroring July and August in both rates and foot traffic,” said Embark Collective’s Haldeman. In other words, there is absolutely no change in price and traffic even when the season changes.
You don’t have to be a professional travel consultant to know that. Just pay attention to the ads. When ski and beach resorts start marketing themselves as “year-round playgrounds,” then you know they’re trying to end their off-season. Watch your wallet.
Spain is experiencing it firsthand.
“Fall and spring are getting more popular, and they’re getting more crowded,” says Karen Rosenblum, founder of Spain Less Traveled, a boutique travel company. “Prices in popular cities like Madrid and Seville are sometimes competitive or even higher than summer prices.”
What’s going on? Remote work has changed the way people travel, experts say. But tourists also heed the advice about traveling during the holidays. Nearly three-quarters of international travelers reported avoiding high season to escape crowds and high prices, according to a recent study by Global Rescue.
“Add to that … flexible people at work that encourage them and their families to travel more, and it’s no surprise we’re seeing a balance in travel patterns across the calendar,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue.
The ripple effects reach everywhere. “July and August have emerged as new high-demand periods,” says Pedro Belmar, managing director of the luxury resort in the jungles of Costa Rica. “What used to be a low season now has a contract for September and October.”
But don’t turn off the season entirely.
“The off-season is transformative,” says Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF Ultimate Break. “Off-season has been a well-kept secret among avid travelers, and while word has gotten out, it’s still the perfect time to go.”
His company still sees travelers save $700 to $1,000 by choosing the winter months in places like Italy, the UK and France.
Some places are still very much open.
“We certainly don’t see a year-round season in Olympic National Park,” said Stephen Fofanoff, general manager of the Domaine Madeleine boutique hotel in Port Angeles, Wash.
Africa’s Green Season – November to March – is always a bargain. And one of the best times to travel.
“The landscape is changing to green grasslands, and small animals are being born in large numbers,” said Maija de Rijk-Uys, managing director of travel agency Go2Africa. “With fewer visitors, guests experience some of the continent’s best parks in rare, uncrowded peace.”
Mountain destinations such as Mt. Washington Valley also maintains a certain season. “Off-peak travel will continue to provide additional benefits,” said Chris Proulx of Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.
How to spend the off-season
The key? Think like an opponent.
- Zig when everyone is moving. That may mean leaning into a traditionally busy time. “We’ve been very fortunate to avoid the crazy Disney World crowds by going to Disney World during what would historically be the busiest times: Memorial Day, Labor Day and Spring Break,” says Avery Carl, founder of a Destin, Florida-based vacation rental brokerage firm. Carl has annual passes to the parks and lives in Florida, making this strategy a winner. Point to the eye of the storm.
- Get out of your comfort zone. “We always promote lesser-known destinations, for example, Istanbul, which has become ‘the place to be’ but is less touristy than London or Barcelona,” says Jozef Verbruggen of Untamed Travelling, a luxury travel company. “We also try to encourage our customers to have an open mind about traveling during the rainy season.”
- Avoid the algorithm. Ignore anything popular on Facebook or X, or said by a tour “promoter”. “I would advise against visiting any city you can find on social media,” said Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance. “Places that go viral quickly are more expensive to go to, regardless of the season.”
- Always be flexible. Even the off-season has popular times (think long weekend holidays). Try to aim for the middle of the week, even when you are not normally busy. “Being more flexible can save you more money than traveling on time,” says Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip. “If there is a particular place you want to visit, be flexible with the dates to save money.”
- Book in advance. Hotels and airlines are still holding back their best discounts for people booking in the coming months.
What’s going on here?
The off-season is not dead, but it is on life support.
“Leisure is monetized,” says Meg Kinnerk, founder of luxury travel company Traluxe. “Hotels have embraced the fluctuating rates. Airlines are manipulating seats like Wall Street traders. And tourism boards are advertising year-round to fill the gap.”
I admit, I was surprised by the low season when I tried to find accommodation in Italy last September. Hotels reported high occupancy, and prices were not much lower than during the busy summer season. It’s a great development for the travel industry, but not necessarily for travelers who want to save a little money.
I do what my informed sources preach; I used extreme flexibility to use the lowest values. So I turned to Slovenia. Italy will still be there next year.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a non-profit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a buyer’s problem, you can find him here or email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why cheap off-season travel is hard to come by in 2026
Reporting by Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY Special / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
