If you are an Indian traveller with one more trip in mind before the festive rush, the shoulder season is where it’s at for some room to breathe. SOTC Travel has put together a list of eight places that have the right mix of fine weather, no long lines and deals that don’t let your experience suffer.
It’s a sensible time to go. A lot of Europe and Asia is still warm, but you won’t be jostled by as many tourists, so a walk around town or a museum run is more of a pleasure. And if you want to see something, the North is putting the lights back on.
Why the late-summer window matters
Been waiting for the right moment? Here it is. When you add up the comfort, the access and the savings, it is tough to top. Some of the reasons this is such a good time to be out and about:
– Headline spots are not as packed
– The kind of weather you can enjoy in any part of the world
– More for your money with a package
– Easier to put something together at the last minute
We are seeing demand pick up for both far-flung and short-haul options, with SOTC Travel putting together some made-to-measure itineraries for the culture vultures, the outdoorsy and the whole family.
Asia now: seamless culture hits
You can’t get better than what Japan has to put on. SOTC Travel will have you in Tokyo for the action and the shopping, then over to Kyoto for the quiet of the old temples. What makes it work is the balance: you get the seasonal fairs and a tinge of autumn, but none of the hiccups of high season.
Vietnam is having its moment and you can see why. There are the spires of Halong Bay, the way Hanoi does cafe life, and the after-dark charm of Hoi An. Toss in the energy of Ho Chi Minh City. With the weather being co-operative, you can fit in a bit of everything – the coast, the history, the nature – in one go.
China is for the curious. On one pass you have the Great Wall, the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Terracotta Army in Xian; on the other, you are in the markets and under the glass of Shanghai. It is a lot easier to do now with milder temps and thinner crowds, well before Golden Week gets here.
Europe, minus the lines
Head to Spain or Portugal for a bit of the Mediterranean without the midsummer crush. SOTC has you in Barcelona and Madrid for the architecture and the squares, or in Lisbon and Porto for the views, the tiles and the kind of food you remember. It’s warm, the vistas are there and you can actually get a table for an al fresco meal.
Then there is the old standby of Paris and Rome for a proper duet of romance and history. Take your time in the squares, put in some hours at a museum and when you are done with the queues, have a gelato and a seat on a terrace. Now that the summer hordes have thinned and you can still count on good weather, there’s no better time to go see some of the world’s greats at a more relaxed pace.
Arctic Europe: when the first lights make an appearance
You’ve been meaning to check one off the list? The far north is where you should be. SOTC Travel puts you in front of some of the region’s most striking scenery-fjords, lava fields, the kind of Nordic way of life that makes for a fine backdrop as the Aurora Borealis comes back out. With the nights in, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are up, and they put on quite a show over these unworldly terrains.
But it isn’t just about what’s in the sky. There are unassuming towns, some well-made coffee and open highways to be had. It’s one of the few times of year you can have a full day of activity and a night of something special on the same schedule.
Island time, made simple
Bali is still the go-to for anyone in need of a deep breath. We like to think of it as having two sides: you have your early morning at the beach or a temple, then there’s the green side of Ubud with its rice paddies and wellness spots. Between the sun and the low humidity, you get a kind of restorative flow to the island.
Or if you want to string a few places together without the hassle of long hauls, try a run through Singapore, Malaysia and Batam. You can put in some time in Singapore for the skyline and the neighbourhoods, then head to Kuala Lumpur for the shopping and the towers. Finish up in Batam for some resort time by the water. It’s a no-fuss way to travel with good value.
Picking your last hurrah of the season
It helps to ask yourself what you’re after. Want to be in the presence of something? The old streets of Porto, the temples in Kyoto or the verdant bits of Ubud will do that. If you’re after a bit of a pulse, Tokyo, Barcelona and Shanghai have plenty of room to let you in on the action right now.
Families will find some of the best ease in Singapore; it’s put together for all ages and you won’t have to think twice about the logistics. Or in Vietnam, where you can have a bit of city, a bit of coast and a cruise to keep everyone in the fold.
Europe is another option. A double-header in Paris and Rome is straightforward and you’ll be in and out of the history and the food without the midsummer crowds. Over in the Iberian Peninsula, you can have your sun and your surf and a long lunch, all while the weather is on your side.
The fine print
Don’t tarry too long. With the holidays coming, you can expect the usual uptick in cost and demand. SOTC has put together some trips to make the most of this lull, be it in the Arctic or on an Asian loop.
In the end, it’s not how far you go but how it feels. You could be in a Hoi An lane with the lanterns on, or in a Kyoto courtyard, or under a sky full of colour up north. The ones who book before the rush are the ones who get the best of it.
So put together a list, see what fits your mood and get it done while we can.
