Why Cheap Off-Season Travel Is Harder to Find in 2026

Remember when you could get a travel deal by waiting a few weeks after summer ended? That’s history.

“The off-season practically vanished in many parts of the world,” said Whitney Haldeman, a luxury travel advisor with Embark Collective.

It certainly has for travelers like Gerri Hether, who used to time her visit to Disney World for the first week in December – traditionally one of the slowest times in Orlando. Hether, a retired nurse from Mesa, Arizona, remembers enjoying the short lines and attentive service.

But not on her last visit. It felt like everyone was there.

“Lines for rides often had 90-minute wait times,” she said. “It was no longer an enjoyable experience and certainly not worth the several hundred dollars for tickets and daily parking.”

Turns out, the travel off-season – that magical window when you could dodge crowds and score deals – is shrinking and in some cases even disappearing. Remote work, social media frenzy, and ruthless dynamic pricing have turned fall and spring into peak-season clones. Even winter is no refuge anymore.

“The idea of an off-season is 100% disappearing,” 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 pushing to turn their seasonal destinations into year-round attractions. And in some cases, they’ve succeeded.

The numbers tell the story:

Fall, the oft-considered “shoulder season” for travel, saw a 30% increase in bookings in 2025, according to Virtuoso.
Only about 18% of U.S. travelers plan to visit Europe during the winter – dropping from 28% year-over-year – according to a survey by the European Travel Commission.
Shorter “microcations,” which typically happen during the off-season, now cost $700 per night, according to Allianz Partners.

Where the off-season is disappearing

“June and September now mirror July and August in both pricing and foot traffic,” said Embark Collective’s Haldeman. In other words, there’s practically no change in price and traffic even when the season changes.

You don’t have to be a professional travel advisor to know that. Just pay attention to the ads. When ski resorts and beach resorts start marketing themselves as “year-round playgrounds,” then you know they’re trying to eliminate their off-season. Watch your wallet.

Spain is seeing it firsthand.

“Fall and spring are becoming increasingly popular, and are getting more and more crowded,” said Karen Rosenblum, founder of Spain Less Traveled, a boutique travel consultancy. “Prices in popular cities such as Madrid and Seville are sometimes rivaling or even higher than summer prices.”

What happened? Remote work changed the way people travel, experts say. But vacationers also listened to advice about traveling during the off-season. Nearly three-quarters of international travelers reported they avoid peak season to escape crowds and high prices, according to a recent Global Rescue survey.

“Add to that the … people whose work flexibility motivates them and their families to travel more, and it’s no surprise we’re seeing a rebalancing of travel patterns across the calendar,” said Dan Richards, Global Rescue’s CEO.

The ripple effects reach everywhere. “July and August have emerged as new periods of high demand,” said Pedro Belmar, managing director of a luxury resort in Costa Rica’s cloud forest. “What was once an extended low season has now contracted to just September and October.”

But don’t write off the off-season entirely.

“The off-season is evolving,” said Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF Ultimate Break. “Off-season has been a well-kept secret among avid travelers, and while the word is out, it remains the ideal time to travel.”

Her company still sees travelers save $700 to $1,000 by choosing winter months for destinations like Italy, the U.K. and France.

Some places still are wide open.

“We’re definitely not seeing a year-round season at Olympic National Park,” said Stephen Fofanoff, general manager of the Domaine Madeleine boutique hotel in Port Angeles, Wash. “Travelers can definitely find deals of 50% off or more from November through March.”

Africa’s Green Season – November through March – remains a bargain zone. It’s also one of the best times to travel.

“The landscape transforms into lush, emerald grasslands, and baby animals are born in abundance,” said Maija de Rijk-Uys, managing director for tour operator Go2Africa. “With fewer visitors, guests experience some of the continent’s most iconic parks in rare, crowd-free peace.”

Regional mountain destinations like Mt. Washington Valley are also keeping some seasonality. “Off-peak visitation will continue to offer even more value,” said Chris Proulx of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.

How to still take advantage of the off-season

The key? Think like a contrarian.

Zig when everyone zags. That may mean leaning into a more traditionally busy time. “We’ve had great luck avoiding insane Disney World crowds by actually going to Disney World during times that would historically be the busiest: Memorial Day, Labor Day and Spring Break,” said Avery Carl, founder of a vacation rental brokerage firm based in Destin, Florida. Carl has annual passes to the parks and lives in Florida, which makes this strategy a winner. Aim for the eye of the storm.
Get out of your comfort zone. “We regularly promote lesser-known destinations, for example, Istanbul, which is becoming ‘the place to be’ but is far less touristy than London or Barcelona,” said Jozef Verbruggen of Untamed Travelling, a luxury travel company. “We also try to stimulate our clients to be open-minded about traveling during the rainy season.”
Avoid the algorithm. Ignore anything that’s popular on Facebook or X, or that’s been mentioned by a travel “influencer.” “I’d advise against traveling to any city you discover through social media,” Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance. “Destinations that go viral are immediately more expensive to travel to, no matter the season.”
Stay flexible. Even the off-season has popular times (think long-weekend holidays). Try to aim for midweek, even during traditionally less-busy times. “Being flexible can save you more money than traveling during off season,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip. “If there is a specific destination you’re looking to visit, be flexible on dates to save money.”
Book in advance. Hotels and airlines still reserve some of their best discounts for people who book months ahead.

What’s going on here?

The off-season isn’t dead yet, but it’s definitely on life support.

“The off-season is being monetized,” said Meg Kinnerk, founder of luxury travel company Traveluxe. “Hotels have embraced dynamic pricing. Airlines manipulate seat inventory like Wall Street brokers. And tourism boards are marketing year-round to fill every gap.”

I admit, I was taken aback by the shrinking off-season when I tried to find accommodations in Italy last September. The hotels reported high occupancy, and rates weren’t much lower than the hyper-busy summer season. It’s a positive development for the travel industry, but not necessarily for travelers who want to save a little money.

I practice what my knowledgeable sources preach; I’ve adopted extreme flexibility to take advantage of the lowest prices. So I detoured to Slovenia. Italy will still be there next year.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why cheap off-season travel is harder to find in 2026

Reporting by Christopher Elliott, Special to USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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