Planning
High or low season: what really changes besides the price
The price is the first thing people look at and the least decisive. Opening hours, transport, queues and even mobile coverage change with the season.
Nerea Aguilar 6 min Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash Choosing dates by the price of the flight is like choosing a restaurant by the price of the bread. It matters, but it decides little: what really changes between July and November at the same destination is everything else.
What rises and falls with the season
| High season | Low season | |
|---|---|---|
| Flight and accommodation prices | High | Low |
| Queues and sold-out tickets | Constant | Almost none |
| Transport and excursions | All running | Reduced or closed |
| Museum and restaurant hours | Extended | Cut back |
| Weather | What you came for | Whatever there is |
| Mobile networks in tourist areas | Congested at times | Clear |
The second-to-last row is the one people forget: in low season, at many coastal destinations, half the island shuts. And the last one surprises people: in August, in a seaside town holding ten times its population, the network is worse than in March.
The shoulder season, which usually wins
May, June, September and October in the northern hemisphere are the point where almost everything is open, the queues are reasonable and prices have already come down. It's the boring answer and it's usually the right one.
When high season is worth it
- When the reason for the trip is an event with a fixed date.
- At destinations where the weather window really is short, like a mountain trekking season.
- If you're travelling with children and tied to the school calendar, which is why so many families are away in the same weeks.
And one practical thing about your phone
In high season you're expected to book and buy tickets in advance, and that means your phone ends up carrying the whole trip: tickets, timetables and passes. With a congested network at the destination, having all that downloaded stops being advice and becomes the difference between getting in and not.
How much a trip like that uses, and what's worth downloading, is in how many gigabytes you really use on a trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is low season worth it?
On price and queues, very much. In exchange, at many destinations transport frequencies, opening hours and excursions are reduced, and some businesses close.
What's the best time to travel?
The shoulder season — May, June, September and October in the northern hemisphere — is usually the best point between price, weather and what's open.
Does mobile coverage change with the season?
In small tourist areas yes: in the middle of August a network built for the town is carrying ten times as many people, and you notice.
What if I travel in the rainy season?
What matters isn't the price, it's your ticket's change policy and having your own data to follow warnings and flight changes.
