Cold season is here, and in many places, this means the slow travel season has hit as well. For some RVers, this is the time when the RV gets winterized and put into storage, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Off-season travel is totally doable, and in some cases, it even has some perks that you just don’t get when traveling during peak season.
Want to keep the RV adventures going this winter? Here are a few reasons why we think off-season travel is awesome, and why winter RVing is just as amazing as RVing during the summer.
Snag Better Campsites
Have a place you’ve been dying to visit but you can never seem to get into? Have a certain section of your favorite campground that you’d like to stay in but can never seem to grab? Off-season is the time to do just that.
During the slow season, the crowds have cleared out, meaning you have a much better chance of snagging those coveted campsites for yourself without all the hassle of keeping track of booking windows or arriving early.
Avoid Crowds
Fewer visitors in a place means fewer crowds. Traffic jams in touristy spots will be basically non-existent when you’re enjoying off-season travel, and you’ll find that fighting large crowds while walking through shopping areas or popular attractions is unnecessary this time around. You’ll also find there are fewer lines to wait in, and getting to the front of a crowd to read plaques or see a specific piece of art will be a cinch.
Take Advantage of Discounts
One thing we absolutely love about off-season travel? The discounts and lower rates that come along with it. You see, when the hordes of tourists leave, many attractions and campgrounds lower their rates or offer special discounts that they wouldn’t offer during peak season, in order to encourage people to visit. This means you’ll likely be able to stay in a campsite for less money and see all the things you want to see without breaking the bank.
Stay Longer
Cheaper campsites make it a whole lot easier to extend your stay in a place, and since you won’t have to fight for a site, you should be able to stick around as long as you like. Provided you don’t have obligations back at home, we encourage you to take the opportunity to stay in one place longer and really immerse yourself in the culture and community of the place.
Have Unique Experiences
Off-season travel is extra cool because it presents opportunities to have some unique experiences that you’d never get to have when a place is packed with other tourists.
Visiting when there are fewer crowds makes it possible to really connect with the locals. This leads to suggestions from the locals, meaning you’re more likely to try things that are a bit more off the beaten path. Additionally, if you’re able to take advantage of cheaper campsites that are more readily available, you’ll have time to dig a little deeper and really get a feel for what the culture and community of the place is all about.
The Exceptions to the Rules
It’s important to realize that there are exceptions to the rules. While the vast majority of the country sees a slow season during the winter months, there are certain areas that actually have more traffic during the winter. These include ski resorts, as well as snowbird havens such as SoCal, Arizona, and Florida. If you want to enjoy the slow-season benefits in these locations, you might want to consider visiting during the late spring, summer, or early fall.
Drawbacks of Off-Season Travel
It’s also good to understand that off-season travel does have its drawbacks. For instance, you’re more likely to encounter foul weather when visiting a place during the off-season. Additionally, some tourist attractions will close down completely when the crowds disperse for the season. Nevertheless, we continue to enjoy off-season travel and don’t plan to stop any time soon!
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
Samantha R. ~ Amazing customer service they kept checking in after we called them to make sure the problem was taken care of we had 2 tires blow in one day and the next day the truck needed to be towed they helped out so much and took care of both situations very professionally definitely recommend it!!!!