When people first think of a holiday in Spain, many will immediately picture sitting around a busy swimming pool at the height of the summer, outside a hotel that is bustling with sun-seeking tourists. Long queues, noise, and a race for the sunbeds early in the morning are typically other features of such a vacation.
However, some travellers have discovered the many benefits of heading on holiday during shoulder season, which is the time between a region’s peak season and the off-season.
For Spain, this time comes in March, April, May, September and October and there are plenty of benefits to be enjoyed at this time of year. What’s more, shoulder season destinations in Spain like Valencia, Castellon and Huelva may offer you a vacation built-up places like Barcelona and Madrid, which welcome tourists all year round, but simply can’t.
This article will cover how you can take advantage of cooler temperatures, quieter regions and offers on a range of activities.
1. Financial Benefits
First things first, opting to travel during shoulder season is a cost-effective move. When it comes to flights, hotels and activities, less demand means lower prices and so you can find yourself a holiday bargain by choosing to holiday at a different time to the majority.
By choosing cheaper flights and accommodation, you will save funds which can be spent on enjoying different events on holiday or could even be kept and put towards your next trip.
2. Enjoy Tourist Hotspots…without so many Tourists
We’ve all been there, heading to a popular Spanish landmark only to be met with a giant queue during peak season. With the sun beating down, there is nothing worse than being stood in the same spot for an extended period of time while waiting to get a quick glimpse of a famous monument or sight.
However, by travelling during shoulder season, there are fewer people attending these places and so you have far greater access and fewer wait times meaning you can view something extraordinary and then swiftly enjoy other aspects of your holiday as opposed to losing a chunk of your day queuing with the family
3. Pleasant Temperatures
During shoulder season, you can enjoy your favourite holiday venues in Spain but at a cooler temperature. Everybody loves the sunshine and catching a tan but sometimes, it can drain your energy and mean you don’t actually fit everything in during your trip.
By travelling outside of the summer months of June, July and August, it’s still light long into the night and you can still enjoy great weather; it’s just not so intense, meaning you can enjoy a truly relaxing break, free from the sweating, irritation or dehydration that the peak of heat can sometimes bring.
4. Take Advantage of Special Offers
With less footfall than usual, restaurants and eateries will be doing more to entice customers and so chances are you’ll be able to enjoy some great meals and drinks at a discounted rate. Have a proper wander around the city or region you are in and pick out some establishments you’d like to eat at. Lots of these holiday hotspots will be quieter during shoulder season and so you’ll be able to dine in a relaxed setting, free from the usual hustle and bustle of a frantic bar or crowded tables.
Events and activities will also be on offer due to fewer numbers frequenting the area. This means travelling during the shoulder season can make you a great saving on a range of fun things which might usually be much more expensive during the busy summer months.
5. Get to Know the Local Communities
With fewer tourists packing the streets, you’ll get to see a number of Spanish regions at a more leisurely pace and witness the locals out and about and different cultures that you might usually miss during a summer holiday when places are more geared towards attracting tourist customs.
You can enjoy a more traditional experience at different sites and landmarks, with experts having more free time to share in-depth knowledge with you compared to busy times when larger numbers mean a deeper conversation might not be possible.
6. Help Different Regions
It may not be immediately apparent but travelling in shoulder season is also a sustainable way to holiday. For example, travelling at different times of the year can support different localities at a time when visitor numbers are less which can help regions economically that may otherwise struggle if tourists only visit during specific spells. It also takes the strain off popular and iconic landmarks if visitor numbers are spread out more evenly across the year.
Wrapping Up
There are many benefits to travelling to Spain during shoulder season and if you are able to, it may be worth exploring a vacation in May or September as opposed to the usual summer months. It could save you money, time and stress by holidaying when there are fewer visitors around. You will be able to enjoy a more leisurely break with cooler temperatures and really have the time and space to delve into the region.
