There’s something deliciously satisfying about exploring a destination without the crowds – and even more so when you manage to catch some off-season sunshine, too. Heading into the warmth with winter approaching offers a fast-lane ticket to summer vibes (hello, vitamin D) and a chance to visit destinations in the shoulder season – that sweet spot between peak tourist madness and off-season slumber. It’s a time when destinations reveal their authentic selves, being less crowded, more affordable, and still warm. We’ve drawn up a shortlist of shoulder season destinations we’ve been dreaming about, from the crystalline seas of the Maldives to Australia’s Gold Coast.
10 shoulder season destinations to add to your travel list
San Diego promises surf, sand and balmy autumn temperatures of 23ºC and more
San Diego, California, US
Heading stateside in search of some sunshine? Make tracks to San Diego. The Californian city’s surf season kicks off in autumn, when temperatures hover around 23ºC. For a taste of the action, head out to La Jolla to catch some waves. The beach town is a mecca for boardriders. Newbies can learn the basics (and the best starter beaches) at Surf Diva and get the history behind the boards at the California Surf Museum; advanced surfers should head across to Marine Street Beach, a difficult-to-get-to stretch of white sand that packs a wicked shorebreak beloved by locals. After a day out on the waves, make your home base the recently opened Palihotel San Diego. Located in the city’s Gaslamp Quarter, the hotel promises Pacific views and belly-bulging dining at Saint James French Diner, located on the roof deck.
Book a villa InternContinential Maldives Maamunagau at the end of the wet season for no crowds, and warm temperatures
Raa Atoll, The Maldives
October marks the end of the wet season in the Maldives, and the start of warm, lingering days – perfect for beach lounging. By December, temperatures hit 30ºC and the Christmas visitors start to arrive, but an autumn trip sees a different sort of crowd thronging the white sand shallows: October is the final month for whale shark and manta ray sightings. Our sights are set on the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort for a shoulder season excursion. The 45-minute seaplane flight from Malé required to reach this private island retreat – that’s nearly an hour spent flitting over jewel-coloured seas flecked with white-sand islets – ensures total tranquillity, and dive opportunities unmarred by strangers’ flippers in your face. Oh, and did we mention you won’t have to raise a finger? Staying in one of 81 beach, lagoon or overwater villas, you’ll find every want catered for, from yoga and island running sessions, to planet-spanning dining opportunities offering plates from Sri Lanka to Peru. Plus, shoulder season comes with another perk in this beautiful destination: prices drop to up to 30 per cent off the high season rates.José Ignacio, Uruguay
If you’re looking for some barefoot bohemia, journey to Uruguay’s self-styled “riviera”, a beach-fringed region blessed with pleasant temperatures of around 21ºC from September to November. The most famous town in the area, Punta del Esta, pulls in visitors with beautiful beaches like Playa Brava and Playa Mansa, and a charming old district packed with art galleries and restaurants, but those in the know head east down Route 10 towards the seaside settlements further along the coast. First stop? José Ignacio, a fishing village reborn as a laid-back beach town. Check in at low-key Anastasio Hotel & Beach Club, perched right on the beach, before exploring the town’s sandy stretches, streets of whitewashed cottages, iconic lighthouse and shoreside restaurants (try Parador La Huella).
Portugal's soaring summer temperatures fall to more managable levels in autumn
Alentejo, Portugal
In search of a slow, rural retreat? Life doesn’t get much more mellow than in central Portugal’s agricultural region of Alentejo, an idyllic, nature-packed province. By September, scorching summer temperatures have dipped to 24ºC, so slow-paced pursuits like lazy boat tours on Lake Alqueva and lingering afternoons spent wine-tasting in the Evora area can be enjoyed in hazy sunshine, alongside harvesting experiences such as grape and olive pickings – offered by hotels across the rolling, vine-cloaked hills. Farmhouse stays are Alentejo’s main drawcard: book a room at the red-roofed, whitewashed São Lourenço do Barrocal for a blend of quiet luxury and heritage architecture.
Visit towns across the Greece isles, such as Chania in Crete, for winter sun
Crete, Greece
Venture to the Greek islands when the summer rush has dissipated and you’ll encounter an entirely different experience. In autumn, life slows down and retreats to the harbour towns and villages scattered across breezy clifftops, and the Aegean stays warm throughout October. On Crete, a recently opened guesthouse, Aisha Hotel, sits snugly in the harbour town of Chania. Located on the Unesco-protected Kastelli Hill, it took the sisters behind the project, Zaira and Dimitra Apostolaki Liokoura, over five years to get the required permits to transform a 500-year-old mansion into a seven-key B&B. This year, they finally opened the doors on a charismatic stay that retains the Venetian elegance of the building, while adding soft, organic touches (curving bathtubs, warm wood) to produce bright, airy interiors. Visit in the shoulder season and you’ll have more chance of booking a room. October temperatures aren’t the highest – they top out at around 14ºC – but days are often bright, sunny and beautiful.Taiwan
Taiwan is best known for its food culture – from beef noodle soup to bubble tea – but if you venture out beyond the island nation's neon-lit capital, you’ll find beautiful countryside waiting to be explored. Between September and November, temperatures hover around 24ºC here, offering balmy conditions for early-morning hikes through the mountainous, cloud-swirled Taroko gorge, slow strolls through the tea plantations of Alishan and surf days spent coasting the waves off the tropical beaches of Kenting National Park.
Sun-soaked beaches and vibrant surf culture await on Australia's Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Australia
Australia’s Gold Coast is known for its sun-soaked beaches and vibrant surf culture, and while summer can be humid and crowded, the spring months between October and November offer easy-going sunshine and temperatures of around 25ºC. Explore the long stretches of golden sands at Surfers Paradise, hike the nearby hinterland at Lamington National Park, or take a scenic drive through rainforests. The waves are still great at this time of year, but the beaches are less crowded – and hotels are half the price of the high season. For some 60s nostalgia, book in at 15-room Tessa’s On The Beach.
Comfortably warm temperatures make exploring Meknes easier in autumn
Meknes, Morocco
While Marrakech and Fes often steal the spotlight, Meknes offers a quieter, more intimate experience of Moroccan culture. October and November bring temperatures of 25ºC, making explorations of the city’s impeccably preserved, Unesco-listed medina easier than during the intensity of the summer heat. Get lost wandering the endless warren of small streets, heading through the grand Bab Mansour gate; explore the beautiful Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, housed within the 17th-century sultan’s former kasbah; then bed down at boutique stay Château Roslane.Palm Springs, California, US
As summer’s sizzling heat fades, Palm Springs becomes a desert oasis for sunseekers in the fall shoulder season. October and November bring cooler, but still comfortably warm temperatures (around 27ºC), making these the perfect months for poolside lounging at downtown Drift hotel, hiking in the nearby Joshua Tree National Park, or exploring mid-century modern architecture. The Coachella Valley transforms into a relaxed retreat, with fewer visitors at boutique hotels and spas. As temperatures cool, take a walk around town to spot the more than 60 public works of art spread across the city (the artsGPS app will guide you), or catch the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto State Park to access over 80km of hiking trails. It's also festival season: check out Modernism Week in October.
Avoid the summer's heat on a trip to Oman
Oman
In October and November, temperatures in Oman settle at around 29ºC, making autumn an excellent time to set off on a desert road trip across the country's striking natural landscapes. Visit the ancient fort of Nizwa, take a desert safari in the Sharqiya Sands, or relax on the pristine beaches along the Arabian Sea. Oman also offers some of the best (and most accessible) wadis for hiking and swimming in the Middle East. Our top picks are Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid, where you can escape into nature far from the touristy crowds.