ESCAPE- OLOGY Magazine Issue 2 | Page 42

Reasons Why Rainy Season Is The Best Time To Travel

What’s one of the first things most people do when planning a trip to a new destination? Usually, it’s to Google: “Best time to visit [fill in the blank].”

Although it’s good to get a sense of climate before booking a flight, you might be missing out if you only travel places during their peak seasons. In fact, when visiting countries with rainy seasons, I’ll often go out of my way to avoid the “dry” high season. Rainy season is where the magic is at, my friends. From the best landscapes to finding the lowest prices, here’s why rainy season is the best time to travel, and some tips to make it work.

When heading to tropical destinations, I now almost exclusively travel during rainy season. If you ask me, it’s the best time to travel. And although it’s true that the weather will be hotter, more humid, and (maybe) rainy, I’ve generally found that conditions aren’t nearly as bad as most people would think — or as the weather report says. From my experience, the benefits far outweigh the weather setbacks, and I recommend rainy season travel for these four reasons.

1) Avoid The Crowds.

Nothing will damper a beautiful moment quite like having to share it with giant crowds of pushy, selfie-stick-wielding tourists. So, even if the weather is perfect during peak season, it may not necessarily mean a better experience overall. In Bali, the difference may be swimming in a waterfall with seven people rather than 70; in Myanmar, the difference may be enjoying a sunset from a temple rooftop alone rather than having to fight for good views or a proper photo. You’ll have a more intimate and peaceful experience at some of the world’s most famous landmarks, which is a pretty good tradeoff for warmer weather.

TIP: Sunrises are always the best way to ensure the most privacy, during any season. Everyone loves a good sunset, but few are willing to wake up early in the morning to get somewhere while it’s still dark.

2) Save Money.

Many hotels, tours, and activities will have different rates for high and low seasons. If you travel during peak tourist season, expect to pay a premium for most things along the way. But low seasons mean low demand, so you’ll easily get the lowest rates, from accommodations to flights and everything in between! As an extreme example, when I trekked during rainy season in Nepal, almost all my accommodations were discounted 100% (yes, meaning they were free) so long as I agreed to purchase meals.

Author: Alexandra Saper