Q: Is “high season” versus “low season” based on the best time to visit a place, or is it just a reflection of when the most people travel due to outside factors like schools letting out for the summer?
A: It’s a combination of both, but it typically refers to ideal weather (there’s a reason you can fly to Florida for $100 in July). “I think high season really means that the temperatures are high and tempers even higher,” says Samantha Brown, host of Travel Channel’s Passport series. “Since I grew up on the New Hampshire seacoast, I’m actually a big fan of off-season and ‘shoulder’ season travel.” So instead of deciding between high-season crowds and low-season deals, Brown recommends taking advantage of the time in between. “Shoulder season is that magical time between high and low seasons when the crowds are gone and the weather holds out -- it’s the best of both worlds,” says Brown. Got that? It’s kind of like baby bear’s porridge: just right.
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Q: Which Caribbean islands are the least touristy?
A: Since much of the Caribbean depends on tourism for its livelihood, even the quieter islands can be touristy. But you can avoid the crowds a few ways. “Try going to more popular islands during the low season (April through November), when there will be less tourists,” advises Ayse Boykin, an award-winning travel specialist at the TravelStore Platinum in LA. “Or you can seek out islands that are generally less known by Americans, like The Saints off the coast of Guadeloupe, but these can be hard to get to.” Becky Veith, a travel agent based in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, agrees, “The lesser-known islands are the least touristy, such as Saba, some of the Grenadines, St. Eustatius, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, but they can be tough to get to.” But if you find the journey is half the fun, these spots could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Q: What’s the best time of year to go on a cruise? Can you recommend a great cruise experience?
A: Across the board, travel agents and frequent travelers agree that it really depends on where you want to go and when. “It’s the right time of year to be on a cruise somewhere in the world all the time; however, the best time to buy a cruise ticket is in January and February, when all the cruise lines come up with their best specials,” says Ayse Boykin, an award-winning travel specialist at the TravelStore Platinum in LA. Experience-wise, cruises are a good option for getting a different perspective on some place you’ve already been and want to go back to. Samantha Brown, host of Travel Channel’s Passport series, says, “I had already been to Venice once before, but approaching it from the water 11 stories high and looking down on this city of unmatchable beauty was an incredible experience that one could only get on a cruise ship.”
Q: What are some reputable websites or tips for finding vacation rental apartments?
A: “I was looking for a house in Yelapa, outside Puerto Vallarta, and found many good ones for around $150 a night at palapainyelapa.com,” says Erik Torkells, editor in chief of Budget Travel. Vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is another hit-or-miss resource for finding an apartment or house around the world, and there are also house-swapping opportunities advertised on craigslist.org.
-- Cemile Kavountzis
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