
The INSIDER Summary:
- Shoulder season is the period between the high and low seasons of a vacation destination.
- The fall shoulder season is a great time to get cheaper deals on flights and hotels.
- During this time, you can save money on trips to destinations in Europe and the Caribbean.
What is shoulder season in Europe?
Shoulder season is a travel industry term. It’s defined as the time between the high and low travel seasons of a specific destination. In the calendar, it sits between the peak and off-peak months. If you’re choosing the best times to travel to Europe, it’s high time you learned about shoulder season.
When is the best time of year to book your shoulders?
Shoulder season falls in the months between your peak season and your off-peak season. If you operate from a coastal hotel, for example, you likely experience the height of your booking demand from June-August, and your lowest demand December-February.
What is shoulder season in the Caribbean?
Shoulder season is the period in between a destination's low and high seasons of tourism, making prices cheaper for hotels and airfare and crowds smaller at popular attractions. Europe, the Carribean, and the United States all experience shoulder season during spring, fall, and winter when children and college students are in school.
Are shoulder seasons the same everywhere?
Shoulder seasons are almost the same months in the northern and southern hemispheres, though the seasons themselves are swapped—autumn in one is spring in the other. When is shoulder season?

What is considered the shoulder season?
The definition of shoulder season varies by destination, but it typically means the period of time between a region's peak season and offseason. This timespan can last months or just weeks. For instance, if a place's peak season is summer and its offseason is winter, then the shoulder season would be spring and fall.
Why is it called a shoulder season?
But it's not as hot as in the summer either, so they can't just wear a t-shirt either. They usually wear a scarf, shawl, or other kind of wrap on their shoulders… hence, “shoulder season”. Another could be that shoulder season is called like so by opposition to the “head seasons”, which would be summer and winter.
What is shoulder season in hotels?
The INSIDER Summary: Shoulder season is the period between the high and low seasons of a vacation destination. The fall shoulder season is a great time to get cheaper deals on flights and hotels. During this time, you can save money on trips to destinations in Europe and the Caribbean.
What is shoulder season in Europe?
"Shoulder season" — generally April through mid-June, and September through October — combines the advantages of both peak- and off-season travel. In shoulder season, you'll enjoy decent weather, long-enough daylight, fewer crowds, and a local tourist industry still ready to please and entertain.
What is shoulder season in Thailand?
The shoulder seasons, which last from April to June; and September to October, can also be nice times to travel, often offering the same lovely weather as the cool season but with fewer crowds.
What is Hawaii shoulder season?
The shoulder seasons in Hawaii run from March through the beginning of May, and from September until Thanksgiving. However, spring break and the beginning of September can yield high traffic and higher prices, too, so look carefully before booking.
What is a shoulder season in business?
Generally, shoulder season occurs a month or two before or after your peak season. For many in the northern hemisphere, this time frame is in the spring and autumn. Low season is precisely that – low. It is the time of year (typically November-March in the northern hemisphere) that's difficult to generate revenue.
Where is shoulder season in May?
Shoulder Season ListDESTINATION (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)SHOULDER SEASONMaldivesMayMarrakeshJanuaryMontevideoAprilNairobiMid May-Mid June Mid-September-Mid October45 more rows
Where is June shoulder season?
June – Baja, Mexico. Prices and temperatures are mild, between the Spring Break rush and the summer heat. Shoulder season is the BEST time to visit Mexico. July – Northern Caribbean – Puerto Rico, Dominical Republic, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas.
What is shoulder season in Paris?
Shoulder Season (April through May, mid-September through November): As one of the world's major tourist destinations, Paris is heavily traveled year-round, and the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are no exception.
What is the cheapest time to go to Europe?
The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December). It's often cheaper to fly to Europe mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular.
What is shoulder season in Colorado?
In the Colorado high country (and the parts of Wyoming and New Mexico close by), shoulder season is usually just before Memorial Day Weekend to around mid-June depending upon the area. The shoulder season for the Fall is typically mid-late September until early-mid October.
What is shoulder season in Italy?
The in-between parts of the year are the seasons we know as fall and spring: in other words, the shoulder seasons. These roughly fall between mid-March to April (except for Easter) and October to November. There are some distinct benefits to planning your Italy travel during these months.
What is shoulder season hiking?
Each October, thru-hikers rush to finish the long trail they started many months ago. Day hikers also must manage mud and shorter days. This time of year is called the “shoulder season.” It's still three season backpacking, but requires extra gear and skills to comfortably enjoy.
What is shoulder season camping?
Camping in the shoulder season (in the fall or spring) can be more challenging but also more rewarding. The weather may be less predictable but you will also find smaller crowds in popular areas, fewer bugs, and plenty of beautiful vistas all to yourself.
What is shoulder season in Colorado?
In the Colorado high country (and the parts of Wyoming and New Mexico close by), shoulder season is usually just before Memorial Day Weekend to around mid-June depending upon the area. The shoulder season for the Fall is typically mid-late September until early-mid October.
Why Shoulder Season Is a Good Value
While the pressures of supply and demand boost resort prices during the high season and holidays, when everyone wants to visit, it deflates them during the low season, which typically falls during a destination's worst weather months.
Shoulder Seasons Around the World
Many properties have shoulder seasons in the spring and fall, but the dates vary. It typically depends on the specific destination, including what activities the destination is famous for offering.
When Is Shoulder Season in the United States?
There are many different climates and landscapes in the United States that encourage tourism during varying times of the year. However, for the most part, the shoulder season in the United States is during the spring and fall months, much like Europe.
What Are Shoulder Months?
Shoulder season months are often the best times to offer discounts and deals on your vacation rental home to encourage traveling during the months that many families stay home. For most regions, the shoulder months include March, April, September, October, and November.
What is shoulder season?
Many hotels experience their peak season during the warm summer months and their off-peak season during the cold winter months. Other locations, such as ski resorts, see opposite travel patterns. Shoulder season falls in the months between your peak season and your off-peak season.
How can shoulder season affect hotel revenue?
Shoulder season is the median travel season that influences the business and revenue that comes into an entire area. Restaurants, area attractions, and local tourism booms in the area, and then simmers down. Hotels will see a drop in demand, as there is less overall business to be captured in the area during shoulder season.
What are the pros and cons of shoulder season?
While shoulder season can be challenging, there are certainly benefits for hotels and travelers during median months. Consider some of the common pros and cons of shoulder season before implementing your revenue strategy.
3 steps hotels can take to plan for shoulder season
Schedule time for operations, sales, and guest service managers to get together and plan your property’s shoulder season strategy. Shoulder season requires a lot of preparation, so we recommend breaking your efforts down into these three simple steps.
7 sales strategies to implement during shoulder season
From one hotel to another, shoulder season sales strategies will differ. But no matter what, we recommend implementing targeted sales and marketing campaigns based on travel patterns in your area and the unique features and amenities that your property has to offer travelers.
4 tips to help you analyze shoulder season results and identify best practices
Run revenue reports that break your hotel’s performance down over the last few years, focusing specifically on shoulder season performance. Note patterns, opportunities for improvement, and time periods where there’s a large disparity between rate and occupancy.
Now you know all about shoulder season!
Revenue planning and budgeting are two of the most massive and time-consuming tasks that hotel revenue managers will undertake each year. By breaking down the year into seasons of travel, however, the task can become much more manageable. Don’t let annual revenue overwhelm you.
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Wowza! What an interesting, intriguing, informative story takes place at the 80’s fabulously waning times of Wisconsin’s Playboy House!
