Travel Tip 69
I loved hiking around Washington State in October when I lived in Seattle.
When is the cheapest time to travel?
Hint: It’s now.
Check the weather in some of the places you want to travel. Don’t look at yearly averages. Look at today’s weather and the forecast for the next week. Does it look good? Then this time next year you should probably be on your way there.
My friend Liz Demer (of coloring book fame) arrived in Cusco on October 10th and has been enjoying some of the most popular spots in Cusco and the Sacred Valley without the crowds. One afternoon in Cusco we were having a drink on a balcony overlooking the plaza and she commented on how great the people watching was. I agreed but cautioned that June through August she would see the same number of locals and up to ten times as many international tourists. There is a huge difference between August and October.
Liz and I had the Pisac archeological site in the Sacred Valley all to ourselves.
It’s official
As a travel writer, I pay attention to all sorts of travel news from around the world. So I was excited when I saw that “according to Expedia’s research, the week of October 20th is the cheapest time to travel. International average ticket prices are $260 USD lower than in the summer.”
My Travel Tip 62 was about if you should travel in the off season and I concluded that it’s not for everybody. However, if you’re a budget traveler, you should be traveling as much as possible in the off season.
From June through August there are long lines of tourists waiting to get their picture taken in this doorway in Ollantaytambo, but Liz had it all to herself.
Is October the best time to travel?
Regardless of your budget, October can also give you smaller crowds and better weather. If you love colorful fall foliage in the northern hemisphere or spring flowers in the southern hemisphere, October is your best time for travel.
The exception: hurricanes
Even if you live under a rock, you’ve probably seen the news about hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaking havoc earlier this month. October is not the best time to visit the Caribbean, or the Mexican and US Caribbean coasts.
Research your dream destination this week.
My point is that now is the time to see what hotel and tour costs are, as well as check the weather and crowd sizes in places you want to travel. Check the news to see if there are any holidays or festivals there. The best time to look for international flights is 4-6 months before the trip, but you can get an idea of what other travel costs are. Just take my word for it that flights prices will be lower and research everything else about your dream destination.
My first attempt at learning to surf was in Brazil in October 2022, when the beaches were uncrowded.
Blog
Travel Tips for Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
This is my blog from October 20 2022, when I spent a month in Brazil. It was low season for tourism and also the lowest temperatures of the year, which were still too hot for me. I was thankful to be able to travel around Brazil without the crowds and without the worst of the heat.
Article
My article about the Saqra of Paucartambo was in print this week! I’m so excited for people to read it and learn about how the Saqra dance has developed since 1924. Ori is subscription only, so you won’t find it on newsstands. Click on the link above to order your copy of the fall 2024 issue.
Kelly's last dance with the Saqra of Paucartambo was in July this year.