Travel is much more than a fun vacation. Travel gives people
a chance to learn about new cultures, meet amazing people, and gain a respect
for a way of life different from their own. Trips to beautiful beaches are
usually crowded, but an increasing number of people are taking trips to
less-visited destinations, which mean more crowds.
By no means does that mean you shouldn’t travel. No matter
where you go, you must be sure to respect the travel destination you are in.
But you don’t have to avoid your dream trip just because of the crowds. Here’s
how.
1.
Travel in the low season. It’s easy enough to
look up the high season in any country or city you’d like to visit and plan a
trip around that. Want to see Italy? Avoid summer and try going in fall
instead, when the weather is still nice but the crowd sizes are much smaller.
2.
There may be the occasional exception to the
above rule. If for example, you have always dreamed of seeing the cherry
blossoms in Japan, there is absolutely no way to avoid the crowds. This is the
highest season in Japan. If this is the case book your trip, but try to get out
and see the sights earlier in the day and in the evening, when the crowds are
less thick.
3.
If busy trains and busses drive you nuts, the
best thing you can do is simply avoid them. Book accommodation near the big
sites you’d like to see so you are able to walk. If you need to take public
transportation, plan your sightseeing wisely. Plan your touring so you only
need to take public transportation once or twice during the day.
4.
Do some sightseeing off-the-beaten-path. Tourist
sites are popular for a reason, so we’re not saying you should skip them. But
less popular attractions are less crowded and often still stunning. Do some
research online to find great alternative attractions!
5.
Avoid major tourist attractions on weekends. Not
only is this when tourists are out and about, it is when locals are as well.
Use weekends as more laid-back travel days.
6.
We cannot state this tip enough; get up early. Yes
you want to relax and sleep in, but it simply isn’t worth it. Wake up early and
get to those top attractions before the crowds. We’re talking be at the door
when they open.
7.
If you are heading to a city that gets a lot of
cruise ships coming in, look at the schedule of those ships. Thousands of extra
visitors pour into cities from cruise ships. Avoiding these ships will make
your destination much less crowded.
8.
Sometimes, going early to a destination is not
the solution. The sunrise at the top of Haleakala in Hawaii, for example, is
packed. Do some research to see when the off-peak hours are. Sunset for
example, is much less crowded and still plenty beautiful.
9.
Check out more than just tour guides when
researching your trip. Books tend to focus on the popular, tourist-heavy areas
in any destination. Instead check out some travel blogs. Ask around to see if
you know anyone who has been there. They will give you much better advice than
a book will.
10.
Buy your tickets to paid attractions in advanced
when you can. Popular attractions aren’t only crowded, but they have long lines
just to get tickets. Waiting for a ticket for the Eiffel Tower for example can
take hours on its own. Plus when you skip the line, you have more time to
explore!