10 Tips To Skip The Crowds While Traveling

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!

Less Crowded Attractions at Popular Vacation Spots Part Two

The summer months are the most popular times to travel. You may have big dreams to see big locations across Europe, Asia, and America. But you may also find yourself nervous about the huge crowds you will face at these locations. While we certainly wouldn’t advocate that you head to Rome and skip the Coliseum, we’re here to give you some less popular but equally spectacular attractions you can visit when you need a break from the huge crowds.

Rome, Italy

Like we mentioned, don’t skip seeing the various sights of ancient Rome. They are well worth the crowds, but you can still experience some amazing, less busy sights after you’ve checked off those bucket list items. Our first piece of advice is to go to some of Rome’s smaller museums. You will find amazing art, historic artifacts, and beautiful sculptures without the crowds. You can also find many less-visited Roman ruins that are beautiful, but less known. Some examples include Ostia Antica, catacombs, and the Caracalla Baths. With over 1,000 churches in Rome, you can visit plenty of beautiful, smaller churches to escape the tourists. Rome does have some green spaces, so if you need a break head to Rome’s parks for some peace. If you want an alternative neighborhood, San Lorenzo is a hip area where you will find cheap bars, tons of students, and street parties. Trastevere is a charming neighborhood that doesn’t have many sights, but has an old-world feel. Go here to explore with no goal in mind, except to see some beautiful buildings, great restaurants, and unique shops.

Prague, Czech Republic

This beautiful city has become more and more popular in recent years. Luckily there’s still plenty of amazing sites to see that aren’t crowded by tourists. While the Prague Castle is beautiful, a lesser known, equally beautiful option is Vyšehrad, a castle with grounds that are perfect for a picnic. While of course you will want to see Old Town, walk around residential neighborhoods to see beautiful architecture and quiet, lovely streets. Strahov Monastery is absolutely beautiful, and has much less tourism than other areas of Prague. Get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the Botanical Gardens. If you want to enjoy the waterfront in a quiet place, head to the Rašín’s waterfront to watch swans, sail boats, and simply to enjoy the view. Want to explore a beautiful area without the crowds? Head to Zbraslav Chateau, which feels like it’s miles and miles away from Prague.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin has a lot of history, and some main places you are going to want to see. But once you’ve gotten past those, there’s tons of things in Berlin to do that will keep you away from crowds of tourists. Don’t skip a beer garden, but do find one that is in a less tourist-central area. Do head over to Museum Island, which has not only the most visited museums, but small, strange museums you’ll be surprised to see exist. If you want to enjoy a flea market without the crowds, head to the lesser known RAW Flohmarket, where more of the locals shop. Looking for something unique? Tempelhofer Feld is an abandoned airfield that is now used for grill parties, picnics, and even wind surfing. Berlin has a huge underground scene, so if you feel a bit more daring, go looking for it! (But please, be safe).

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand is an extremely affordable vacation, meaning every year it gets more and more crowded. There’s tons to see in this busy city, and plenty to do off the beaten path! The first thing you can do is simply walk and explore without a destination in mind. You’ll find tons of culture, street food, shops, and markets just by walking around. There’s plenty of unique museums which will be less crowded than the traditional museums. If you’re looking for a quieter beach scene, head to Hat Tri-Triang to avoid some of the bigger, louder crowds.

New Orleans, USA

New Orleans has a reputation as being a big party city, and is filled with tourists at many different times of the year. There’s plenty to see, and plenty of ways to avoid the touristy crowds. See the French Quarter, but then get exploring. The Garden District is a beautiful area filled with parks and gardens to explore. And there’s many other unique neighborhoods to explore outside of the French Quarter. The cemeteries may be morbid, but are fascinating, but be careful as some of them are in not-so-safe neighborhoods. Try heading to Frenchmen Street to get a less touristy street filled with clubs and bars. And of course, like most cities, check out some of the more obscure museums such as the Pharmacy Museum or the Voodoo Museum.