The joy of offseason travel
Alex Teixeira
As temperatures cool, classic summer destinations transform. Promenades, once bustling with beachgoers, are now quiet enough to hear the swell of the sea. Birds migrate across winter sunsets, and there's a renewed slowness and authenticity to even the most sought-after spots in Spain, France and Portugal.
For those willing to go against the grain of summer travel, there’s the promise of something enchanting. A sense of being privy to a secret. A remarkable side to familiar summer favorites.
As the calendar months roll on, consider this an invitation to revisit nostalgic vacation destinations in a fresh way, from Christmas on the Amalfi Coast to the off-season Algarve.
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November on the French Riviera
“There’s something healing about winter in the Riviera”, says journalist Sarah Baxter—we couldn't agree more. Especially when the morning fall sun hits the Baie des Anges.
December on the Amalfi Coast
Christmastime offers a fresh take on this summer classic. Wind through the light-strung cobblestones of hilltop Amalfi and indulge in hot zeppole washed down with local red wine.
January in Andalusia
Ring in the new year in Madrid (join in the local tradition of squeezing 12 grapes into your mouth as the clock strikes) and fiesta until dawn, before traveling on to the Andalusian cities of Seville and Córdoba.
February by Lake Bled
Whether it's Valentine's, Galentine's, or Palentine's, there's an air of romance to Lake Bled when blanketed in mist, snow, or frost. A slow travel journey by sleeper train adds an extra hint of magic.
March in the Algarve
Low season is a coveted secret among lovers of the Algarve’s most authentic side. The surf is fail-safe, the seafood fresh, and the Ria Formosa teems with rare waterfowl and flamingos.
