Tips for Avoiding the Crowds When Traveling


When you go on holiday you are looking to your new surroundings to find relaxation and enjoyment away from the hussle and bussle of your everyday life. If your chosen destination is a hot tourist spot then you are likely to be overwhelmed by masses of tourists, noise and long line ups at your intended site visits. At this point you might wonder why you ever left home. Here are some tips to bypass the crowds and avoid the frustrations that might otherwise spoil your trip.

  • Book Your Passes or Event Tickets in Advance:

    These days many Passes and Event Tickets can be booked online or through your Travel Agent and will save waiting in line ups.

  • Arrive before or After the Crowds:

    Many of the sites have key times when the masses turn up, go early before the crowds or later, when they are likely to have left – even lunch times are good as many of the groups will have left to have lunch.

  • Travel in the Off-Season and avoid Main Holiday Periods:

    Find out when the shoulder seasons are for your particular destination – these periods are often cheaper and definitely have less crowds to tend with. Remember that main holidays like, Christmas and Easter usually incur supplementary charges and will definitely be more crowded with holiday makers.

  • Talk To Your Travel Agent and Hotel Concierge:

    Ask questions, get maps, ask about taxis, restaurants and the sites you wish to visit. These folks are experts and can save you lots of hassle trying to find things out for yourself.

  • Sign Up For Special Tours/Event in Advance:

    If there are any special events or tours being offered for your Vacation buy them in advance. Firstly they are usually cheaper purchased in advance and secondly it ensures you get booked in before they are sold out.

  • Week Days as opposed to Weekends:

    I think we all know that most sites and events are less crowded during the week than on weekends when people are off work and the kids are out of school. Flights are also usually cheaper weekdays than they are on weekends.

  • Choose the lesser visited sites during Peak Periods:

    If you know that the main sites are going to be crowded during peak periods, try to choose the more off the beaten path sites during these times and save the main sites for quieter periods.

  • School Holidays are always busy:

    When the kids are out of school you can guarantee that sites will be busy as families will be limited to traveling during these times if they don’t wish to take their kids out of school. Try to choose your travel times outside of these periods if you wish to avoid the crowds.

  • Opt Out of the Photo Ops on Entry:

    Bypass the Photo Ops often offered at sites as you enter. Firstly you will bypass the line-up and you will save money as they are usually expensive. You can readily take your own photos with a cell phone these days.

  • Vary your Meal Times:

    If you don’t have to have set meal times for medical reasons, then it makes good sense to vary your meal times to avoid the busy restaurant periods especially at lunch and dinner times. Besides avoiding the crowds you are likely to get better service when the staff have less folks to service at one time.

  • Avoid staying in Noisy Areas:

    If you like a good nights sleep then be aware of the location of your Hotel. Stay away from busy and high traffic areas especially if there is a lot of night life going on in that area. Even if the Hotel is quiet you are likely to have late night revellers coming back to the Hotel at all hours of the night, and after a night of frivolity they aren’t likely to be quiet when going to their rooms. Check to see if any sports events are going on in the area and if the teams are staying at your Hotel – if they are you might be in for a noisy night.

  • Are there any Cruise Ships in Town?:

    When Cruise ships dock for the day passengers are offered sightseeing and shopping tours. This means the local sites and shops will be overrun with Cruise passengers. Find out when Cruises are booked to Dock and if possible avoid the sites and shops on those days.

  • Check for The Weather:

    Mother nature controls a lot of what we do especially for outdoor activities. Check the forecasts and plan your indoor and outdoor activities accordingly to accommodate the weather. It pays to be flexible when it comes to weather, and to have back up plans if the weather changes.


Source by Avril Betts