Travel Glossary · Insurance & Planning
Shoulder Season
Definition
Shoulder Season: Shoulder season is the period between a destination’s peak and low seasons, often offering decent weather, smaller crowds, and better availability or rates.
Shoulder season is often the sweet spot for value. Demand drops, so hotels and lodges may offer lower rates or more availability, while the weather is usually still good. The trade-off is a higher chance of rain, cooler temperatures, or some services running on reduced schedules.
Timing depends on the destination. In French Polynesia, the dry season runs roughly May through October, so April and November are shoulder months. In Europe, April to May and September to October are classic shoulder periods. In southern Africa, the edges of the green season (around November and April) can bring quieter game viewing at lower rates, though some camps close during the heaviest rains.
Our month-by-month guide and best time to visit French Polynesia show where shoulder season works well.
Go deeper
- Where to GoWhere to Travel Each MonthA month-by-month guide to where to travel — the best beaches, safaris, cities and islands for every month of the year, plus business-travel notes.
- Travel GuidesBest Time to Visit French Polynesia: A Season-by-Season GuideWhen to visit French Polynesia: the dry season from May to October, the warmer wet season, whale season, festivals, shoulder months and when prices peak.
- Travel GuidesBest Time for a Safari in Africa: Country by CountryThe best time for an African safari by country: dry-season game viewing, green-season value, the Okavango flood, Victoria Falls and gorilla trekking.
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