@cryptoctopus and I are getting back on our feet after our babymoon to Italy. I love travelling because when I come home, I reorient my life around what is most important. It is so easy to get bogged down into a state of reactng rather than being proactive. Travelling gives a thousand foot view of ones life, clarifying and honing in on what really matters.
Anyways, @cryptoctopus and I had a fantastic time in Italy. Here is what I learned about travelling Italy in the low season.
Pros
Many of the travel blogs I read about travelling in the low season mentioned the bad weather and rain. Leaving behind three feet of snow in Canada, Italy was a wonderful contrast at 10-15 C. Hiking the Cinque Terre was way more pleasant than the Summer where it averages 24 C. On the two days it rained on the Almafi coast, there was a mysterious beauty.
There are less tourists. It makes you feel like you are the only one discovering a rich culture and spectacular place. In Riomoggierre, Cinque Terre, we were the only tourists staying in town. I loved meeting the locals at the small supermarket and only restaurant open in town. It gave a taste of what the area would have been like before it was "discovered" by the tourism industry in the 70s.
Cheaper lodging. We stayed at airbnbs the whole trip and were surprised at the great deals and places we found. Despite some letdowns in how the airbnbs turned out to be, we had the pick of the local gems to stay at for unbeatable rates.
Cons
Back to the weather. Travelling to the coast in Italy is way better in the sun. Because of the rain, we missed out on the "Trail of the gods" on the almafi coast, the blue grotto in Capri, and all the boating and beach experiences that define the area for travellers. I bought a white, linen beach dress on discount in Capri. I will return with the dress for the sun and heat.
Many restaurants in Cinque Terre and along the Almafi coast are closed during the low season. @cryptoctopus and I are real foodies. @cryptoctoous can't go to a restaurant without checking its reviews first on google. It happened over and over again where we would find a top restaurant on tripadvisor to be closed once we got there.
I tooks this picture of a clam and octopus risotto at our favourite restaurant, Pepe Bianco, in Sorrento. We gave it five stars on google review. Highly recommend it.
Nicer hotels and resorts shut down during low season. For those wanting a resort experience in the sun during the winter, don't go to Italy. Most buildings are built for heat with ceramic tiling making it cold. Pools and hot tubs are shut down for winter.
Conclusion
Travelling to Italy during the off season had its downsides, but overall, it was an incredible trip. We captured a beautiful country through photos, ate some incredible food, and experienced an authentic and less touristy side to Italy. We came home from our travels with a new energy and clarity about our goals. Henry Miller said “one’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” The trip was a perfect wyt to start my maternity leave. Excited to see what the future holds.
Thanks for a great review and post!
I had wondered about travelling during off season particularly places like Italy. Sounds pretty disappointing to have restaurants closed but glad you were able to find some gems!
All the best for the rest of your pregnancy, enjoy your maternity leave :)
Thank you!
This is a great quote, and I cannot agree more:
Whenever I'm home I feel like I'm being progressively compressed down, by responsibility and habit and a thousand little things that seem more important than they really are, into a smaller and smaller box until I either break out or else become permanently square. Travel is how I break out of that box. I always come home excited, heart full of ideas and opportunity and a knowing that anything is possible, only to get trapped in the box again until I can find my way out and travel once more.
I absolutely understand what you are talking about. @cryptoctopus and I use future authoring, a goal-creating course. It is so easy to forget about those big goals. I just heard Jordan Peterson say "you aim what you see." If only we can keep our sights on those goals.
Ohhh! I saw @cryptoctopus mention the self-authoring suite in a post from a few months ago and it reminded me that I'd had Jordan Peterson's course bookmarked for a very long time; I'd intended to look into it but never did. An inauspicious start to accomplishing long term goals, but I guess that show I could benefit from the course.
Is it something that you would recommend? :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I believe someone will benefit from the experience. Following you now to know more about your adventure.
Thanks for the review. I've been there in October so its the other side of the same coin.
Thanks for catching that!
Beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing!
Whenever I get home from travels I want to clean my house and get rid of all the clutter. I love about travels is the experience that you actually need so little materialistic things.
Yes, absolutely!
Travelling just on the fringe of peak season works well. Less tourists and it's not full on low season weather and more things are open.
Going to Italy at anytime is nice though :)
Yes, that is great advice! I would go back to Italy in May for that reason.
I love traveling during the off season. Fewer people and more time to enjoy your surroundings. Any weather is better than the blizzard I'm in in Alaska right now!
Ouf! Stay warm! I cant imagine how an Alaskan storm would be. The weather in Italy was pretty wonderful compared to the 20 cm of snow and then ice storm that we missed while being there!
Italy is a fantastic place to visit, high season or low season. I'm sure that, years from now, you will look back at this time as one of the best in your life.
Nice and informative review... lived in the south of Spain many years back, and the best time for deals vs. weather/things being open was typically right at the edge between low and mid-season; basically mid-March to about mid-April (somewhat dependent on when Easter fell). Looks like you had a good time, though!
I've never been at this time of year. We have gone in May each time we've been. Usually great weather and a little less crowded. But I'd love to go in the off season to experience the local life a little more.
Good luck to you both and hopefully we will all grow as a community on here and be part of the blockchain future! Great pics!
Extraordinary learn from Italy, and a question that music likes Italy @annester
wow , what an amazing shots, the beautiful italy, the photography looks adorable, you look really gorgeous, hope you have a nice time.
Thank you!
Very pleasant read. Thank you for sharing. Keep traveling!
Thank you! Will do! 😃
Hey annester i read your post it is very interesting and full of enjoyment good you should keep it continue.I also like travelling or visits the beutiful scenes.
wou resep yang sagat bagus akan saya cobain di rumah, saya juga punya cerita yang cukup rumit kalou punya waktu kunjungi ketempat saya.
i love your work, continue believing in yourself and you’ll be unstoppable.
It seems really nice place in first shot!
The pictures are great, as is the advice. I know that transatlantic travel to Italy is much more affordable during the winter, but wasn't sure about the practicality of actually traveling and enjoying Italy once we arrived.
Great balance to the pros and cons of traveling during the offseason. I tend to think that less crowds ends up being the best pro and offsets the cons. It makes the experience more personal I think. Following!