Find out how low season travel can offer savings, fewer crowds and more authentic experiences
The low season is classified according to the period of the least tourist traffic. Although some destinations have different times when it is recommended to visit, mainly due to climatic variations, it can be said that Brazilians travel less from March to June and from August to November.
These are the times when most people work and/or study. Therefore, the high season, marked by end-of-year holidays, holidays and carnivals, takes place in the months of December, January, February, March and July.
Despite the lower demand, the low season is not a bad option to enjoy your vacation. Quite the opposite – for a number of reasons, it can be even better than at busier times.
Considering that fewer people travel during the low season, it’s safe to say that there are fewer people at airports, bus stations, hotels and tourist attractions.
This is especially good for those who want to rest and relax during their holidays, as it is possible to avoid the crowds and queues.
Saving time is also another advantage. Without crowds, the risks of potential delays – whether related to transport, accommodation or sightseeing – are lower.
Savings on accommodation and tickets
The logic of the market is simple: the more demand, the higher the prices.
During high season, it is normal for accommodation and ticket prices to be more expensive because demand is high.
Everything can become even more expensive when special dates approach, such as Christmas, New Year and Carnival. This is why it is recommended that reservations be made as much as possible.
In low season, as fewer people tend to travel, prices also drop. This in itself is already a lure to boost tourism, but hotel chains and airlines, hoping to attract even more people, also offer exclusive values and other benefits.
More personalized services
With fewer people to serve, tourism companies are able to provide more personalized service to customers during the low season.
Teams at hotels, airlines, airports, travel agencies, among other organizations, are less overwhelmed during off-peak periods, which allows for closer, more humanized and comprehensive services.
Solutions offered by hotels in the low season
In addition to the positive points related to transportation, the low seasons are especially favorable when it comes to accommodation.
To attract more customers and provide the best experience for those already staying, hotels offer a number of perks during times when demand is lower.
When hotels are not full, some guests may have the opportunity to receive room or service upgrades.
This is because there are more empty rooms and employees have time to attend to the needs and wants of customers more carefully.
Thus, there are more chances to stay in a better room and get benefits that were not included at the time of booking – all without paying anything or for well below normal prices.
Special promotional offers and other benefits
Low season prices are naturally friendlier, but hotels can make their accommodation packages more attractive by reducing prices even further in limited promotions.
It is also common for the sector as a whole to move to warm the market during periods of lower tourist demand. Last August, the Ministry of Tourism promoted the Tourism Fair, an in-person and online promotion that enabled hotel room rates across the country with discounts of up to 45%.
In addition, hotel chains can offer special payment conditions, points in loyalty programs, free access to certain activities and other advantages in the form of services or gifts.
By taking advantage of local events, hotels have a good chance of filling their rooms outside of the traditional high season.
In Rio de Janeiro, for example, Rock in Rio takes place after the school holidays and before the end-of-year holidays. In 2024, the festival is scheduled for September, which is a month with little tourist interest, but the event attracts people from all over the country who need a place to stay.
Hotels can also promote their events, such as tours of tourist attractions in the region where they are located, gastronomic meetings, musical performances, parties celebrating special dates, etc.
Day use is a service offered by large hotels in which customers do not need to make reservations and spend the night to enjoy the common areas of the facility.
In this way, a person can enjoy the pool, leisure areas, sauna, changing rooms, gym, restaurants, spa and exclusive service without having to book a room.
This is a great option to break the routine and experience all that a hotel has to offer, but without going too far from home and for a much lower price than full accommodation.
The service is not new, but it gained popularity during the pandemic when travel became more difficult. To maintain their activities, hotels offered day use – more economical and more controllable in relation to the maximum number of people in a single environment (to ensure everyone’s safety) than conventional accommodation.
In the post-pandemic period, day use in Rio de Janeiro is widely used by those who are not on vacation, but still need to rest on weekends, holidays or even weekdays. Outside of high season, hotels tend to be emptier, which makes the experience even better.
