Travelling in the Low Season - What I Learned

@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.