Prepare to Schedule Your 2025 Journeys during these 'Quiet Periods'
Peak vacation periods, such as specific weeks or seasons, are popular for a reason: they often offer ideal weather, a packed calendar of events, or time off around holidays or school breaks. However, these advantages come with higher costs and larger crowds. If you have the freedom to adjust your schedule, you might benefit from scheduling your 2025 trips during what are known as "slow periods," or "dead weeks."
What are "dead weeks"?
Unlike the extended "shoulder seasons" that bridge high seasons and off-seasons, "dead weeks" are brief, precise moments when travel slows down. These periods frequently appear between or immediately after travel peaks. As The Points Guy mentions, there are a few "dead weeks" throughout the year:
- January: The week following New Year's Day until Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January to February: The weeks between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President's Day
- September: The week following Labor Day
- November to December: Two weeks following Thanksgiving, from around midweek after the holiday weekend to the middle of December
Keep in mind that these dates may shift slightly from year to year, but you can expect affordable prices on accommodations (hotels and vacation rentals), airfare, cruises, and tours during these time frames.
Of course, extended "shoulder seasons" might also be a favorable option for booking a trip, offering fewer crowds and lower prices while still maintaining decent weather (though prices may be even lower during the true off-season, when you're more likely to encounter closures and challenging weather conditions).
Finding "dead week" travel deals
To locate bargains for travel during "dead weeks," follow the same method you would during any other time: focus your search on the general timeframes and be flexible with your arrival and departure dates. Here are a few websites for discovering travel deals, including Skyscanner. Scanning Google Flights and other major travel search engines and price comparison tools can also be helpful.
During peak vacation periods, you might opt for "dead weeks" travel to avoid crowds and high costs. These "dead weeks" are brief periods when travel slows down, such as the week following New Year's Day until Martin Luther King Jr. Day or two weeks following Thanksgiving.
