A trusty guide for when you want to travel where and when nobody else is!

By creammagazine, September 24, 2026

Not the most conventional of destination guides, Offseason – from the Lonely Planet stable of books – is more for those who prefer their travel off the beaten track, out of the ordinary, far from the madding crowd – if you get my drift.

Written by travel writers Sarah Baxter and Paul Bloomfield, the book presents 100 destinations around the world and asks a slightly different question: When is the best time to go if you don’t want to go when everybody else does?

Organised across the 12 months of the year, most of the destinations are selected for their appeal outside of conventional peak seasons. The idea is that travelling at the right “wrong” time can mean fewer crowds, different experiences, potentially lower costs, and give you a better perspective of real local life.

Some destinations are rather obscure, such as The Galápagos in March (snorkelling is meant to be beautiful at that time); Namibia in May (clearer skies so it’s great for stargazing), and Kerala, India during its wet season (where waterfalls and lush landscapes fight for your attention).

Then there are more obvious regions that you often see on travellers’ bucket lists, but with a flip of the calendar making them feel even more special. Example here are Tuscany, Italy in November to experience more local traditions and great food; Spain’s Western Canaries in January where hiking is pleasant, even in winter conditions. Or Morocca at the start of the year if surfing is your thing – for this is when swells surge across the Atlantic.

Offseason differs from many Lonely Planet books in that it makes you consider some far-out places to travel to, along with providing an alternative perspective of more common destinations. And if you’re planning a full year of travel (lucky you!), the month-by-month layout and approach of the book is most helpful.

It’s also quite a nice antidote to the increasingly familiar experience of arriving somewhere beautiful only to discover that you’ve arrived along with half the planet and three cruise ships.

Definitely a must-buy for seasoned travellers, then.

Antonino Tati

Lonely Planet’s ‘Offseason’ is available from quality bookstores, RRP $29.99.

For more information, visit shop.lonelyplanet.com.

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