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Traveling during the off-season has long been seen as a secret weapon for savvy globe-trotters. The benefits are evident: fewer crowds, reduced fares, and an overall more relaxed experience. But what about families with school-aged children? Can they join the ranks of off-season adventurers and break free from the shackles of peak-season travel? In this guide, we delve into the world of off-season family vacations, exploring the pros and cons, and sharing insights from parents who’ve dared to march to the beat of their own travel drum. Say goodbye to the sky-high prices, endless queues, and summer chaos – and say hello to a new way of exploring the world with your little explorers.
Choosing Off-Season: A Family’s Perspective
For Liz Thimm, a pharmacist from Wauwatosa, Wis., planning her family’s next vacation was an exercise in breaking free from the traditional school vacation mold. Instead of squeezing their travels into school breaks, Liz boldly booked a 10-day trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama, in February. The key to her approach? Avoiding the rigidity of school schedules.
Liz, along with her 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, decided not to dance to the same beat as the school calendar. Her decision was driven by the vivid memories of a spring-break escapade to Puerto Rico in 2019, where they endured exhausting layovers and late-night departures, all while paying a premium for the experience.
The Allure of Off-Season Travel
The advantages of traveling during the off-season have never been more appealing. The usual summer vacation frenzy, with its soaring prices and natural disasters, has taken the shine off peak-season travel. Families who’ve experienced this chaos are now turning their backs on the conventional, embracing the allure of off-season adventures.
A Growing Trend: Families Taking Control
Empowered by the rise of remote work and virtual schooling, some well-off parents are challenging the norm. They are redefining family travel by extending school breaks, even if it means missing a few days of classes. Natalie Kurtzman, a travel advisor, observes this trend as she assists clients in planning their getaways. The desire for flexibility and cost-savings is reshaping the way families think about vacations.
Karen Rosenblum, founder of the Spain Less Traveled travel agency, acknowledges this shift, noting that parents are becoming more audacious in their quest to explore the world with their kids. The traditional school calendar is no longer a barrier.
Educational Concerns and Mixed Messages
While the idea of off-season travel with school-aged children sounds enticing, it doesn’t come without its critics. Teachers and school administrators worry about the potential ramifications of students missing school. Joanne Davi, a middle school teacher in California, has observed a significant increase in students opting for travel over school since the pandemic. She emphasizes the value of education and the message skipping school might send.
In Pursuit of Year-Round Travel
Not all families in the United States are abandoning the traditional school vacation schedule. The Family Travel Association’s U.S. Family Travel Survey revealed that summer and spring vacations still dominate family travel plans. However, 56 percent of respondents found school breaks to be a challenge, and 59 percent cited affordability as their most pressing concern.
The cost of travel is just one piece of the puzzle. Rising living expenses, driven by persistent inflation, have influenced how families allocate their resources. Lynn Minnaert, a professor at Edinburgh Napier University, notes that affordability has long been a challenge, but prices have now reached unprecedented levels. Off-season travel could be a game-changer for many families, offering financial relief.
The Changing Landscape of Family Travel
As the desire for flexibility and affordability takes root, Melissa Verboon, the founder of the Facebook group Travel With Kids, notes a shift in family travel discussions. The group’s membership has grown significantly since the pandemic, with more families considering school-year adventures. The pandemic prompted parents to reevaluate the importance of family time and the types of trips they could enjoy with their children.
The Age Factor: Traveling with Younger Children
For parents yearning to explore year-round, one truth remains: it’s notably easier when your children are in grade school. Younger children have fewer academic, extracurricular, and social demands, making it simpler to orchestrate school-year adventures. However, as children transition into middle school, the challenges mount.
Alison McMaster, a travel advisor, has been traveling with her two sons during the school year since they were young, often extending school breaks to accommodate longer trips. She firmly believes that the educational value of international travel outweighs missed classroom days.
Navigating School Policies
The tolerance for missed school days varies among public and private school systems. Some private schools, like the one Alison McMaster’s sons attend, are accommodating, recognizing the educational benefits of travel. Public schools, educating the majority of U.S. students, display varying degrees of tolerance. Recent years have witnessed a surge in absences, impacting test scores.
In some school districts, families might receive letters requiring meetings with school staff if a child misses a certain number of classes. The rules and expectations can vary widely, adding complexity to the decision-making process for parents.
Exploring a World of Learning
Some families, finding traditional school schedules at odds with their travel desires, choose to step out of the system temporarily. “Worldschooling,” a loose term referring to making travel a core part of a child’s education, can involve extended trips or even years of travel.
Parents adopting this approach might try to adhere to a standard curriculum using workbooks and remote learning tools or opt for more flexible, interest-driven learning. While it’s not the conventional path, worldschooling offers children the chance to explore the world and learn in a more experiential way.
Off-season travel with school-aged children isn’t without its challenges, but the rewards are undeniable. For families daring to take the plunge, the freedom to explore the world on their terms can be an enriching and transformative experience. As the landscape of family travel continues to evolve, it’s clear that many parents are redefining the norms, prioritizing quality time with their children, and forging their path to unlock the world’s wonders. Whether you choose to venture out during the off-season or embrace worldschooling, the possibilities are endless, and the memories, priceless.
