Avoid Crowds of Tourists by Staying Where They Cannot
Traveling in the off – season is the best way to close deals and avoid the tourist crowds, but you can’t always travel in the off-season. Get rid of the tourist crowds for a more intimate travel experience by staying where large groups simply won’t fit because the amenities can’t accommodate them.
You won’t be able to escape the crowds on popular sites or during the day, but Rick Steves explains how you can escape in the evenings:
Popular day-trip destinations near big cities and resorts such as Toledo (near Madrid), San Marino (near the huge Italian beach resorts) and San Gimignano (near Florence) create a quieter and more pleasant atmosphere at night. when legions of day-trippers prefer the predictable plumbing of their hotels in the big city or beach resorts. Small towns usually lack hotels large enough for tourist groups and are often inaccessible for large buses. So, in the worst case scenario, they will face the midday crowd.
When I visited the southern coast of Italy, I used this method and stayed in Positano for most of the trip, rather than in larger cities like Salerno or Naples. Since the city’s streets are too narrow for the big tour buses, I never had to deal with crowded restaurants, beaches, or overnight stays. You can do the same by staying in small towns that are close to your target destination, and then doing some sightseeing on your day trips.
When To Travel To Europe: When To Travel | Rick Steves