It’s the best time of year (to travel)

This is the perfect time to travel to save $$$ [View in browser]( [TikTok]( [instagram]( [facebook]( [Friday Around the Planet - Your source for all things travel news](www.lonelyplanet.com) Friday Around the Planet September 01, 2023   This week: Fewer crowds, less expensive flights [People looking out over Tuscany]( Plan your shoulder season travel The perfect time of the year to travel – in my opinion – is somewhere between mid-September and the first week in December. There are a myriad of reasons to love this season, not the least of which is the temperate weather enjoyed nearly globally. And, there are also few crowds which means lower prices on flights and lodging, the two things that make up the bulk of a travel budget. These are good enough reasons for me to aim for shoulder season as a way to significantly trim costs on my dream vacations. I’m currently planning a family trip to Tuscany and Rome, hoping we’ll enjoy our visit more without the throngs of summer travelers. And it’s not too late for you to plan your own shoulder season adventure. We’re delivering plenty of ideas this week about where to go next, including Tuscany, Albania, Mexico and Vietnam. - Melissa Yeager, Senior Editor [Read more about Tuscany]( More shoulder season travel inspo What I spent on a long weekend in Tirana, Albania There’s been a lot of buzz about Albania lately. If you’ve pondered taking a trip, check out Lonely Planet contributor Laura Millar’s article chronicling how much she spent on an affordable trip to Tirana. [Read what Laura spent]( [Orange cocktail with skyline in background](   Copy this trip to Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit The 200-mile stretch of coastline north of Puerto Vallarta is home to charming boutique hotels, luxurious beachfront resorts in the world and bohemian-feeling villages with a decidedly local flair. Chris Dong tells you how to copy this trip. [See Chris' trip]( [View over Riviera Nayarit coastline](   How do I experience Inca ruins at Machu Picchu without the crowds? In this week’s Help Me, LP! Luke Waterson tells it like it is: it’s nearly impossible to sidestep the crowds at Machu Picchu, but there are other, less-clogged paths to see Peru’s spectacular Inca ruins. [Read Luke's advice]( [View of Machu Picchu on clear day](   More travel news - [How I spent an idyllic 3 days cycling around Swedish lakes and forests]( - [Simple Pleasure in Milan: get a La Scala opera ticket for less than €15]( - [Rugby World Cup 2023: a complete travel guide to France's host cities]( - [More ideas on where to go this October]( Trending destination [Buddha and Temple with tranquil pond]( Vietnam Boasting both fast-paced megacities and tranquil beaches, Vietnam has so much to see and do. The trouble can be figuring out how to narrow down what to include in just one trip. Our list of the best places to visit will help you start imagining your visit to Vietnam. [Check out the best places to visit](     Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking [here](.   This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2023 Lonely Planet [Unsubscribe]( Policy](