Fabrice Moizan, the general manager of Eden Rock — St Barths (#10 Resort in the Caribbean Islands), the legendary red-and-white-flecked property in St. Barts, began noticing the off-season trend in the summer of 2020, when travel restrictions across Europe rerouted many vacationers to the Caribbean. The property had an unexpected surge in bookings from May through August, traditionally a quiet period. In addition to offering more affordable rates, “low season is even better temperature-wise because, although it’s warmer, it’s breezier,” he says. In 2025, Eden Rock was almost fully booked the entire year.
The shift is happening in the southern hemisphere too. Travelers are heading to Cape Town and the surrounding Winelands in winter, a time more typically reserved for safari itineraries. The newly reimagined Spier Hotel, set in Cape Dutch– style buildings on a winery in Stellenbosch, is using a winter wellness package to woo safarigoers to the Western Cape. Guests can steam and sauna on chilly days and, because prices are lower, stay longer to enjoy the “clear skies and crisp mornings,” says brand manager Aimee Raymond. “The atmosphere is gentler.”
This article appeared in the November 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.