Want to ditch the winter blues and chase warmer days? Discover crowd-dodging escapes, with expert tips on where to go, when to book and how to get the most out of your trip.
By Natalie Reilly
“Everyone hits the Italian lakes in summer,” says travel writer Alexandra Carlton. For a less-crowded option, she recommends Gardone Riviera, a 90-minute drive from Milan. “It’s a beautiful resort town on the western shore of Lake Garda and it’s a fabulous place to try local lake fish, like trout, perch and pike and freshwater sardines that feature prominently in local cuisine.”
Lake Garda in Italy is the perfect escape for cooler months
“Italian lakes are not to be missed but they’re as beautiful in the cooler months, like May or September, when the fish are the fattest,” says Carlton.
Check in at Hotel Galeazzi, a 40-room Art Nouveau hotel with a pool and a beautiful garden for relaxing. And it’s just a short walk from the lake and the historic Vittoriale degli Italiani, a spectacularly designed monument, amphitheatre and museum that locals consider the heart of Gardone.
Queensland’s winter is reliably mild, which makes it a magnet for domestic travel in the cooler months. But while teens seek out the Gold Coast and Noosa attracts well-heeled types, Mooloolaba, forty minutes south of Noosa by car, is comparatively less crowded. Featuring cheaper restaurants, the Sea Life Underwater Aquarium and some great accommodation options, Mooloolaba is a more budget-friendly, low-key option for couples and families that still provides the golden sand and warm water the Sunshine Coast is famous for.
Enjoy warm weather in Mooloolaba, Queensland during winter
May is when the crowds start thinning out but any time between July and November is when you’ll have the best chance of swimming with humpback whales as these are their migrating months.
The newly opened Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel – less than 100 metres from the beach – has 180 rooms, stunning views of the water and a rooftop restaurant (opposite the swanky pool). Head to the esplanade for boutique shopping and don’t miss the award-winning surf club right on the beach. It serves modern Australian fare for lunch and dinner – enjoy it with spectacular views.
“You’d be surprised at how many ways you can earn frequent flyer points. I earned some of my biggest points by signing up for health insurance but you can earn through credit cards and even electricity providers,” says Carlton.
With a CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card you’ll pay no international transaction fees for purchases you make overseas or online. That means more money in your pocket – and a great excuse to say yes to that extra scoop of gelato.
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London is known for being expensive and overcrowded so consider experiencing Scotland’s rich cultural traditions and geographical splendour instead. “Brisbane hosted the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in February, which should have inspired Australians to get in the mood for kilts, sporrans and whisky,” says Carlton. “And I’m excited about the reopening of the historic Palm Houses in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden – they’re a series of 19th-century glasshouses containing hundreds of rare, beautiful plant species.”
Experience Scotland's rich cultural traditions in Edinburgh
Beautiful in the winter and full of native wildlife – like puffins and mountain hares – in the summer, there is no bad time to visit.
Hop on a train to the seaside town of North Berwick, just 40 minutes from Edinburgh, to enjoy sumptuous scenery, fish and chips at The Grange and an overnight stay at The Barn – the fully renovated 19th-century barnhouse is just a stroll away from the beach.
Rather than battle crowds, heat and the overblown prices of the Greek isles, head to another island destination: Malta. Located between Italy and North Africa, it’s a place “packed with history, incredible food and beautiful beaches”, says Carlton.
Visiting Malta in the off-season will offer more value for money
While Sliema is at its best in summer, when it’s warm and dry, the cooler months still tend to be mild and will offer more bang for your buck.
“Malta is packed with history, incredible food and beautiful beaches.” - Alexandra Carlton
The Waterfront Hotel, right on the glittering Sliema promenade, offers reasonable rates if you book ahead, even in the high season of July. It’s also footsteps from The Plaza shopping centre and the ferries, which can take you to Sicily for a day trip or overnight stay in around two hours. Malta is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants – Le GV is the latest, located on a rooftop five minutes away from your hotel. But for more reasonably priced options that swell with charm, try Sally Port Pizzeria in Valletta or Kalamà for freshly caught seafood.
Andrew Cavallaro, co-founder and director of travel consultancy firm Helm, has these tips on how to get the most out of your European trip.
“May to early June and September still offer warm sunshine but there are less crowds and prices for accommodation and flights will be much cheaper,” says Cavallaro. Look for promotions and incentives throughout the year for shoulder and off-season travel.
“Slowing down itineraries to have a more immersive experience often works out to be cheaper than jetting off to numerous countries,” says Cavallaro. “Taking the time to truly understand a destination and its culture is far more rewarding and will save you time and money.”
“Night trains are having a resurgence at the moment with new routes opening up and they offer both a unique experience and a way to save on a night’s accommodation and time, while still getting to your next destination,” says Cavallaro. “Night trains are included within the Eurail Pass but due to their popularity should be booked well in advance.”
“Take medium-sized luggage – lugging oversized suitcases onto trains, planes, buses and cars and across cobblestoned streets is no fun for anyone,” says Cavallaro. “I see so many Aussie travellers doing this who wished they’d packed lighter!”
Published: 11 March 2026
An earlier version of this article was published in Brighter magazine.
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