Travel Industry Terminology that saves you $$

Travel Terminology That Saves Time & Money

The travel industry is ripe with terminology and abbreviations.

Some you may recognize but some just confuse you further:

PNR
OTA
Layover vs Stopover
PAX
Affinity Group
Bulkhead
Deadheading
FAM
Aft
Open Jaw
Tender
etc.

I would argue that the terms you REALLY should know are the ones used to describe the time of year to travel – especially the terminology that describes the best time to book deals!

Perfect ‘Shoulder Season’ booking scenario

Shoulder Seasons

Should season(s) are travel seasons that are broadly categorized into “Peak Season” (High Season) for ideal weather/holidays (expensive, crowded)

“Low Season” (Off-Season) for budget travel (cheaper, fewer crowds, potential weather issues).

I can help you figure out if April is better than May…and why.

Here is a summary:

Peak Season (High Season):
- When: Summer (June-Aug in Northern Hemisphere), Winter (Nov-Feb in Southern Hemisphere), Christmas/New Year holidays.
- Why: Best weather, school breaks, major events.
- Pros/Cons: High prices, big crowds, but full operations and ideal conditions.
Low Season (Off-Season):
- When: Directly after shoulder season into deep winter (Nov-Mar in Europe) or hottest/wettest months.
- Why: Avoid peak crowds/costs.
- Pros/Cons: Lowest prices, no crowds, but potentially bad weather, closed businesses, or limited activities.
Holiday/Event Peaks (Mini-Peaks):
- When: Spring Break, Easter, specific local festivals, national holidays, religous events, sporting events
- Why: Unique experiences, local culture.
- Pros/Cons: Can bring temporary crowds and higher costs within generally quieter periods.

PEAK busy Shoulder Season! Cherry Blossoms always bring out the crowds!

If you are an avid cruiser or new to the cruise world, the season you should pay attention to is called “Wave Season“!

Wave Season refers to a period of time in the year when cruise lines offer their best deals. This usually takes place between January and March (now!) and can be better than Black Friday deals!

Want to take advantage of the current “Wave Season”? Reach out to me to figure out the best cruise line for you and for the best deals.

Want to know what the other terms mean? Click HERE

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Sea you later….

-Juliet Alpha Sierra Mike India November