Fabrice Moizan, general manager of Eden Rock – St Barths (#10 Resort in the Caribbean Islands), the legendary red-and-white-speckled property in St. Barts, began noticing the off-season trend in the summer of 2020, when travel restrictions across Europe diverted many vacationers to the Caribbean. The property had an unexpected surge in bookings from May to August, a traditionally quiet period. In addition to offering more affordable rates, “the low season is even better in terms of temperature because, although it is hotter, there is more breeze,” he says. In 2025, Eden Rock was almost full for the entire year.
The change is also happening in the southern hemisphere. Travelers head to Cape Town and the surrounding Winelands in winter, a time normally reserved for safari itineraries. The newly renovated Spier Hotel, housed in Cape Dutch-style buildings on a winery in Stellenbosch, is using a winter wellness package to attract safari goers to the Western Cape. Guests can steam and sauna on cold days and, since prices are lower, stay longer to enjoy the “clear skies and cool mornings,” says brand manager Aimee Raymond. “The atmosphere is softer.”
This article appeared in the November 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
