Crowd-free Vacation Ideas

Chumbe Island in Zanzibar

If you're really looking to get away from it all (and avoid the crowds), and you don't mind a long flight to do it, check out Chumbe Island off the coast of the island nation of Zanzibar (yup, that's in Africa, folks).  The secluded vacation destination made the top of the Travel Channel's of places to truly escape civilization.  They describe it as a "lush coral gem featuring a pristine jungle, an old, unmanned 60-foot lighthouse (a great place to watch the sunset) and often not another soul on the island apart from yourself and a ranger."

Don't look for too much luxury if you're going to stay on Chumbe Island though, as most of the fancy accommodations are back on the main island, but there's plenty of things to do and see.  Chumbe Island features some of the best snorkeling on the west African coast, the low tides expose the exotic coral, and there's plenty of interesting beach to wander along as well.

http://www.chumbeisland.com/

Grand Canyon Without the Crowds?

Is it possible to see the Grand Canyon, one of the United States' most popular vacation destinations, without the crowds?  Well, the folks at Angel's Gate Tours promise you'll see the canyon, not the crowds, if you sign up with them.  As they say...

"5000 vehicles enter Grand Canyon National Park each day, 95% of them have no idea where they are going. Most end up in long lines and crowded parking lots after spending all morning confused, lost and frustrated."

If you'd rather let a tour guide show you around, you'll probably be more likely to see the good spots and be able to get past the places where the crowds flock.  The tour will drive you around in air conditioned comfort, and there's a picnic lunch (food and drinks provided), so you don't have to deal with the masses in the cafeterias.  There are also hikes and camping trips you can sign up for. 

It all sounds like a pretty good bet to me.  The all-day tours start at $109 for adults, $89 for children.

http://www.angelsgatetours.com

Skiing in Switzerland--Saint Bernard Monastery

Skiing and snowboarding are a lot of fun, but it can be tough to find a place without crowded slopes and long chairlift lines, especially in Europe.  And Switzerland?  It's hard to find a more sought after skiing spot.  People cross oceans for a chance at those slopes.  And yet, you might be able to find a quiet place to do some boarding and skiing...

The Saint Bernard Monastery (yup, it's where those dogs got their names) is located at a crossing place in the Swiss Alps, 12,000 feet in elevation.  Though once an important destination (such historical figures as Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Hemingway have all stayed there), the Saint Bernard Tunnel now diverts traffic across the Alps, and the monastery isn't in the hub bub of things.  The Augustine monks still man it, however, and you can still stay there.

In the summer, you can drive right up, but the roads are closed due to snow in the winter, which is what serves to make this a remote vacation destination.  If you're hearty enough and brave enough, you can trudge up to the monastery for some great crowd-free skiing (most of the monks themselves are expert skiers, so you might even be able to snag a lesson).

http://www.st-bernard.ch/Herberg/de/Heberg_StBernard.html

Small Group Tours in New Zealand

If you're not a big fan of crowds, a trip to New Zealand might make a wonderful vacation.  Sure it has its cities--what country doesn't?--but there's tons of beautiful backcountry that you can go out and explore.  If you don't mind just renting a car and taking off, that's an option, but if you like the idea of a little guidance, a tour can be the way to go.

When you think of tours and tour buses, you might think of a bunch of people crammed together, seeing the sights en mass.  There are outfits that specialize in small group tours though. 

For instance, First Light Travel has several New Zealand adventures that sounds promising.  Their site says they book a maximum of 16 people for each tour, so if that's not too much of a crowd for you, check them out.

RV Camping in the Off Season

Since RV camping is more affordable than staying in a hotel (assuming you own or can borrow an RV), RV parks tend to be popular destinations for families with kids.  Kids can mean a lot of noise, so if you're looking for a peaceful crowd-free camping vacation, you might steer clear.  However, you can find the peace you seek by RV camping in the off season.  You might not want to sleep out in a tent in March or October (at least in cooler climates), but RVs have heaters, so there's no reason you can't handle cooler nights.  And by camping in spring or fall, you can avoid parks full of kids on summer vacation.  The days are often still nice this time of year too, so you can have a great vacation.

Whether you're single or retired, if you can travel in the off-season you can take advantage of camping spots that are free of crowds.  As a bonus, you can often find lower rates during the off-season too.  So before summer gets into full swing, maybe it's time to take the RV out for a spin... (try to hit the RV campgrounds before Memorial Day weekend or after Labor Day for the best results).