Boondock Puffins

A summary:

1) Shops are open very rarely.

2) There are wonderfully no people around.

3) Not actually an off season thing, but Amazon deliveries take over a week to get to us now, even with Amazon Prime, so we spend a lot less!

4) Getting to know the mountains the mountains before they turn to ski slopes is very cool.

5) Related to Point 4, no lifts are open so it’s a good time to get fitter!

6) Places to stay are much (much) cheaper – we went over to see Chamonix and stayed in a lovely hotel for €45… which in season would cost several hundred euros!

7) Free Parking. While in season, the parking is extortionate if you aren’t a local (which thankfully we now count as), in the inter season, parking is free and plentiful.

8) Marmots (and other wildlife). As the mountains and paths are much quieter, wildlife gets a lot bolder and we have seen not only a whole host of marmots (an animal we didn’t know existed except for in the “Steve” meme), but saw a chamois and there appears to be many other animals out and about, includes wolves, foxes, deer and snakes.

9) Epic very quiet hikes. Not dissimilar to Point 4 – not only can you actually get to know the mountains that become ski slopes, but you can also hike up mountains that are inaccessible at pretty much any other time of year – right at the end of summer/tiny time of autumn that we get, just before the snow arrives, some of the trickiest hikes are accessible.

10) Dream motorbike weather and roads. Not only is it generally sunny and clear, but the roads are empty and the twisties are perfect (particularly on the border between France and Italy). If you are a biker, definitely check it out!

11) The colours are unbeatable.