I’m not much a fan of big crowds and long lineups. I’ve been in Venice’s Piazza San Marco when it was virtually empty and ridden the Trans-Siberian rails as one of just a few foreigners on it. True, you generally have to put up with less-than-ideal weather, but besides the peace it’s a lot cheaper to travel in these off-peak months. The good folks at HolidayMe.com have put together this simple graphic to help us plan those shoulder season trips. 
