The shoulder season from September through November is a study in contrast. In the north, the air sharpens and the days turn golden, while further south, warmth returns and the horizon opens wide. It’s the perfect time to slow down and experience a place before the festive months add to that chaotic disturbance to the natural rhythm.

For LGBTQIA+ travellers, these are months of freedom. The crowds have eased, destinations breathe easier, and each journey feels more personal and intimate. Whether you are drawn to the pulse of the city or the stillness of the sea, here are some of our favourite places to travel during the shoulder season.

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Thailand & Capella Bangkok

On the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok captures everything that makes this Thai city irresistible: the contrasts, the energy, and every unique moment in between.

The shoulder season is the perfect balance for all things Bangkok. The days are warm but not stifling and the crush of the crowds has thinned noticeably, giving you greater access to temples, rooftops, and markets. It’s the ideal time to immerse yourself in the city, following the scent of lemongrass from street stall to street stall, through markets awash with colour, all the while embraced by the rhythmic throb of the riverboats gliding along the river.

Having spent the day in the city, you’ll find sanctuary inside the walls of Capella. Riverfront suites open onto private plunge pools and sweeping views of the water, all the while quiet, intuitive and precise service anticipates your every need.

The hotel’s dining scene, from Côte by Mauro Colagreco to the riverside Phra Nakhon, celebrates Thailand’s culinary soul with contemporary finesse. If you’re looking for something particularly special, head to Stella Bar in the evening, where you’ll find an opulent, intimate and quietly exclusive experience that is unique to Capella.

For LGBTQIA+ travellers, Bangkok remains one of Asia’s most open and welcoming cities. Capella extends that same spirit with grace and sincerity. Whether you are exploring the art galleries of Charoen Krung, joining the city’s vibrant queer nightlife, or retreating to the calm of your terrace, you’ll always feel comfortable and secure.

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Fari Islands & Patina Maldives

If Bangkok is a city escape, Patina Maldives is all about a private retreat of unrivalled proportions.

Shoulder season in the Maldives added a gentle, golden hue you can’t find anywhere else. September and October may bring the occasional, fast-passing shower, but they also promise long, sunlit afternoons and a slower, more reflective pace. Wait for early November, and you’ll be welcomed by calm seas and luminous blues you normally only see on a MacBook screensaver.

Set within the Fari Islands, Patina is an architecturally curated sanctuary from the mind of Marcio Kogan. It seamlessly merges the ocean with contemporary elegance and the ultimate in barefoot simplicity.

Your private haven, each villa is designed to connect you to the ocean and builds on the conscious luxury of the resort, which includes plant-based dining at Roots, solar power, and art installations.

For queer travellers, Patina represents something rare in the Maldives. While the wider country retains conservative laws, within this island community, inclusion is lived rather than spoken. Staff extend warmth without assumption and care without hesitation.

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City Escape or Private Retreat

Between the hum of Bangkok and the hush of the Maldives lies the true essence of shoulder-season travel: uncompromising choice.

Do you crave connection, culture, and the pulse of a city alive with art and flavour? Or do you long for stillness, salt air, and the soft rhythm of the sea? Both paths offer the perfect, unique getaway. One celebrates discovery and diversity, the other peace and presence.

Wherever you go this season or next, let Global Travel Moments design the ultimate shoulder-season escape for your unique travel requirements.

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