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Show HN: The best time to visit any city

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Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#11

Post by efm »

ignostic wrote: post #7
stinos wrote: post #6

This is really neat! Only thoughts: it assumes one's definition of 'best' is 'best weather' and that in turn means it matches with what your algorithm decides is most pleasurable (which I think it does a pretty good job at). This is probably ok for most people but e.g. I like to travel to see nature and rare species of plants and whatnot, and that completely changes what 'best' is for me as it makes weather not one o…

Thank you! I am very glad others find the algorithm finding the "best times" to be accurate as well. This was definitely the hardest problem to solve as some places have two seasons, some have one, and I'm trying to find the best time on a scale relative to that place. I'm aware not everyone will be satisfied the "pleasant weather" parameters I used, but I don't think there's another way to give a range quickly. Perh…

I'd prefer not to have an app to find rare species. They're rare for a reason, and that reason is because there are few places the can live, and those places are likely difficult for people to get to. Please don't make it easier for people to get there.

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#13

Post by ignostic »

pkulak wrote: post #8

This seems really off: https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-portla... It's says the daily highs in the summer are low 60s and that the driest months are in the middle of the winter.

> It's says the daily highs in the summer are low 60s

Temperature numbers show the average for the week. E.g. the "high" on the dot is not the highest average day, but the average high. I double checked and these look correct. Check out the "heat index" adjusted numbers below for perceived temperatures, as Portland feels significantly warmer due to humidity in the summer.

> the driest months are in the middle of the winter.

I'm confused here. If you're looking at Portland, OR the driest months are shown as being in the summer, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. Did you maybe look at another Portland?

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#14

Post by mod »

andyjsantamaria wrote: post #10

This is super interesting idea and something I'd reference a lot. The big question I have is what are your factors for deciding the best time to visit? I'd argue setting up the context is really important because weather is a major factor but it isn't the only one. There are times of year that have cultural significance as well as annual events, etc. I like the safety advisory aspect and the population of travelers.…

Do you think NZ should be bucketed under Asia instead?

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#15

Post by ignostic »

andyjsantamaria wrote: post #10

This is super interesting idea and something I'd reference a lot. The big question I have is what are your factors for deciding the best time to visit? I'd argue setting up the context is really important because weather is a major factor but it isn't the only one. There are times of year that have cultural significance as well as annual events, etc. I like the safety advisory aspect and the population of travelers.…

> what are your factors for deciding the best time to visit?

I used almost exclusively weather data. My scoring process is linked to near the date ranges I provide, so hopefully that is clear.

I would love to make better use of the number of people visiting. I had a really hard time getting additional travel data for what times are busiest, but I did my best with Google data. I'd even be willing to pay for tourist data by week or month, but I don't believe it exists on the scale I'd need it. If I find it, though, I'll be sure to iterate!

> Lastly, I don't recommend bucketing NZ under Australia :)

Good call. I changed the heading to "Australia & Oceania"

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#16

Post by xxXXxx- »

andyjsantamaria wrote: post #10

This is super interesting idea and something I'd reference a lot. The big question I have is what are your factors for deciding the best time to visit? I'd argue setting up the context is really important because weather is a major factor but it isn't the only one. There are times of year that have cultural significance as well as annual events, etc. I like the safety advisory aspect and the population of travelers.…

Yes! There's a few cities I visit very often but I ONLY visit in the "off season." Everything is much cheaper, things don't sell out, I don't get bothered by stupid events I have no interest in, parking is free or reduced price, I don't have to sit in traffic, and crowds are non-existent. I'd rather avoid crowds than pretty much any other factor other than maybe price.

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#17

Post by Eiriksmal »

I love your weather summaries. Your formula nails it with this one: https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-san-di...

Most weather summaries seem to miss that early/mid-September is significantly hotter than the traditionally hot months of July and August for most locations.

https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-louisv... > When can you find snow in Louisville? Weather stations report a bit of annual snow likely to be deepest around March, especially close to early March. Powder (new snow) is most often falls around November 12th.

Seeing powder forecasts for Louisville, KY cracked me up.

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#18

Post by larrydag »

xxXXxx- wrote: post #16
andyjsantamaria wrote: post #10

This is super interesting idea and something I'd reference a lot. The big question I have is what are your factors for deciding the best time to visit? I'd argue setting up the context is really important because weather is a major factor but it isn't the only one. There are times of year that have cultural significance as well as annual events, etc. I like the safety advisory aspect and the population of travelers.…

Yes! There's a few cities I visit very often but I ONLY visit in the "off season." Everything is much cheaper, things don't sell out, I don't get bothered by stupid events I have no interest in, parking is free or reduced price, I don't have to sit in traffic, and crowds are non-existent. I'd rather avoid crowds than pretty much any other factor other than maybe price.

I thought the same thing. My biggest factor is cost of travel and whether its in season or out of season. Then I guess the site would turn into a travelocity or expedia.

Re: Show HN: The best time to visit any city

#19

Post by ignostic »

Eiriksmal wrote: post #17

I love your weather summaries. Your formula nails it with this one: https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-san-di... Most weather summaries seem to miss that early/mid-September is significantly hotter than the traditionally hot months of July and August for most locations. https://championtraveler.com/dates/best-time-to-visit-louisv... > When can you find snow in Louisville? Weather stations report a…

Thanks! Most places actually give far more specific date ranges, but San Diego is so temperate just listing the months made more sense.

"Powder" I guess is not the word I should be using in places like this, but the dates are usually accurate in places that get powder at all :)

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