Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-07-12
Same hotel, same beach, and in August you suddenly pay twice what you would in June, then stand in a buffet queue for the privilege. Timing a trip is probably the biggest lever you have, both for price and for the whole experience. So, when is each destination actually worth it?
Mediterranean: May, June & September are better bets than August
Mallorca, Greece, Italy and Turkey are swimmable from May to October. The real sweet spot comes in June and September: water temperatures around 24 degrees, beaches that feel half-empty, and hotel prices 30–40% below high season. August, on the other hand, is almost everywhere the hottest and most expensive option.
Canary Islands: eternal spring
Tenerife & co. are a year-round option, thanks to trade winds that keep temperatures rarely below 20 and rarely above 29 degrees. Particularly smart is November to March, when Central Europe is freezing and prices on the islands remain fairly moderate. Only around Christmas and New Year do they rise sharply.
Southeast Asia: dry season means travel season
Thailand, Bali & Vietnam really have two faces. In the dry season (roughly November to March), you get sunshine and humidity that stays pleasant. In the rainy season, prices look very tempting, but tropical downpours can wipe out entire afternoons. Still, for flexible travellers it can work well, because the rain is often brief and heavy rather than endless.
Northern Europe & fjords: the short, glorious window
Norway, Iceland and the Baltics are at their best from June to August: long days, mild temperatures, all ferry connections running. Want northern lights? Then go between September and March instead, but pack proper winter gear.
City breaks: spring and autumn come out on top
Rome in August is basically an oven. Amsterdam in April? A dream. For city trips, almost everywhere, April/May and September/October give you the best balance of weather, prices and crowds you can actually live with. One extra perk: city hotels are significantly cheaper on weekdays than on weekends.
The low-season formula
Keep one simple rule in mind: the week directly before and after the school holidays is almost always the smartest deal, with the same weather and far better prices. Travelling without kids? Then read school holiday calendars as calendars to avoid.
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