The year planner

Plan the whole year, one evening

This is the page to sit down with as a family. Twelve months, in order: where the world is at its best, the smart US play, the events worth building a trip around, and the honest where-not-to-go. Click through any pick for the full timing guide.

January

The southern hemisphere's July, the tropics at their driest, and the cheapest Europe of the year.

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Go far

1. Thailand · The heart of the cool, dry season: highs near 88F (31C), low humidity, and both coasts swimmable.
2. Patagonia · Peak trekking season at the bottom of the world.
3. Maldives · Dry season in full swing: calm seas, glassy visibility for snorkeling and diving, and day after day of sun.
4. Riviera Maya · Warm, dry, and far outside hurricane season.
5. Cape Town · High summer: Table Mountain hikes, beach days at Camps Bay, and the winelands in full green.

Stay close

Hawaii · Humpback whale season is in full swing off Maui, and post-holiday January brings a brief lull in prices after the New Year exodus..
Colorado ski country · Midwinter snowpack without the Christmas-week crush.
The Florida Keys · Dry season, highs near 75F (24C), and the best sunset-and-seafood weather of the year.

Worth flying for

Chinese New Year Late January or February, on the new moon that begins the lunar year; the date moves with the lunar calendar, and festivities run about 15 days to the Lantern Festival
Northern Lights Season September through March, whenever nights are dark; the equinox months and deep winter each have their own case
Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico November through March, with the butterflies arriving around early November and the liveliest viewing in the warming weeks of late January and February

Skip this month

Santorini and the Greek islands. Effectively closed for the season. Many hotels, restaurants, and boat operators shut from roughly November through March, and the weather is cool, windy, and gray.
Bali. The wettest stretch of the rainy season: daily downpours, murky seas, and the year's worst humidity. Wait for the dry months of roughly May through September.
Interior Alaska. Subzero cold and only a few hours of usable daylight. Unless you are specifically hunting the northern lights with a cold-weather plan, save it for June through August.

February

Carnival season, calving season, and the best value month in the winter-sun belt.

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Go far

1. Thailand · Still inside the cool-dry sweet spot, with seas calm on both coasts.
2. Riviera Maya · Peak dry season without the holiday markups of Christmas and New Year.
3. Patagonia · High summer continues: the full trail network open, long days, and slightly thinner crowds than January once southern-hemisphere school holidays end..
4. Cape Town · Arguably the best month: high summer sun with the December and January holiday crowds gone and the southeaster winds often easing late in the month..
5. Maldives · Dry season continues with some of the calmest, clearest water of the year.

Stay close

New Orleans · Mardi Gras season builds for weeks of parades before Fat Tuesday.
Hawaii · Peak humpback whale season off Maui and the Big Island, with winter surf still pounding the north shores..
Colorado and Utah ski country · Statistically deep snowpack and long-enough days.

Worth flying for

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro The week before Ash Wednesday, usually in February and sometimes early March; the dates move with Easter
Venice Carnival Roughly two weeks ending on Shrove Tuesday, so usually within late January and February; the dates move with Easter
Mardi Gras in New Orleans Fat Tuesday falls in February or early March, moving with Easter; the parade season builds for weeks before, peaking in the final two weekends

Skip this month

The Greek islands. Still shuttered for winter: ferries on skeleton schedules, most island hotels and tavernas closed, and cool, windy weather. Wait for May.
Bali. Rainy season continues with daily downpours and reduced visibility in the water. The dry season starting around May is worth waiting for.
Northern Vietnam. Hanoi and Ha Long Bay sit under a famously gray, chilly drizzle in February. The south is lovely; the north is not the postcard this month.

March

Cherry blossoms in the east, jacarandas in Mexico, and the last easy month in the desert belt.

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Go far

1. Tokyo · Cherry blossom season typically opens in late March, and the city celebrates with picnics under every tree.
2. Kyoto · Late March brings the first blossoms to the temple gardens and the Philosopher's Path.
3. Mexico City · Dry season, 75F (24C) afternoons, and jacaranda trees turning whole avenues purple.
4. Washington, DC · The Tidal Basin cherry blossoms typically peak from late March into early April.
5. Egypt · Warm but not yet punishing: Luxor and Aswan in the 80s F (around 30C), ideal Nile cruise weather before the real heat arrives by May..

Stay close

Arizona · Spring training baseball, desert wildflowers, and 75F (24C) hiking weather in Sedona and the Superstitions.
Texas Hill Country · Bluebonnet season typically begins in late March along the roadsides between Austin and Fredericksburg, in the state's best weather window..
Southern Utah · Zion, Bryce, and Arches in mild spring temperatures before the summer heat and the biggest crowds.

Worth flying for

Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC Late March into early April, with peak bloom varying a week or two year to year
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan Late March through April, moving south to north across the country
Holi in India Late February or March, on the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna; the date moves with the lunar calendar

Skip this month

Northern Thailand. Burning season: agricultural fires around Chiang Mai and the north typically push air quality to its worst from roughly February into April. The islands are a better Thailand play this month.
Cancun and spring break Florida. March is peak US spring break. Beaches, flights, and hotel rates across Cancun, Miami, and the Florida coasts surge with the college crowd. Go elsewhere or go in April.
The plains of India. The heat is building fast: Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan push into the 90s F (mid 30s C) by late March, and it only gets worse from here until the monsoon.

April

Peak bloom month: Japan's blossoms, Holland's tulips, and the desert belt's spring finale.

full guide →

Go far

1. Kyoto · Peak bloom typically arrives in early April, turning the temple gardens and canals into the most photographed spring on Earth.
2. Amsterdam · Tulip season peaks around mid-April in the bulb fields, and the city itself is in its best pre-summer form.
3. Tokyo · Blossoms in the first week or two, then perfect mild spring.
4. Jordan · Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea in prime spring conditions: warm days, cool desert nights, and wildflowers in the north.
5. Lisbon · Mid 60s to low 70s F (18C to 22C), jacarandas beginning, and the miradouros at their best before summer crowds and heat.

Stay close

Washington, DC · Early April frequently catches peak or near-peak bloom at the Tidal Basin, followed by the best sightseeing weather of the capital's year..
Charleston and Savannah · The Lowcountry's showcase month: gardens in full bloom, 75F (24C) days, and patio dining before the humidity arrives..
Moab · Arches and Canyonlands in the mild-weather sweet spot between winter cold and dangerous summer heat.

Worth flying for

Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC Late March into early April, with peak bloom varying a week or two year to year
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan Late March through April, moving south to north across the country
Tulip Season in the Netherlands Mid March through mid May, with the fields at their boldest in mid-to-late April

Skip this month

Thailand, unless you came for Songkran. April is the hottest month of the year, with afternoons regularly past 100F (38C). The nationwide Songkran water fight in mid-April is a legitimate reason to be there; ordinary sightseeing is not.
The plains of India. Pre-monsoon heat in Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan runs brutal, often past 100F (38C). The Taj Mahal deserves better than a heatstroke march.
Japan during Golden Week. The string of national holidays starting in late April sends the entire country traveling at once: sold-out trains, packed hotels, and peak domestic pricing. Finish your trip before it starts.

May

Europe before the crowds: the single smartest month on the northern calendar.

full guide →

Go far

1. Rome · Warm sun, long evenings, and lines that are merely long instead of absurd.
2. Croatia · The Dalmatian coast wakes up: Adriatic sailing weather, Dubrovnik and Split walkable before the summer cruise crush, and soft late-spring prices..
3. Barcelona · Beach-warm afternoons near 72F (22C), Gaudi lines still manageable, and the city in full stride before peak season.
4. Paris · Peak spring beauty: gardens at their fullest and evenings that stretch late.
5. Santorini · The best early window: warm caldera evenings, hotels fully open, and the summer crowd surge still weeks away.

Stay close

Louisville and the Kentucky Derby · The first Saturday in May is American sport's best-dressed party.
Yosemite · Peak waterfall season: snowmelt sends Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil to full thunder, typically strongest from May into June..
Charleston · The tail of the Lowcountry's ideal season, with Spoleto Festival USA opening in late May, before deep-summer humidity takes over..

Worth flying for

Kentucky Derby The first Saturday of May, every year, capping a week of racing and citywide festivities
Tulip Season in the Netherlands Mid March through mid May, with the fields at their boldest in mid-to-late April

Skip this month

Japan during Golden Week. The national holiday cluster runs from late April into the first week of May: sold-out shinkansen, packed hotels, and peak pricing. After it ends, May Japan is actually wonderful.
Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan. Pre-monsoon heat peaks with days at 104F (40C) and beyond. This is the single worst stretch of the Indian plains calendar.
The Gulf: Dubai and Arabia. Summer arrives early: by May the Gulf regularly tops 100F (38C) and outdoor sightseeing collapses into dashes between air conditioning.

June

The far north switches on: midnight sun, alpine trails, and the opening of safari season.

full guide →

Go far

1. Iceland · Near-24-hour daylight, the full ring road open, puffins on the cliffs, and highland roads beginning to open.
2. Alaska · The season peaks early here: long days around the solstice, salmon runs beginning, bears active, and Denali at its most accessible..
3. Swiss Alps · Lower trails melt out, wildflowers erupt, and lift-served hiking begins, all before the July and August village crowds.
4. Peru · Deep in the dry season: crisp, clear Andean days for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and the big treks.
5. East Africa Safari · The long rains are done and the migration herds push north through the Serengeti.

Stay close

Yellowstone and Grand Teton · Roads fully open, waterfalls at peak flow, and June's wildlife viewing, especially bears with cubs and elk calves, is the best of the summer..
Glacier National Park · The park comes alive as snow retreats, though the full Going-to-the-Sun Road often does not open until late June or early July.
Olympic National Park · The drier summer pattern begins on the peninsula: rainforest, alpine ridges, and wild coast in one park, with long Pacific Northwest evenings..

Worth flying for

Wimbledon Two weeks from late June into mid July, finishing with the finals on the second weekend

Skip this month

Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. Full summer furnace: highs around 105F (41C) with heavy humidity on the coast. Outdoor travel effectively shuts down until fall.
India. The monsoon sweeps across most of the country through June, and the plains bake at extreme temperatures ahead of it. Wait for October.
Phoenix and the low desert. Highs at 105F (41C) and climbing make the Sonoran desert a dawn-only proposition. Grand Canyon rims cope; the inner canyon and low desert do not.

July

Peak season at the top of the world, and the opening of the Great Migration's main event.

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Go far

1. East Africa Safari · The main event: migration herds mass in the northern Serengeti and the dramatic Mara River crossings typically begin.
2. Swiss Alps · Every trail, lift, and high pass open under long alpine days.
3. Iceland · The warmest month of the Icelandic year, with the highlands open and every corner of the ring road in play.
4. Alaska · Salmon runs peak, bears feast, glaciers calve under long daylight, and every operator is running.
5. Fiji · Dry-season winter in the South Pacific: sunny days near 80F (27C), low humidity, and calm lagoons.

Stay close

Glacier National Park · The short, glorious window when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open and the high country is in wildflower.
Grand Teton and Jackson Hole · Peak alpine summer: string-lake mornings, big hikes, and rodeo nights.
Oregon coast · The reliable escape from inland heat: foggy 65F (18C) mornings, huge beaches, and no such thing as a too-hot afternoon..

Worth flying for

Running of the Bulls (San Fermin) July 6 to 14 every year, with a bull run each morning from July 7 through July 14
Wimbledon Two weeks from late June into mid July, finishing with the finals on the second weekend
Calgary Stampede Ten days in early-to-mid July, opening with a parade on the first Friday

Skip this month

Paris. The canonical crush month: the year's longest lines, peak airfare, and heat waves in a city with limited air conditioning. May, June, September, or October beat it on every axis.
Egypt and the Gulf. Luxor and Aswan regularly exceed 105F (41C) and Dubai pairs similar heat with coastal humidity. Save the pyramids and Petra-style desert trips for October through April.
The US desert Southwest. Phoenix, Las Vegas, and the inner Grand Canyon run lethal heat, and July adds monsoon lightning to the afternoons. This is the season rangers spend rescuing hikers.

August

Peak safari, alpine gold, and the month to read the hurricane map before you book.

full guide →

Go far

1. East Africa Safari · Peak of the peak: crossing season in full swing on the Mara River and the dry season concentrating wildlife everywhere.
2. Swiss Alps · High summer continues with every hut and lift running.
3. Iceland · Still bright, still mild, with the highlands fully open.
4. Peru · The dry season's reliable heart: crisp trekking weather, clear skies over Machu Picchu, and slightly thinner crowds than July as northern summer breaks wind down..
5. Fiji · Dry-season perfection continues: sunny, mild, and calm.

Stay close

Glacier National Park · The alpine season continues at full strength.
Oregon coast · The West's natural air conditioning: 65F (18C) beach days, tide pools, and dunes while the interior bakes..
Grand Teton · Prime hiking with a late-summer bonus: wildlife activity picks up toward fall, and September's quiet is already visible from here..

Worth flying for

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Most of August, roughly three and a half weeks from early August to the end of the month
La Tomatina The last Wednesday of August, every year, with the tomato fight itself lasting about an hour

Skip this month

The Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and Florida. The heart of hurricane season arrives: August through October is the statistical danger zone. Prices look tempting for a reason; if you book, buy insurance and stay flexible.
Seville and inland southern Spain. Regularly the hottest place in Europe, with afternoons past 105F (41C). The Spanish coasts cope; the inland cities in August are an endurance sport.
Texas. The most brutal stretch of the Texas year: weeks of 100F (38C) and up with no meaningful relief. Save the state for October through April.

September

The insider's summer: Europe at its best, the Mediterranean at its warmest, and the crowds gone home.

full guide →

Go far

1. Santorini · The Aegean is at its warmest of the year, the August crush is gone, and evenings stay caldera-terrace mild.
2. Croatia · Warm Adriatic swimming, functioning ferries, and old towns returned to walkable density.
3. Paris · La rentree: the city snaps back to life after August, the light turns golden, and early September delivers arguably the single best week of the Parisian year..
4. Rome · Summer heat breaks into warm, stable perfection and the lines shorten week by week.
5. Istanbul · The second spring: highs near 77F (25C), clear Bosphorus light, and comfortable full days in the old city after the summer heat..

Stay close

Vermont · Foliage season begins: color starts at high elevations in late September and rolls downhill into October.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton · The elk rut echoes through cooling valleys, summer crowds fade fast after Labor Day, and wildlife viewing rivals June..
Napa and Sonoma · Harvest season: crush in full swing, vineyard dinners, and warm golden afternoons.

Worth flying for

Oktoberfest Mid September to the first Sunday of October, roughly 16 to 18 days, mostly in September despite the name
New England Fall Foliage Late September through mid October, with peak color sweeping from north to south and high elevations downward
Northern Lights Season September through March, whenever nights are dark; the equinox months and deep winter each have their own case

Skip this month

The Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and Florida. September is the statistical peak of Atlantic hurricane season. This is the highest-risk month of the year to have a beach itinerary on the storm map.
Japan. Peak typhoon season: September storms regularly disrupt flights and trains, especially across the south and west. October's clear, crisp weather is worth the wait.
The Maldives and southern India. The southwest monsoon is still running: gray skies, rain, and rougher seas in what should be a postcard. The dry season returns around December.

October

Foliage in the north, the desert belt reopening, and Japan's other perfect season.

full guide →

Go far

1. Kyoto · Clear, crisp days near 72F (22C) and thinning summer humidity.
2. Jordan · The autumn window: Petra and Wadi Rum return to warm days and cool nights.
3. Morocco · Marrakech drops back into the 80s F (around 28C), the Sahara becomes camp-friendly again, and the light turns golden.
4. Egypt · The Nile Valley reopens for comfortable travel as Luxor falls back toward 90F (32C) from summer's extremes.
5. Tokyo · Blue-sky autumn, comfortable walking weather, and the year's most reliable conditions after typhoon season fades through the month..

Stay close

Vermont and New England · The main event: peak foliage typically rolls through the first half of October from north to south.
Albuquerque · The Balloon Fiesta fills the sky with hundreds of balloons over nine days in early October, backed by green-chile season and crisp high-desert air..
Great Smoky Mountains · Color works down the elevations through the month, usually peaking late October into early November.

Worth flying for

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Nine days in early October, spanning two weekends, with dawn mass ascensions as the signature spectacle
New England Fall Foliage Late September through mid October, with peak color sweeping from north to south and high elevations downward
Oktoberfest Mid September to the first Sunday of October, roughly 16 to 18 days, mostly in September despite the name

Skip this month

The Caribbean and Riviera Maya. Hurricane season runs through November 30, and October still produces significant late-season storms, especially in the western Caribbean and Gulf. The all-clear and the price floor both arrive closer to December.
Central Vietnam. Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang enter their typhoon and flooding season, typically the wettest stretch from roughly October into November. Head to the country's north or south instead.
The Alps between seasons. The awkward gap: summer lifts and many mountain hotels close after September, and ski season is still weeks away. Villages can feel half-shuttered until early winter.

November

Japan's crimson season, the desert belt in full stride, and the tropics on the verge of prime time.

full guide →

Go far

1. Kyoto · Peak foliage typically sweeps the temple gardens from mid to late November: maples in crimson, gold gingko avenues, and Japan's second great pilgrimage season.
2. Egypt · Prime season: Luxor in the 80s F (around 28C), ideal Nile cruise conditions, and the desert sites finally pleasant for full days out..
3. Jordan · The autumn window continues with mild days at Petra and cold, starry desert nights in Wadi Rum.
4. Tokyo · Late November brings the city's own foliage peak in crisp, clear weather.
5. Dubai · The season Dubai was built for begins: sunny days near 85F (29C), beach mornings, desert evenings, and every outdoor venue back in business..

Stay close

New York City · The holiday city switches on: the Macy's parade on Thanksgiving morning, store windows unveiled, and rinks open, all before December's deepest crowds..
Santa Fe and Taos · Crisp high-desert light, pinon smoke, and gallery season, with early-season skiing possible at Taos by late month..
Death Valley · The season flips on: mild 75F (24C) days reopen the salt flats, dunes, and canyons that summer made untouchable..

Worth flying for

Dia de Muertos in Oaxaca Builds through late October and peaks on November 1 and 2, with celebrations spanning roughly the last week of October into early November
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thanksgiving morning, the fourth Thursday of November, with the balloon inflation viewable the afternoon before
Christmas Markets in Europe Late November through Christmas Eve for most markets, with some running into early January

Skip this month

Central Vietnam. The wettest weeks of the year: Hoi An and Hue see their heaviest rain and regular flooding from roughly October into November. The north and south are far better bets.
Bali. The rainy season builds through November: heavier downpours, humidity, and murkier water. The dry months from roughly May through September are the play.
The Greek islands. The curtain is down: seasonal hotels, restaurants, and most ferry routes are closed or skeletal until spring. Athens works in November; the islands mostly do not.

December

Dry-season prime across the tropics, high summer down south, and the great Christmas-week price divide.

full guide →

Go far

1. Riviera Maya · Dry season locked in, hurricane season over, and 82F (28C) days.
2. Thailand · The cool-dry season's heart: the year's most comfortable temperatures, calm seas on both coasts, and every island running.
3. Patagonia · High season begins: the southern solstice brings the longest days of the year to Torres del Paine and Fitz Roy.
4. Maldives · The dry northeast monsoon season typically settles in during December: calm, clear water and postcard weather, with holiday-week rates to match..
5. Costa Rica · The Pacific-side dry season arrives: green landscapes left over from the rains, sunny beach days, and prime wildlife viewing before the January crowds..

Stay close

New York City · The tree, the windows, the rinks: December New York is the American holiday postcard.
Colorado ski country · The season opens in earnest, and pre-Christmas weeks pair fresh terrain with the year's thinnest lift lines.
Hawaii · Whale season begins, surf hits its big-wave winter peak on the north shores, and early December sits in a lull before the holiday surge..

Worth flying for

Christmas Markets in Europe Late November through Christmas Eve for most markets, with some running into early January
Sydney New Year's Eve December 31, with a family fireworks show at 9pm and the main midnight display over the Harbour Bridge
Northern Lights Season September through March, whenever nights are dark; the equinox months and deep winter each have their own case

Skip this month

Bali and Indonesia. The heart of the rainy season: daily downpours, high humidity, and reduced water visibility, plus peak holiday pricing anyway. Wait for the dry season around May through September.
The Greek islands. Deep off-season: most island hotels, restaurants, and ferry routes are closed until spring. Athens makes a fine winter city break; the islands do not.
Christmas-to-New-Year week, anywhere famous. The most expensive, most crowded week on the travel calendar, from ski towns to beach resorts to Orlando. If your dates are flexible at all, the first half of December buys the same trip for dramatically less.

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