Browse destinations

Portugal

Atlantic light, steep streets and a long shoulder season

Greece

Ancient sites, island ferries and a summer you should probably avoid

Spain

Gaudí, beaches and prices that follow the cruise calendar

Spain (Canary Islands)

Year-round sun four hours from the UK, with a price for every school holiday

Croatia

Game of Thrones scenery, cruise-ship crowds and a short, sharp peak

Italy

Ancient Rome without the August queues, if you time it right

Turkey

The UK's long-season Mediterranean beach, with winter sun on the side

Malta

A Mediterranean city break with a beach attached, most of the year

Cyprus

The Mediterranean's mildest winters, with a beach season to match

Spain (Balearic Islands)

The Balearics' package-holiday heartland, and a genuine off-season

Netherlands

A city break with almost no off-season, so timing is about avoiding the peaks

Czechia

Central Europe's Christmas-market city, with a cold, cheap winter either side

Sri Lanka

One island, two monsoons — the coast you choose decides your season

Indonesia

Dry season and peak season aren't quite the same thing here

Vietnam

Three countries' worth of climate in one, so the calendar depends on where you land

Maldives

Two monsoons, one long dry-season peak, and real savings if you can handle a shower

Thailand

Two coasts, two monsoons and a peak that falls in the UK winter

Japan

Cherry blossom, autumn leaves and a lot of value in between

United States (Florida)

Theme-park capital of the world, with a hurricane season most UK visitors never ask about

Mexico

Riviera Maya winter sun, with a sargassum season most brochures leave out

Barbados

Classic winter sun, plus a festival that turns hurricane season into a price spike

United Arab Emirates

Winter is the postcard season; summer is when the same hotels get dramatically cheaper