Maldives

The Maldives sits close enough to the equator that temperatures barely change across the year; what changes is rainfall and wind, driven by two monsoons. The northeast monsoon, December to April, is the dry season: calm seas, the best underwater visibility of the year, and the island's undisputed peak, with Christmas and New Year commanding the highest prices of any fortnight. February is generally rated the single most reliable month, with the lowest rainfall and the clearest skies.

The southwest monsoon, May to November, brings the wet season, though this rarely means all-day rain: expect brief, sometimes heavy afternoon downpours and stronger winds, particularly affecting the choppier boat transfers between resort islands. Conditions vary by atoll, with the southern atolls typically wetter and windier than the northern ones at any given point in the wet season. September is usually the wettest month nationwide and, correspondingly, the cheapest, while June and July often deliver good weather at a meaningful discount to the December-April peak.

The summer holidays fall in the wet season, which works in families' favour: prices are well below the dry-season peak, and the rain rarely lasts long enough to spoil a beach day. October half term sits in the same value window, with conditions gradually improving as the dry season approaches. Easter usually catches the tail end of the dry season, reliable weather at prices beginning to ease. Christmas and New Year is the single most expensive week of the Maldivian year, driven by both the dry season and holiday demand; book resorts many months ahead if that's your window.

Pick a school holiday in the date checker at the top of the page to see the exact term dates and typical premium for your region.