Stories · Planning · 9 min read
The twelve month sun planner
Where to go for reliable warmth in each month of the year, from the Canaries in January to the Riviera in September.
This is the planner I wish someone had given me before I booked a rainy fortnight in Bali in January. Each month gets the safest bets for sun on the map, plus a wildcard that rewards a little risk. The scores behind it live in the best time explorer, where you can see every destination for any month.
January
Safe: the Canaries (22 degrees, four hours away), Dubai, the Maldives, Thailand’s Andaman coast, Goa. Wildcard: Marrakech, cold nights, warm days, no crowds.
February
Safe: the Maldives, Sri Lanka’s south, Zanzibar, Aruba and Curaçao. Wildcard: Tenerife for the carnival, or Mallorca for the almond blossom and a jumper.
March
Safe: Dubai’s last comfortable month, Tulum before the seaweed, Cartagena, Palawan. Wildcard: Málaga, where spring arrives while northern Europe still has its coat on.
April
Safe: the Seychelles between monsoons, Costa Rica’s last dry weeks, Crete from Easter. Wildcard: Sicily, 20 degrees, wildflowers and Etna still white on top.
May
Safe: Mallorca, the Costa Blanca, the Riviera, Capri, Madeira. Europe’s edge wakes up and the sea is warming. Wildcard: Bali, dry season starting, prices still low.
June
Safe: all of the Mediterranean, Mauritius’ cooler dry season, Bali, Moorea. Wildcard: Zanzibar as the long rains end.
July and August
Safe: the Mediterranean is hot and busy but certain; Bali and Thailand’s Gulf side are dry; Zanzibar and Mauritius are pleasant. Wildcard: Maui, always warm, with summer surf calm; or Southern California, which finally loses its morning cloud.
September
Safe: the best month in the Mediterranean: Mallorca, Crete, the Riviera, Sicily, Capri, all with warm sea and fewer people. Wildcard: Bali’s last dry weeks.
October
Safe: Crete, Málaga, Tenerife, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Dubai as it cools. Wildcard: Madeira, warm sea, wine harvest, walkers instead of crowds.
November
Safe: Dubai, the Canaries, Koh Lanta as the season opens, Goa, Perth. Wildcard: Marrakech for the film festival and 22 degree afternoons.
December
Safe: the Maldives, Thailand, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Miami. Wildcard: Madeira for the fireworks, or Perth for a summer Christmas on the beach.
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