Best Time for Families to Travel: A Month-by-Month Guide
Why Timing Matters So Much to Our Family ☀️
I grew up in Queensland, where summer afternoons had their own rhythm. After a hot, sticky day you’d hear a crack of thunder, and minutes later the rain would pour down. I loved it. Sometimes we’d run outside and dance in it, just to feel the cool change arrive.
Then I moved to the Netherlands, where grey, damp winters can feel like they go on forever. So when we planned to leave with Marty, Louie and Leo, chasing good weather wasn’t a nice bonus. It was one of the main reasons we went.
On paper, it looked simple. In practice, it took far more research than I expected. We were leaving in August, which sounds like a holiday month. But it’s also rainy season across much of Southeast Asia. We went country by country, month by month, looking for somewhere the dry season lined up with our dates.
That’s how we ended up in Da Nang in mid-August. Vietnam’s central coast runs on a different weather calendar from the north and south, and the planning paid off. We had beautiful sunny beach days. The best times were the mornings and late afternoons, because the middle of the day was simply too hot for the boys. Our Da Nang family guide has the full picture.
Now we’re in Ninh Binh, and the weather is lovely: sunny, with not much rain, as long as we stay out of the midday heat. There’s more about our days there in Homeschooling While Travelling, and our Thailand vs Vietnam comparison covers how the two countries stack up for families.
That puzzle is why we built this guide. Pick a month and you can see, at a glance, where families are likely to land in good weather and where it’s worth waiting. 🌍
How to Read This Guide
- Peak season: the most reliable weather, usually with the highest prices and biggest crowds.
- Shoulder season: the weeks either side of peak. The weather is often still good, and prices and crowds are usually lower.
- Maybe hold off: heavy rain, storm season, extreme heat or cold, or smoky air.
- Temperatures are typical daytime ranges for the main places families base themselves. Big countries like Australia, Brazil, the USA and Vietnam vary a lot by region, so we flag the region where it matters.
Weather patterns shift from year to year. Always check a current forecast and local advice before you book.
Where is your family heading next?
Ever stared at the calendar wondering where on earth to go next? We have, many times. This is our month-by-month list: our top picks each month, what to expect when you land, and the shoulder-season windows that often mean fewer crowds and lower prices.
January
New Zealand
☀️ Peak · 20-28°CIt's peak summer, the days stretch on forever, and every region from the Bay of Islands down to Fiordland is open and busy. If you've got the time, this is the month to do the big South Island loop.
Aruba
☀️ Peak · 27-30°CSouth of the main hurricane track, sunny most of the year and especially settled now.
Mexico
☀️ Peak · 16-26°CDry season across most of the country, and quieter once the Christmas crowds head home.
Other good shoulder-season options (14)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (34)
February
Thailand
☀️ Peak · 24-32°CStill dry and warm, and the new year crowds have eased a little. The islands are at their best. Keep an eye on air quality though: burning season is starting in northern Thailand, and Bangkok's smog season hasn't finished yet.
Other good shoulder-season options (16)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (31)
March
South Africa
🍃 Shoulder · 15-26°CAutumn brings mild, settled weather after the summer heat, and the busy Christmas and New Year holidays are over. It's a comfortable month for Cape Town, the Garden Route and the winelands. For safari, the dry winter months from around June are usually better for spotting wildlife.
Nepal (Kathmandu & Pokhara)
🍃 Shoulder · 10-22°CClear skies, rhododendrons in bloom, great mountain views.
Other good shoulder-season options (40)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (27)
April
Portugal
🍃 Shoulder · 13-21°CWarm enough to enjoy the coast and explore Lisbon or Porto properly, but well before the summer crowds and heat roll in. Wildflowers are out, terraces are buzzing without being packed, and prices are still reasonable.
Japan
☀️ Peak · 10-19°CCherry blossom season: beautiful, but busy and pricey. Golden Week crowds arrive at the end of the month.
Australia
🍃 Shoulder · 16-25°CAutumn settling in. The south is mild after the summer rush, and the tropical north is drying out.
South Korea
☀️ Peak · 7-19°CSpring blossoms and fresh, comfortable days for exploring Seoul and beyond.
Other good shoulder-season options (58)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (10)
May
Croatia
🍃 Shoulder · 16-24°CThe Adriatic is warming up, the weather is reliably good, and, most importantly, the peak-season crowds haven't arrived yet. Walk around Dubrovnik or hop between islands without fighting for space. It won't stay this quiet for long.
Other good shoulder-season options (37)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (29)
June
Greece
🍃 Shoulder · 20-29°CThe sea is warm, the light is gorgeous, and you're just ahead of the full peak-season crush. Islands, ruins and tavernas, all without the July and August scrum. Worth getting in before everyone else has the same idea.
Other good shoulder-season options (9)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (34)
July
Canada (British Columbia)
☀️ Peak · 14-24°CLong daylight hours, warm temperatures, and everything from the coast to the Rockies fully open and accessible. If outdoor adventure is the goal, this is the window.
United States (West Coast & National Parks)
☀️ Peak · 15-30°CPeak accessibility, warm weather throughout (varies by region).
Czech Republic
☀️ Peak · 14-24°CWarm and bright, good for getting out of Prague into the countryside.
Other good shoulder-season options (7)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (42)
August
Austria
☀️ Peak · 15-25°CWarm weather makes the Alps easy to explore: hiking, lakes and mountain villages. It's also a great base if you're after a mix of outdoor time and culture without the extreme heat hitting parts of southern Europe right now.
Other good shoulder-season options (11)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (42)
September
Spain
🍃 Shoulder · 18-31°CThe sea is still warm and the summer crowds are thinning out. Inland Andalucía stays hot early in the month (Seville still averages highs above 30°C), so families with little ones may prefer the coast until later in September.
Other good shoulder-season options (37)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (26)
October
Italy
🍃 Shoulder · 13-21°CAutumn colours start showing in the countryside, temperatures are mild and comfortable, and the crowds in cities like Florence or Rome have dropped right off. It's one of our favourite times to enjoy Italy rather than just survive it.
Nepal (Kathmandu & Pokhara)
☀️ Peak · 12-23°CPeak trekking season, the clearest mountain views of the year.
Other good shoulder-season options (36)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (31)
November
Mexico
🍃 Shoulder · 16-26°CDry season kicks off this month, and it's one of the best times to be there for beaches, colonial towns and city life alike. Conditions are settled across most of the country, and you're ahead of the busiest holiday crowds.
Other good shoulder-season options (36)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (32)
December
New Zealand
☀️ Peak · 17-25°CSummer is properly underway, the days are long, and every region is open and at its best. If you're chasing sun for the holidays and want somewhere that feels like a different world, this is it.
Other good shoulder-season options (16)
Full list of what to maybe hold off on (34)
FAQs: Best Time for Families to Travel
What’s the best time of year to travel with kids?
There isn’t one single answer. It depends on where you’re going, how your kids handle heat, and whether you care most about weather, price or crowds. As a rule, shoulder seasons give families the best balance: decent weather, lower prices and more breathing room.
Is shoulder season better for families than peak season?
Usually, yes. You’re likely to pay less and queue less, and the weather is often still good. The trade-off is that some festivals, hikes or wildlife sightings only happen in peak season, so check what you might miss.
What if we’re tied to school holidays?
Book early, because everyone else is booking too. Then look for destinations where your holiday dates fall in shoulder season. If you’re considering a longer break from school, our guide on how to start worldschooling covers how families make that step.
How do we avoid extreme heat with young kids?
Babies and toddlers overheat and dehydrate faster than adults. Check each destination’s hottest months, and be careful anywhere that regularly tops 35°C. In hot places, we plan outings for the morning and late afternoon and keep the middle of the day quiet.
Should we avoid rainy season altogether?
Not always. In some places it means a short afternoon downpour, then sunshine again. In others it means floods, road closures and cancelled boats. Check the pattern for the exact region you’re heading to, not just the country.
How do we plan around hurricane and cyclone season?
The Caribbean, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean all have different storm seasons, so check the dates for your destination. If you do travel then, look for travel insurance that covers storm-related disruption, because not every policy does. Our health insurance guide for nomad families explains what to look for in family cover.
How can we plan slow travel around the seasons?
Start by listing the months you’re free. Then choose one base for each season, rather than one country for the whole year. Staying one to three months per base usually means better rental prices and less time spent packing. Our cost comparison of 50+ family destinations helps you weigh up bases on budget too.
Seasons affect health as well as weather. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue are often more common in rainy months, so check our travel vaccinations guide and talk to a travel doctor before you go.
How does Schengen’s 90/180 rule affect seasonal planning?
Many non-EU visitors can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That limit shapes many families’ European summers, so plan time outside Schengen to balance it. EU citizens, and family members travelling with them, follow different rules. Check the official EU guidance for your situation, and see our guide on how to stay longer abroad without a digital nomad visa.
What about air quality and smoke seasons?
Air quality can matter as much as rain, especially for kids with asthma. In northern Thailand, burning season usually runs from around February to April (our Chiang Mai vs Bali comparison covers it). Bangkok’s smog tends to peak from December to February, as we explain in our Bangkok with kids guide. Check an air quality app before you commit to a month.
How did we decide the best months for each destination?
We weighed climate, crowds and prices against what matters when travelling with kids: heat, getting around, and whether activities are open. This is research, not a list of places we’ve tested ourselves. Where we’ve been, we say so.
What if the best month doesn’t fit our plans?
Look at the second-best window instead. A good month that fits your family beats a “perfect” one that stretches your budget or your visa days. Each country guide explains its seasons in more detail.
Our Takeaways: What Chasing the Sun Has Taught Us
Regions matter more than countries. Vietnam taught us that. The whole country can be “rainy season” on paper while one stretch of coast is at its sunniest.
Plan your day, not just your month. With Leo at two, we’ve learned to do beach time early and late, and keep the middle of the day slow and shady. Even in a “perfect” month, the midday heat can be a lot for little ones.
Weather is only one piece of the puzzle. Visas, rent, school or work commitments and flight prices all shape where you can realistically be. Shoulder season is often where those pieces fit best. Our guide to digital nomad visas for families is a good next step once you’ve picked your months.
Leave room for the unexpected. No guide can promise sunshine. Some of my favourite childhood memories are of summer storms in Queensland. So if you land in a downpour, it might just be your family’s turn to dance in the rain. 🌧️
💛 Vanessa
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