April, at the world’s best hotels.

The Argentario in late spring: sea swims begin, the summer crowd hasn't.

Late-season altitude: long light, quiet pistes and terrace lunches once the school holidays pass.

Spring in the Balearics: warm days, wildflowers, and the island before the season.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

Spring in the Balearics: warm days, wildflowers, and the island before the season.

Spring on the lake: gardens in bloom before the summer set arrives.

Spring on the lake: gardens in bloom before the summer set arrives.

Spring on the Riviera — bougainvillea out, walking weather, the harbour still calm.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

Spring on the lake: gardens in bloom before the summer set arrives.

Spring on the lake: gardens in bloom before the summer set arrives.

Thermal spas are best before the summer heat arrives.

Spring in the Balearics: warm days, wildflowers, and the island before the season.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

The island is green and walkable before the summer humidity arrives, hotels have just reopened with season-opening rates, and the day-tripper crush is still thin.

The island is green and walkable before the summer humidity arrives, hotels have just reopened with season-opening rates, and the day-tripper crush is still thin.

The island is green and walkable before the summer humidity arrives, hotels have just reopened with season-opening rates, and the day-tripper crush is still thin.

Spring in the Balearics: warm days, wildflowers, and the island before the season.

Early spring: almond blossom and the year's gentlest rates.

Provence waking up — markets, blossom, walking weather.

The Riviera in bloom, before the season's yachts arrive.

Spring in the olive groves — warm days, cool nights, the coast to yourself.

Caldera light without the cruise ships — spring on the cliff edge.

Between ski and summer: snowmelt waterfalls and the mountains between seasons.

Spring on the lake: gardens in bloom before the summer set arrives.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

Spring on the Amalfi Coast: lemon blossom, warm days, none of the August crush.

Caldera light without the cruise ships — spring on the cliff edge.

Caldera light without the cruise ships — spring on the cliff edge.

Early spring: almond blossom and the year's gentlest rates.

Menorca in spring: empty calas and countryside in bloom.

Spring in the olive groves — warm days, cool nights, the coast to yourself.

Caldera light without the cruise ships — spring on the cliff edge.

Early spring: almond blossom and the year's gentlest rates.

Between ski and summer: snowmelt waterfalls and the mountains between seasons.

Island spring on the Setouchi — cherry blossom to green rice terraces.

Off-season Rajasthan: hot afternoons, yes — and palace hotels at half their winter rates.

The long rains: the Mara empty of vehicles, resident game everywhere, rates at their lowest.

Spring green-up: wildflower meadows, snowmelt rivers and foal season, before the summer rush.

Between snow and summer in the San Juans: hot springs season, no crowds.

Autumn in Torres del Paine: red lenga forests and the year's stillest light.

After the Brazilian summer: warm seas, quiet Quadrado, casas at their calmest.

After the rains: clear water, warm days, the archipelago to yourself.

Late heli-season corn snow and lengthening arctic days.

The tail of the dry season, with calm seas, sunny mornings and the crowds thinning out after Chinese New Year.

The rains have just ended, the Colca Canyon countryside is at its greenest, and rates dip in the gap before the June to August high season.