May, at the world’s best hotels.

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

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.

Early-season Aegean: warm light, cool evenings, islands still local.

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.

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.

Early-summer Adriatic: swimmable seas before the yachts arrive.

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

Menorca in spring: empty calas and countryside in bloom.

Long northern days before midge season, the glens at their greenest.

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.

The southwest monsoon barely brushes the high tea country — misty mornings, low rates.

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

Green-season Angkor: moats full, rice paddies electric green, temples uncrowded.

The southeast trades arrive: cooler, breezier, and far quieter.

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

Winelands winter: fireside tastings, green vineyards, and the Cape to yourself.

Summer on the west bank: dawn temple visits, pool afternoons, tombs without the queues.

Vermont's secret season: sugaring, spring rivers, and the woods waking up.

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.

Green season in the rainforest: rivers full, wildlife loud, lodges at their gentlest rates.

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

The old city between seasons: brief showers, full color, easy reservations.

New Zealand's quiet season: misty river mornings and the lodge at winter rates.

Wild winter on the Southern Ocean: storm-watching, whales offshore, fires lit.

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

Late heli-season corn snow and lengthening arctic days.

Iceberg alley in its final weeks and the headlands turning green.

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.