Why May Works for a Honeymoon
May is a month of fresh starts in more ways than one. In the Mediterranean, hotels have just opened, staff are energized and gardens are at their freshest. In the South Pacific, the transition into the dry season often brings some of the year's most pleasant conditions, with trade winds and fewer showers.
Price is another advantage. Many Mediterranean hotels charge less in May than in July and August. Hawaii, meanwhile, enjoys a lull between spring break and summer holidays. Even where May is peak season, as in French Polynesia, it often comes before the busiest June to August period, when Australian, New Zealand and European holidays fill resorts.
The one US holiday to watch is Memorial Day weekend, which can make domestic destinations and flights busier.
Our Top Picks for May
Bora Bora is our headline pick. The drier season runs roughly from May to October. May often combines good weather with more availability than midsummer. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort and Conrad Bora Bora Nui all offer overwater bungalows with views of Mount Otemanu. Ask for a bungalow facing the mountain for the view everyone photographs.
The Mamanuca Islands in Fiji are another early-dry-season star. They sit in the lee of Viti Levu and are often sunnier than the rest of the country. Likuliku Lagoon Resort is kid-free and home to Fiji's first overwater bures, while Tokoriki Island Resort is a sunset-facing, kid-free island retreat.
Santorini in May is warm enough for terrace breakfasts and cool enough for comfortable walks along the caldera rim. Canaves Oia Epitome, Katikies Santorini and Grace Hotel Santorini, Auberge Resorts Collection all offer cliffside suites; consider a heated plunge pool, because the sea is still cool.
Tuscany is at its most romantic. Poppies and green wheat fields cover the hills. Evenings are warm enough for dinner outside. Borgo Santo Pietro, a restored medieval estate near Siena with its own organic farm, is a dream for food lovers.
Big Sur in May brings green hillsides, flowing waterfalls and, usually, less fog than June. Post Ranch Inn and Ventana Big Sur both sit high above the Pacific. Check Highway 1 conditions with Caltrans before you go, as storms and repairs can affect access.
Kauaʻi's North Shore begins its calmer season around May, opening the way for Nā Pali boat trips and snorkeling at spots like Tunnels Beach. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay overlooks the bay and its green peaks.
Finally, Hakone is lush and fresh in May, with blooming azaleas and comfortable temperatures. Gora Kadan, a ryokan in a former imperial family retreat, offers private hot-spring baths and kaiseki dinners.
Weather & Crowds
French Polynesia and Fiji typically settle into the dry season during May, with temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s Fahrenheit and lower humidity. The Mediterranean is warm and sunny, though sea temperatures are still on the cool side. Northern California is mild, while Kauaʻi brings a mix of sunshine and passing showers.
In Japan, early May includes Golden Week, a cluster of national holidays when domestic travel spikes; Hakone and Kyoto are much quieter after it.
Crowds are generally moderate. The Mediterranean grows busier through the month. US destinations fill around Memorial Day weekend.
Where to Avoid (or Go Anyway)
May is the quietest month in the Arctic. Fairbanks, Finnish Lapland and Swedish Lapland are past aurora season, snow is melting and some lodges close briefly for maintenance; Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, for example, typically has a quiet period in late spring. Wait for late August.
Northern Tanzania is still in the tail end of its long rains. Some properties in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and on Zanzibar reduce service. Rates are lower, but roads can be muddy. South Africa's Sabi Sand, entering its dry winter, is a stronger safari choice this month.
Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle is hot before the rains, so we would save northern Thailand for November.
Festivals & Seasonal Moments
- The Concorso d'Eleganza vintage car show is held on the grounds of Villa d'Este on Lake Como each May.
- The Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival typically takes place in May.
- Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri, one of the city's three great festivals, takes place on May 15 with a costumed procession.
- Manta season at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll typically begins around May and runs into November.
- Synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains usually appear from late May into June; viewing at Elkmont is managed by a lottery.
- Iceberg season off Newfoundland generally continues into June.
Booking Tips
Book South Pacific resorts early, since many small, kid-free islands have limited rooms and May marks the start of peak season. Look for offers that bundle inter-island flights or meal plans, which can make a big difference in French Polynesia.
In the Mediterranean, May is a great time to book a top-tier suite at a lower rate than summer. Ask about early-season promotions and reserve signature restaurant tables when you book your room.
If you are combining Japan with another destination, avoid Golden Week dates in early May, when trains and hotels are especially busy.