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Best beach destinations in May
Countries our desk rates good or better for May, and marks as beach months: warm enough water, and a coast that is open rather than shut for the season.
52 countries rated good or better
Chapter 01
Best beach destinations in May
Croatia95
about €95 / $103 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Greece95
about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Italy95
about €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Montenegro95
about €70 / $76 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Portugal95
about €85 / $92 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Spain95
about €95 / $103 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
95TurkeyThe best month - warm everywhere, sea warming, sites uncrowded.about €60 / $65 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9093Western Saharaabout €70 / $76 a day92AlbaniaWarm, green and the coast opening - an excellent month.about €50 / $54 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9092Cocos (Keeling) Islandsabout €145 / $157 a day92CyprusWarm and dry with the sea warming, ahead of the heat.about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9092Gibraltarabout €130 / $140 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9092IsraelThe best month - warm, dry and ahead of the heat.about €140 / $151 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9092Seychellesabout €160 / $173 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6092Tunisiaabout €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9090Christmas Islandabout €150 / $162 a day90Cook Islandsabout €130 / $140 a day90Fijiabout €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €6.60 / $7.2090French Polynesiaabout €210 / $227 a day90Samoaabout €95 / $103 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8088American Samoaabout €130 / $140 a day88Comorosabout €70 / $76 a day88Mayotteabout €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4088MoroccoWarm and dry, with heat building in the south late on.about €65 / $70 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8088Mozambiqueabout €70 / $76 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7088Niueabout €145 / $157 a day88Solomon Islandsabout €130 / $140 a day88Vanuatuabout €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7088Wallis and Futunaabout €130 / $140 a day86Guamabout €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6086Northern Mariana Islandsabout €140 / $151 a day86Tuvaluabout €120 / $130 a day85BermudaThe sea finally warms and the season opens.about €210 / $227 a day · eSIM from €5.70 / $6.2085IndonesiaDry season opens on Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara.about €42 / $45 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4085MalaysiaDry and clear on the east coast and across Borneo.about €48 / $52 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9080New Caledoniaabout €160 / $173 a day80Timor-LesteDry season opens and dive visibility improves sharply.about €60 / $65 a day · eSIM from €5.70 / $6.2078Palauabout €190 / $205 a day78Tongaabout €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4076Senegalabout €60 / $65 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8075HondurasHot and settled on the coast; interior rains begin.about €50 / $54 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4074BelizeHot, mostly dry; shoulder-season prices begin.about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €7.90 / $8.6072Gambiaabout €50 / $54 a day · eSIM from €8.40 / $9.1072Trinidad and TobagoLast dry month; hot and settled.about €100 / $108 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6070PhilippinesHottest month, first rains late; still good in Palawan.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9068Antigua and BarbudaShoulder month - brief showers, warm sea, notably cheaper rooms.about €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €6.60 / $7.2068BarbadosHotter, stiller shoulder month; genuine hotel deals begin.about €140 / $151 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6068Dominican RepublicRains build, north coast first; strong shoulder-season value.about €85 / $92 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8068GrenadaShowers return; chocolate festival; genuine hotel deals begin.about €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6065BahamasAfternoon showers begin mid-month; strong shoulder-season value.about €160 / $173 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7065Sri LankaSouthwest monsoon arrives; the east coast comes into its season.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4060El SalvadorRains start; swell consistent, lineups empty midweek.about €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.90 / $5.30
Chapter 02
Why these and not others
The tag is editorial: our desk writes it on a month it has written up, never derived from the score. A country scored from climate normals alone carries no tags, so it is not here - and nothing rated below good is, however well it would fit otherwise. A country under an active travel advisory is left out of the recommendation; the advisory itself is on its guide.
Chapter 03