Climate and weather

Hello, We’re heading to Finnish Lapland near Rovaniemi as a family at the end of February with two kids (8 and 14 years old). We’ve got direct flights with Luxairstours. The itinerary is already set, but I’m wondering if anyone has traveled with Luxair before and knows exactly what kind of clothes they provide on the second day? The agency just told me it’s a heavy-duty cold-weather suit. I’m thinking we should get Sorel Caribou boots, maybe second-hand. Here’s what I’ve already planned: - Thermolactyl leggings and tights from Damart for the whole family as a base layer. - A first layer of Damart socks + Nordic Stocks socks in 70% merino wool for all four of us. - Loose fleece layers, including some Polartec. - Ski pants for hikes. - For my son and me, a The North Face Himalayan down parka with a hood. - A ski parka for my husband and my 14-year-old daughter (she *really* wants a Roxy one—I hope it’ll be warm enough). - For myself, for the flight and the first day at Santa’s village, I’ve packed The North Face winter hiking pants, a long-sleeve merino wool top from Decathlon (thin), a fleece, and my big parka.

I’m wondering if I should just pack fleece joggers or sweatpants for the kids and my husband, at least for the first and last days, to be comfortable on the plane? I’m also planning to buy balaclavas and neck warmers in addition to our beanies, as well as mittens for all of us. I really need advice because I have no idea—I’ve never been skiing! Also, for a 4-night, 5-day trip, should I pack a second set of base layers, like from Odlo?

Of course, I’ll be leaving cotton clothes out of the suitcase.

As you can tell, I’m someone who gets cold easily—especially my feet, hands, and ears—so that’s my biggest worry. I *don’t* want to be cold, even at -20°C during dog sledding, snowmobiling, or aurora hunting when we might be standing still. We won’t be in the city, and the kids will likely spend most of their time outside, as they usually do.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi there! I’m planning a 10-day trip to Greenland in early August. Could anyone tell me what kind of weather and temperatures to expect? I’ve heard there are mosquitoes—is that true? Thanks!😊

Sunny destinations in October??? Not too much rain. Martinique, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Cape Verde, or somewhere else????? Any tips? Thanks for your help

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Thailand from October 16 to 29, 2025, with my two teens. We’d love to explore Southern Thailand (for the beaches...). I’ve read that it’s the end of the rainy season—do you think it’s a bad idea or not? Also, I’m familiar with traffic in Asian countries—it’s pretty challenging. Do you think I should go through an agency for a well-defined itinerary? Or do you have any tips for hotels and getting around? Looking forward to hearing from you, and thanks in advance! 😊 Mylène

hi there we’re planning a trip to the three Baltic countries: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. What’s making us hesitate is the weather—we think June might be the best time, but is the rain still moderate, or is it a real deal-breaker for the trip? Looking forward to your tips! jean-marie

Hi everyone, I’m supposed to be heading to Romania (Bucharest & Transylvania) next week for 10 days, and I’m really worried about the weather. Every day, the forecast seems to show rain (Sibiu, Brașov, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca). But it’s never clear like "rain all day"—it looks like a mix of sunny spells, rain, and clouds. So I was wondering, for those who know Romania well, what’s the weather generally like in Transylvania in spring? Is it common to have mountain thunderstorms in the late afternoon, or is it more persistent rain that lasts almost all day? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi there, What’s the best month to visit Bali—September or October? We’d like to do some snorkeling in addition to sightseeing. Thanks!

Hello fellow travelers, I’m planning to go to Thailand with my two teenagers during the upcoming All Saints' Day break—that’s the second half of October—and I see it’s the bad season. Should I give up and pick another destination? Or is there a region, north or south, that I should avoid? Those of you who know this country well, could you please give me some advice? I don’t want to put my kids at risk. Otherwise, I might head to Mauritius or... I don’t know! Thanks, friends, for your help. Looking forward to reading your replies,

Hi everyone. I’m planning to spend a week in Krabi and visit the surrounding areas (Phang Nga Bay, Khao Sok, and Cheow Lan Lake) during the second half of November. What kind of weather can we expect? If you’ve got any tips for this area, that’d be really helpful. Thanks, and have a great day.

I’d love some packing tips for Northern Vietnam in early October. I’ll be spending 2 days in Hanoi alone and was hoping to find another woman traveling solo in the city so we could explore together. Maryvonne Sanchez

Hi there, I’m looking to travel outside Europe in September, and my first thought was to return to Thailand. Unfortunately, what I’m reading about the weather isn’t encouraging—Indonesia seems like the better option this season. Sulawesi is really tempting, but the budget is higher. Since I’ve already been to Thailand in July a few years ago (it was overcast but with little rain), this time I’d love to explore Isan and then do some volunteering at Elephant Nature Park before ending with a few days by the sea. Do you think this is a good idea, or should I postpone it? I love sunshine, even if it’s not constant, and I’ve had enough of rain and gray skies back in Belgium 😅 Thanks so much! 🙏

Hello, I’m planning a trip to Brazil in July/August. The thing is, I don’t know where I could find a beach with high temperatures (24 °C / 27 °C) and a favorable climate (not too much rain) during that time. I’d like to enjoy the beach and maybe spot some marine wildlife. I don’t surf. Any ideas or personal experiences you can share?

Hello, I’m planning our trip for two weeks in late September to early October. We’ll be renting a car and want to stay in hotels. I understand the weather starts to change and that the choice of places to visit depends on it. So, is it a good idea to book hotels now, or is it better to wait until we’re there? And in that case, is it easy to find hotels? (We’re 75 and 70 years old and really appreciate our comfort now🙂).

I have plenty of other questions and would love your advice. For example, I’ve heard the roads to the Westfjords can be closed, but is the Latrabjarg area doable in October? I’d also like to avoid changing locations every day, so is it a good idea to stay put for 2-3 days and explore the region?

Thanks in advance for your replies! Marie José

Hi there, I’m heading to Chile for 3 weeks starting May 1st.

I can’t seem to find reliable info about the weather in May in the southern areas (Lake District and Patagonia).

Do you think some sites are still doable without too much rain at that time?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help! 😊

Ludo

Hi there, We're planning a trip to Vietnam in January 2025. As I start mapping out the itinerary, I see it’s not the ideal season for the north—we might run into a lot of fog. What do you think? Thanks in advance for shedding some light on this!

Hi everyone,

This question probably comes up pretty often, but my little family and I are planning to travel from October 17th to November 5th and we haven’t settled on a destination yet.

We’re mainly looking for discovery, a change of scenery, beautiful landscapes, and great hikes—so not necessarily by the sea—but with warm weather and not too much rain.

We haven’t decided on a destination yet, but we’d like to go somewhere "affordable," since we’re also hoping to take another two-week trip in December, so we’d like to keep the budget in check.

Since we’ve already been to Thailand, Indonesia (Java, Lombok, Bali), Mexico (Yucatan), Costa Rica, and Jordan, we’re really keen to keep exploring Asia, but the season doesn’t seem ideal. I know it’s all relative, and there must be some exceptions.

So, broadly speaking, we’re considering:

- **Asia**: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka - **South America**: Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia. We’re saving the colder countries for a future trip (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia) - **Africa**: The required budgets seem higher for the countries we’re interested in (Namibia, Tanzania). We’ll save that for later. - **Central America**: Guatemala, Mexico.

Even though weather isn’t an exact science, which countries would be the best fit for our travel period with pleasant weather and a low cost of living?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi everyone, we’re thinking of spending the last week of March in Madeira. What do you think? Is the weather nice? Isn’t it too cloudy? Are there already flowers? We’re mainly going to explore the island and do some hikes. We don’t plan on swimming. Thanks for your suggestions!!

Hi there, We're heading to Costa Adeje (more precisely Playa de la Arena) from April 6th to 13th. Opinions on the weather vary a lot. Some say it’s rainy and chilly... others claim it’s sunny with 25°C?? Could you share your experiences?

Hi there, I’ve planned a trip to Santorini and Amorgos in mid-April for two weeks, and I bought my flight ticket just before the seismic tremors started. Now I’m torn between going or canceling my trip. I’d love to know what the situation is like on the ground for tourists. I’ve read that half the residents have left the island and there’s a staff shortage. I’m wondering if hotels, restaurants, shops, buses, and taxis are operating normally? Also, I’d planned to do some hikes, especially along the cliffs, but I’ve read that some areas are now advised against or even off-limits due to risk of collapse. If anyone has visited Santorini or Amorgos recently, I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks!

What would be the ideal time to travel to northern Laos without it being too cold or too hot, and to enjoy the landscapes with green rice paddies and water? We love photography, hiking, and meeting people. We’re considering April/May—is that a good choice?

Hi everyone. I’m really torn between Tenerife and Rhodes for the week of April 12–19. I’m worried Rhodes might still be a bit chilly in mid-April, and I’m afraid there won’t be much to do in Tenerife?

I’d love to see beautiful sights—whether it’s towns or landscapes—but also lounge by the pool in shorts (or even a swimsuit if possible??). What do you recommend?

Will it be possible to swim in the pool at either (or both) of these destinations?

Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Senegal at the end of March/beginning of April. I’d love to know if the ocean is warm. Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi everyone, Who’s been to Zanzibar in March? How’s the rain situation, please? And the temperatures? Thanks, Eve13

Hi there,

We’re heading to Peru from February 3 to 27, 2025. From the 12th to the 23rd, we’ll be traveling through high-altitude areas above 4,000 meters between Arequipa and Puno, Puno and Cuzco, and then Cuzco and Nazca. My question is whether we might encounter snowy roads, and if so, whether rental vehicles (a standard tourist car rented at Lima airport) come equipped with chains or anything similar. Thanks in advance! Eric

Hi, We’re planning a trip to Nosy Be from March 14th to 29th. I saw on the "Where and When to Go" site that the weather isn’t great then—has anyone been to this part of Madagascar during this period? Does it rain a lot? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi, We’re planning a trip to Bali for the second half of March, staying 15 days: 5 days in Ubud, 5 days in Nusa Dua, and 5 days in Lombok. I know it’s not the ideal season, but can anyone tell me if it rains a lot in March, and whether the sea is too rough for swimming in Lombok and Nusa Dua? Thanks in advance, Corinne

Hi everyone, so great to be back on this forum! 😊 I’d love to know if swimming is pleasant in Dubai in March—I really need some warmth and hot water! 🔥 Thanks for your replies

Hi everyone, I’m heading to Namibia from March 20 to April 7 (Kalahari, Tok Tokkie Trail, Sossusvlei, Spitzkoppe, Twyfelfontein, and Etosha). I was wondering if the rainy season has started and whether it’s expected to be heavy?

Also, if anyone has traveled there during this period, I’d love to hear about your experience. Thanks in advance!

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Mauritius in February and I’d love some details about the weather there. I’ve gotten a lot of conflicting advice—on many websites, it says February in Mauritius is strongly discouraged, but when I check the temperature history, it seems like the best time (for those who love the heat and swimming without any issues). I’ve noted that it’s a month with frequent showers, but nothing compared to the monsoon season in Asia. Any thoughts? Thanks

Hi What’s your experience of Prague in winter like? Weather, vibe, etc. Thanks so much