resortrisLuxury Resorts · Islands · Escapes

Small aircraft on final approach over a turquoise bay and green hills

The resort atlas

24 destinations, twelve months

Indian Ocean and South Pacific, Asia, the Caribbean, the Gulf, Africa and the Alps: where each destination is at its best, how long it takes to get there and which resort styles it does well.

Resort style

Resort style Sort

Thatched overwater villas on a curving jetty across a Maldivian lagoon

3.90° N · 73.40° E

Maldives

Indian Ocean 10 h

Best: December to April

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4.62° S · 55.45° E

Seychelles

Indian Ocean 10½ h

Best: April to May, October to November

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20.25° S · 57.55° E

Mauritius

Indian Ocean 11½ h

Best: May, September to November

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16.50° S · 151.74° W

French Polynesia

South Pacific 22 h

Best: May to October

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17.75° S · 177.45° E

Fiji

South Pacific 24 h

Best: May to October

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8.55° S · 115.17° E

Bali

Asia 16 h

Best: May to September

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Infinity pool reflecting trees and a pavilion above the Andaman Sea

7.88° N · 98.39° E

Thailand

Asia 12 h

Best: December to March

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6.05° N · 80.22° E

Sri Lanka

Asia 10½ h

Best: December to April

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6.16° S · 39.20° E

Zanzibar

Africa 9 h

Best: July to October, December to February

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Wooden dock reaching into shallow turquoise water off a white beach at dawn

21.78° N · 72.26° W

Turks and Caicos

Caribbean & Americas 13 h

Best: December to April

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White villa with arches behind palapas on a Caribbean beach

20.63° N · 87.07° W

Riviera Maya

Caribbean & Americas 12 h

Best: December to April

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Open timber pavilion on a rainforest ridge with mist lifting at dawn

10.60° N · 85.70° W

Costa Rica

Caribbean & Americas 12 h

Best: December to April

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Sandstone desert resort with wind towers and a pool below golden dunes

24.60° N · 55.40° E

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Middle East & North Africa 6 h

Best: November to March

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22.90° N · 58.00° E

Oman

Middle East & North Africa 6½ h

Best: November to March

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Earthen kasbah with towers and a pool on a hilltop in the High Atlas

31.63° N · 8.00° W

Marrakech & the Atlas

Middle East & North Africa 3½ h

Best: March to May, October to November

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Small tented camp on a low rise above golden grassland at dawn

1.50° S · 35.15° E

Masai Mara & Serengeti

Africa 8½ h

Best: January to February, July to October

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Thatched safari suite with a plunge pool above a riverbed with elephants

24.85° S · 31.60° E

Kruger & Sabi Sand

Africa 10½ h

Best: May to October

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Mokoro canoe in papyrus channels with a tented camp on a palm island

19.30° S · 22.90° E

Okavango Delta

Africa 13 h

Best: June to October

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Grand hotel with turrets on a snowy slope above frozen alpine lakes

46.50° N · 9.84° E

Swiss Alps

Europe 1 h

Best: January to March, July to August

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Chalet hotel on an alpine meadow below jagged limestone peaks

46.55° N · 11.85° E

Dolomites

Europe 1.2 h

Best: January to March, July to September

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Mountain hotel of stone and glass at the foot of a snowy ski slope with a volcano

42.86° N · 140.70° E

Niseko

Asia 14½ h

Best: January to March

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White terraces and pools stepping down a cliff above a bay in Ibiza

39.60° N · 2.90° E

Mallorca & Ibiza

Europe 2.2 h

Best: May to September

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Cave suites and an infinity pool on the caldera cliff of Santorini

36.90° N · 25.40° E

Greek Islands

Europe 3 h

Best: May to September

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Seafront villa hotel with a pool above golden cliffs and a sandy beach

37.09° N · 8.25° W

Algarve

Europe 3 h

Best: February to May, September to November

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At a glance

The season calendar

Darker cells mark the better months. Choose a month in the header to sort the table by it.

Season rating by month for 24 destinations
Destination
Maldives	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Good	Best
Seychelles	Good	Good	Good	Best	Best	Good	Good	Good	Good	Best	Best	Good
Mauritius	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Good	Good	Good	Best	Best	Best	Good
French Polynesia	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season
Fiji	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season
Bali	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season
Thailand	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best
Sri Lanka	Best	Best	Best	Best	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best
Zanzibar	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Best
Turks and Caicos	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Good	Good	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best
Riviera Maya	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best
Costa Rica	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Good	Good	Good	Low season	Low season	Good	Best
Dubai & Abu Dhabi	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed	Low season	Good	Best	Best
Oman	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed	Low season	Good	Best	Best
Marrakech & the Atlas	Good	Good	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Good
Masai Mara & Serengeti	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Good
Kruger & Sabi Sand	Good	Good	Good	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Good
Okavango Delta	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season
Swiss Alps	Best	Best	Best	Good	Avoid or closed	Good	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Avoid or closed	Good
Dolomites	Best	Best	Best	Good	Avoid or closed	Good	Best	Best	Best	Good	Avoid or closed	Good
Niseko	Best	Best	Best	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Good	Good	Low season	Low season	Good
Mallorca & Ibiza	Low season	Low season	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Low season	Low season
Greek Islands	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed	Low season	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Avoid or closed	Avoid or closed
Algarve	Good	Best	Best	Best	Best	Good	Good	Good	Best	Best	Best	Good