After living in Europe for 15 months, I believe May is the best month to travel in Europe (and we can add September in there). Lately, I’ve been seeing the number five and well since it’s the fifth month, I’ve decided to write five reasons why I love Europe in May. Yes it’s cheaper and quieter, but here are some uncommon thoughts on why May is the best month to travel Europe.
If you've ever been to Europe you know Europeans love flowers and floral shops. My instagram feed cycles with thoughts of, "#OMG! The #flowers are #beautiful and #amazing!" I love flowers and well, Europe is beyond beautiful in May! From the tulips in the Netherlands to the roses in Germany to the wild flowers in Ibiza, May is the month of rebirth. It’s the time when natural beauty rebirths and the start to yet another jam-packed tourist season. If you love nature and beauty, May is the best month to experience the spring-summer blossoms that ignite street corners and balconies. If you want to get rained on by flower petals, be sure to spend sometime in the parks like the above picture in Valencia, Spain.
One July trip to London changed my perspective about temperatures. I love the heat, but apparently I only love it near the seashore. Walking around London in 90-degree heat, soaked in sweat with toothpicks keeping my eyes opened in a museum made me realize May is the best month (and well, September). Europe is not equipped with AC like the states. In the summer, museums are pretty much Van Gogh’s sauna and the streets are like a medieval fire pit. Must I explain more?
If you enjoy the European party life, May kick-starts the party season with many roof top, outdoor and seasonal club events. Thankfully, a more mature crowd attends the events in May and we all know opening parties are a sure blast of amazing music and energetic crowds. I highly recommend the opening parties in Ibiza. Not only are the sets fantastic and atmosphere is out-of-this-world but also the energy from the people is fresh with room to breathe.
Have you ever made abrupt travel plans or changes, only to find no hotel availability? Or better yet, the rooms are 300 quid per night because its Wimbledon final’s weekend, so you must Air B&B 30-minutes outside of the city. (Somehow I keep learning lessons from London?!) Not only is May’s tourism calmer, but also you can find last minute deals without breaking the bank. Summer is expensive everywhere in Europe, but you can still make last minute plans in May.
Summer hotspots like the French Rivera requires early booking, unless you want to pay several hundred (or thousand) euros per night – but not in May!
Before all those “schoolie” and college backpackers hit the streets while over intoxicated and peeing on buildings; May is an ideal month to experience the best of Europe without the drama. Though one can never escape drama and vomit-stained sidewalks (especially in Amsterdam), you can chill at a street side café without feeling rushed.
I loved the Den Haag beach clubs where a more mature crowd drank and enjoyed the sun without a blatantly loud boozing binge-fest of bloody British blokes bitchin’ to their mates about banging bitches and being "bros before hoes." Pardon my blatancy, but these conversations do exist. At a beach café in Greece in June, the table of four Irish and British guys boasted about every girl they slept with on vacation. Although humorous, some details should be kept behind closed doors. And most people really don't want to hear those details.
What is your favorite time to visit Europe? Or to travel?