June is traditionally the first big vacation month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, but there are still loads of excellent places to go with good weather and affordable prices. Actually, June can be an ideal choice for those with time off because so many Europeans spread all over the world during their more popular holiday months of July and August. While the beach areas in Europe and North America tend to be crowded and expensive in June, there are many great options not too far away that are still cheap and have great weather.
You’ll find great choices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia as well, all in affordable price categories. If you are more sure of where in the world you’d like to go you might instead consult our list of the best European destinations to visit in June or the best Asian destinations to visit in June.
Important June 2024 Holidays
- May 30 – Feast of Corpus Christi: A major celebration in most Catholic countries (Italy, Spain etc)
- June 1 – Pancasila Day (public holiday in Bali and throughout Indonesia)
- June 2 – Republic Day in Italy (public holiday)
- June 3 – Queen Suthida’s Birthday in Thailand (public holiday, observed June 5 in 2023)
- June 3 – Agong’s Birthday in Malaysia (public holiday)
- June 8 to 10 – Dragon Boat Festival (China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan)
My new video showing many of the places below
Over on my new Youtube channel I recently made a video showing 10 of the places on this list with great video footage and some additional reasons you might go along with cheap hotel recommendations in each place. I’d appreciate anyone who watches and subscribes.
The Americas
In North America, June is obviously the start of summer, but most of the north isn’t really cheap enough to make this list. In South America it’s winter in most places, so only the Tropical cities are worth a look for a good-weather bargain at this time of year. The hot countries in June are mostly in the north at this time of year.
The Caribbean
While June is officially the first official month of “hurricane season” in the Caribbean, the chances of one interrupting your vacation this month are almost zero. September is the peak of hurricane season and there have been almost no big storms in June that have hit any islands, for what it is worth.
Since June is an extremely popular wedding months, here are the best Caribbean islands and resorts for honeymoons.
Cancun, Mexico
- June avg high: 91°F/33°C
- June avg low: 77°F/25°C
- June avg precip: 5.4″/13.5cm
Cancun highlights
- Excellent beaches with turquoise water in many Cancun areas
- The Caribbean’s best nightlife (if you want it), but also easy to avoid
- A great range of all-inclusive resorts in every price range
- Every imaginable activity, water sport, and golf, plus famous ruins
- Cenotes, which are semi-enclosed sea caves that are unique to this area
While June is one of the wetter months in the Cancun area, the rain almost never comes down for more than an hour or so at a time, and it tends to be refreshing when it does fall. Better still, the hotel prices are very low in June so you’ll be able to get amazing deals at even the nicest hotels in the area, with inexpensive flights as well.
If you are looking for a high-rise resort on a beach then you’ll definitely want to look along the main Hotel Zone in Cancun itself. But if you would prefer to stay in an actual town with dozens of nearby choices of local restaurants and bars, then you should head to Playa del Carmen or even the island of Cozumel just across the water. They will all be bargains in June, and the sea breezes will keep you cool during the times you aren’t in your air-conditioned hotel room. Tulum, which is just south of Playa del Carmen, is a trendy new destination for creative types. In fact, there are 9 distinct areas in and near Cancun where you can stay and we have created a quick guide for choosing where to stay in Cancun based on your preferences.
- 3-star hotels from: US$37 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
- All-inclusive resorts from: US$208 per night for two people
>>Cancun travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Cancun resort and package deals
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- June avg high: 89°F/32°C
- June avg low: 77°F/25°C
- June avg precip: 1.7″/4.0cm
Punta Cana highlights
- Fantastic all-inclusive beach resorts with the best value in the Caribbean
- A large and modern airport and highways to get you in safely
- White, sandy beaches at most every resort, and ALL of the better ones
- Fishing, sailing, water sports, golf, and other adventure excursions available
- Family-friendly resorts are available for families with kids
June is a warm month in Punta Cana, but it still gets almost no rain so you’ll be able to spend all day on those lovely white sandy beaches if you like. This is where you want to go if you are looking for an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean with great service at shockingly reasonable prices. In June you should find room rates that are so low they will look like mistakes, yet they are real, and the resorts here are all professionally run.
This area gets crowded with European visitors during July and August, and most of the resorts here are owned by Spanish (or at least European) hotel companies. So June is the perfect month for great weather and modest prices for an all-inclusive resort. The flights to the new and efficient airport here should be well priced this month as well. Punta Cana also tops our list of the best Caribbean destinations for families with children because there are so many excellent and affordable resorts that have water parks and kids clubs.
- 3-star hotels from: US$46 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$77 per night for two people
- All-inclusive resorts from: US$173 per night for two people
Montego Bay, Jamaica
- June avg high: 90°F/32°C
- June avg low: 76°F/24°C
- June avg precip: 1.5″/3.8cm
Montego Bay highlights
- Jamaica has a famous cuisine, excellent fruits, and great frozen drinks
- Sandy beaches at most resorts, although it’s important to check at cheaper places
- Excellent sunsets in Negril and other west-facing beaches
- Music and nightlife for those brave enough to leave the resorts, and great parties inside the resorts
- The only large Caribbean island where all the locals speak English
If you don’t like the sound of Punta Cana then you might prefer to find a resort in Montego Bay, where pretty much everyone speaks English as a first language. The town itself is kind of a dud, so you are best off booking at one of the large self-contained resorts along the coast near town. The all-inclusives here are good deals, but there are other good options as well. In fact, Jamaica is home to two of our 11 best luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and one of those is in Montego Bay itself, and both of them have overwater bungalows.
If Montego Bay itself doesn’t sound ideal then you might instead consider Negril or Ocho Rios, both of which are about 90 minutes away from Montego Bay Airport. Ocho Rios has a similar strip of large resorts along its coast, with some interesting nearby sights and attractions. Negril, on the other hand, is best for smaller beach hotels along 7-Mile Beach, where there are many small restaurants and bars to choose from nearby each property. This is where you go to find the old-school super chilled out Jamaica.
- 3-star hotels from: US$74 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$223 per night for two people
- All-inclusive resorts from: US$217 per night for two people
Los Cabos, Mexico
- June avg high: 89°F/32°C
- June avg low: 66°F/19°C
- June avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
Los Cabos highlights
- Fast and easy to reach for many Americans and Canadians
- Amazing marina area with outstanding shopping, restaurants, and shops
- A great mix of traditional and all-inclusive resorts
- Mild evenings in winter so you aren’t sweating day AND night
- Excellent beaches at most hotels and resorts
If you are looking for a beach holiday and you are starting in the western half of the US or Canada, then Los Cabos is your best choice in June. While other Pacific resort areas like Puerto Vallarta start their rainy season in June, Cabo doesn’t really have a rainy season and the June temperatures are still quite nice, especially with mild evenings for sitting outside for dinner and drinks.
It’s worth noting that the Los Cabos area is made up of two cities and a stretch of beach between them. Cabo san Lucas is the western town built around the large and gorgeous marina, and San Jose del Cabo is the eastern town closer to the airport where things are more spread out. There are loads of great beach resorts in the area, including many luxurious ones in between the towns. If you prefer nightlife and shopping you’ll want to stay in the Cabo san Lucas area, and families are probably better off almost anywhere else.
- 3-star hotels from: US$70 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$216 per night for two people
- All-inclusive resorts from: US$238 per night for two people
>>>Check current Cabo resort and package deals
Mexico City, Mexico
- June avg high: 76°F/24°C
- June avg low: 54°F/12°C
- June avg precip: 5.3″/13.3cm
Mexico City highlights
- World-class historic colonial city center
- Modern culture and shopping districts that are surprisingly posh
- Excellent food (not just Tex-Mex) at appealing prices
- Pyramids and other nearby Aztec ruins that are easy to reach
- Great value hotels and hostels for a big, modern city
Here’s another one that does get a bit of rain during June, but its altitude keeps temperatures in Mexico City much lower than most people would guess for this time of year. People who might not be able to afford a trip to Europe should consider this as an interesting alternative.
Flights from the US and Canada tend to be cheap, the city center area is very nice in many places, and prices are very low compared to almost anywhere else. This is a very underrated destination that is far safer than many cities in the US, and the mild June weather is a perfect reason to visit. In other words, Mexico City is not one of the hottest places in June, but it’s pleasantly mild and much nicer than you might expect.
- 3-star hotels from: US$25 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
>>Mexico City travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Mexico City hotel deals
Cartagena, Colombia
- June avg high: 87°F/31°C
- June avg low: 79°F/26°C
- June avg precip: 4.2″/10.5cm
Cartagena highlights
- Gorgeous and historic colonial wall town center
- Good beaches and other nearby sights
- Great food and drinks that are surprisingly cheap
- A unique atmosphere that is very different from the large Caribbean islands
- Nearby islands, water sports, and other activities
It’s true that it can be a bit rainy in Cartagena in June, but it’s the tropical type of rain that comes and goes quickly, so it’s unlikely to become a problem for most people. Hotels in this beach town are still in their off-season prices as well, as the summer demand doesn’t really pick up until July.
The winter is probably the best time to visit, but it’s really quite nice all year round, and still very cheap as well. If you like culture, history, and gorgeous Colonial architecture you’ll want to stay in the walled city area. But if you mainly want to relax on the beach you’ll want to stay in the Bocagrande area just to the west of the walled city. There are quite a few all-inclusive resorts in Cartagena as well and the prices are very appealing, but food and drinks in the city and at beach restaurants are pretty cheap as well so you may not want to commit to staying in one place for your entire trip.
- 3-star hotels from: US$38 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$86 per night for two people
- All-inclusive resorts from: US$132 per night for two people
>>Cartagena travel guide and prices
>>>Check hotel deals for Cartagena
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- June avg high: 81°F/27°C
- June avg low: 64°F/18°C
- June avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm
Rio de Janeiro highlights
- Copacabana and Ipanema beach areas are world-class beaches and very entertaining
- Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf cable car are amazing in person, if a bit expensive
- Famous beach scene where locals far outnumber tourists all year round
- Great food and drink culture at reasonable prices
- Excellent-value smaller hotels in the nicer beach areas
Rio de Janeiro is just barely inside the Tropics, so it’s pretty much the South American equivalent of Miami. This means that its summer (December through February) can be steamy and a bit wet, but it’s nearly perfect during the rest of the year.
Rio and the rest of Brazil had becomes somewhat expensive a few years back, but the currency here has come back down and now it’s definitely a bargain again. The chain hotels on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are still pretty expensive although for security reasons they might be worth the splurge. Still, if you look for smaller family-run hotels and restaurants, Rio can be as affordable as it is beautiful, and it’s really beautiful.
- 3-star hotels from: US$47 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$51 per night for two people
>>Rio de Janeiro travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Rio de Janeiro hotel and resort deals
Europe
When June rolls in it’s still quite cold in the north of Europe, and incredibly expensive as well. The best vacations in June are therefore toward the south in Europe. June is actually a perfect month to get some sun because peak season doesn’t start until July and yet the weather is perfect already. Check our list of Europe’s least expensive beach destinations for some options.
>>>Best Europe destinations in June
- 56 Europe cities from cheapest to most expensive for backpackers
- 56 Europe cities from cheapest to most expensive for 3-Star travelers
- 23 Europe all-inclusive destinations from cheapest to most expensive
Lisbon, Portugal
- June avg high: 77°F/25°C
- June avg low: 61°F/16°C
- June avg precip: 0.7″/1.8cm
Lisbon highlights
- Historic castles, towers, and cathedrals, all in the compact town center
- Tram 28, which connects many of Lisbon’s tourist sights for €3 or less
- Elevador de Santa Justa – the famous outdoor elevator
- Great food that is surprisingly cheap for a large European capital
- Fado (local folk music) shows to go along with great meals
A gorgeous city that is underappreciated by most visitors until they actually visit, Lisbon is also one of Europe’s best-value destinations.
The temperatures in Lisbon during June are pretty much perfect for climbing up and down its seven hills without making a mess of yourself. It’s hard to make a case for flying a long way to visit Portugal alone, although there’s actually plenty to see and do, plus the wonderful Algarve region in the south, so this is usually an add-on to some trips of Spain. If you are on the fence, definitely take the leap and you won’t regret it.
- 3-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$101 per night for two people
>>Lisbon travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Lisbon hotel deals
Madrid, Spain
- June avg high: 80°F/27°C
- June avg low: 59°F/15°C
- June avg precip: 1.0″/2.5cm
Madrid highlights
- Best place to experience the wide range of Spanish cultural highlights in one place
- Royal Palace complex
- Prado Museum, which is one of the world’s best art museums and a gorgeous building
- Tapas bars, where you get free snacks with each drink ordered
- Excellent nightlife that draws people from all over the world
Especially as the Euro is so low compared to the US dollar, Madrid is an excellent bargain as well as being an amazing city. Spain’s capital is a grand and gorgeous place with palaces, museums, and large public squares. The food here is a highlight, especially if you are a tapas fan because you can often eat for next to nothing as part of a pub crawl while paying for beer or wine.
The nightlife in Madrid is also famous, and in June things are really going strong. You’ve probably heard that people eat dinner late here and then young people head to the clubs after midnight. Even if you aren’t one to stay up that late, you’ll find plenty to see and do here well into the evening. The siesta thing is still observed in Madrid, so be prepared to relax indoors or find other things to do while most businesses are closed from 2 PM until 4 PM or so.
- 3-star hotels from: US$97 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$122 per night for two people
>>Madrid travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Madrid hotel deals
Barcelona, Spain
- June avg high: 76°F/24°C
- June avg low: 60°F/16°C
- June avg precip: 1.7″/4.3cm
Barcelona highlights
- Sagrada Familia cathedral and other Gaudi architectural highlights
- La Rambla pedestrian zone
- Sandy beaches located within the city
- Marina complex with great food, shopping, and activities
- Nightlife that rivals Madrid and is world-class
The daytime temperatures in June for Barcelona are still very reasonable, and the ocean breezes can actually make it feel cool in the mornings and evenings. As a beach city this place does stay very busy all summer long, so June is a nice compromise before things get too crazy.
It’s another that may not be super cheap, but it’s very reasonable compared to the rest of Western Europe, and definitely worth a visit at least once in your life for the unusual architecture alone. It’s worth noting that Barcelona has become so crowded in peak months in recent years that the city government is trying to curtail some tourism. June is a busy month, so be prepared for crowds.
- 3-star hotels from: US$101 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$143 per night for two people
>>Barcelona travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Barcelona hotel deals
Prague, Czechia
- June avg high: 72°F/22°C
- June avg low: 54°F/12°C
- June avg precip: 2.9″/7.3cm
Prague highlights
- Prague Castle complex, which is one of Europe’s easiest to tour
- Charles Bridge and Old Town Square
- Eastern Europe’s most interesting architecture that survived WWII
- Hearty food at great prices (if you avoid tourist zones)
- Arguably the world’s best beer that is also very cheap (if you avoid the tourist zones)
Arguably the most beautiful city in central Europe, Prague has been extremely popular among those touring Europe for decades, and with good reason. One of the historic cities that was mostly spared from being flattened in WWII, Prague is a showcase for interesting and historic architecture.
Hotels here can be expensive, especially if you stay in or near the historic center, but the public transportation here is cheap and efficient so saving money by staying a little away from the river is often the best choice. Beer here is famously good and cheap, although it’s only cheap at places where locals outnumber the tourists, and those can be hard to find in the Old City, which is another good reason to stay a bit on the outskirts.
- 3-star hotels from: US$87 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$111 per night for two people
>>Prague travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Prague hotel deals
Krakow, Poland
- June avg high: 72°F/22°C
- June avg low: 57°F/14°C
- June avg precip: 3.3″/8.3cm
Krakow highlights
- Gorgeous old town zone surrounded by a lovely park
- Wawel Castle complex
- Great food and hotels that can be shockingly cheap for Europe
- Lively nightlife and culture
- An easy day trip to Auschwitz is unforgettable
It’s hard to emphasize enough what a bargain Krakow is compared to most of the rest of Europe. June has very nice weather, though you’ll still need a jacket or sweater for the evenings. The draw here is the lovely town center with its historic cathedrals and castles, plus a huge array of hostels and budget hotels that make shopping around very easy.
This is the new hot destination for British stag and hen parties, and one look at the beer prices makes it easy to see why. In fact, Krakow is so pleasant and affordable that it can be a good place for a longer stay if you are touring Europe. You can see the main sights in 3 days or so, and that allows you to slow down and relax if you want to catch your breath before exploring more expensive cities like Paris or London.
- 3-star hotels from: US$62 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$114 per night for two people
>>Krakow travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Krakow hotel deals
Budapest, Hungary
- June avg high: 76°F/24°C
- June avg low: 57°F/14°C
- June avg precip: 2.7″/6.8cm
Budapest highlights
- Parliament building overlooking the Danube
- Some of Europe’s best architecture fitting of a capital
- Very cheap food and drinks (outside of the main tourist zone)
- Natural hot spring complexes right in the city that are easy and cheap to visit
- “Ruin pubs” set in courtyards of old apartment buildings (a surprising treat)
Many parts of Europe become stifling in July and August, and some of them have little air conditioning to help deal with it. This makes a place like Budapest ideal during June, when daytime temperatures are still warm but not steamy.
Budapest is always near the top of our list of cheapest cities in Europe, which is somewhat surprising when you visit and see how nice the place is. Hotels near and overlooking the Danube can be pricey, and yet if you go a few blocks inland you can get a really nice place for a fraction of the cost.
- 3-star hotels from: US$71 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$79 per night for two people
>>Budapest travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Budapest hotel deals
Athens, Greece
- June avg high: 88°F/31°C
- June avg low: 65°F/18°C
- June avg precip: 0.4″/1cm
Athens highlights
- The Acropolis hill topped by the Parthenon ruins
- Acropolis Museum (new and world-class)
- Great food and drinks at reasonable prices, largely outdoor and fun
- Syntagma Square and its quirky ceremonies
- Easy access to the port where you can take ferries to countless Greek islands
The end of June can begin to get sweltering, and you probably don’t even want to think about coming during July or August, so this would be a good one about now, especially as a 3-day stop on the way to a Greek Island for the balance of a trip.
Athens continues to be a bargain by most European standards, and it’s especially cheap when the Euro is as low as it is. The main sights here are also reasonably priced, especially considering how amazing they are. You can’t really say the same thing about London or Paris, where the attractions can really take a toll on the budget.
- 3-star hotels from: US$68 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$112 per night for two people
>>Athens travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Athens hotel deals
Split, Croatia
- June avg high: 80°F/26°C
- June avg low: 66°F/21°C
- June avg precip: 2.0″/5.2cm
Split highlights
- Stunning white-marble historic center dating back over 1,000 years
- Gorgeous port area with ferries going to nearby islands
- Diocletian’s Palace and other easily accessible sights
- Pleasant seaside summer weather with sea breezes
- Much cheaper than nearby Italy or even Dubrovnik
While Dubrovnik is the more famous destination on Croatia’s coast, it’s also too expensive to make this list now. Split, on the other hand, is still quite a bargain and it’s actually more interesting, and a nicer place to visit.
Dubrovnik is completely packed with tourists and cruise passengers, especially in summer, but Split is a similar-looking real city filled mostly with locals. It’s also easier to reach, as well as the transit hub to the nearby islands off Croatia. The area does get crowded in summer, but not quite so bad until July and August when all the Germans and northern Europeans move in for a month at a time.
- 3-star hotels from: US$67 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$139 per night for two people
>>Split travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Split hotel deals
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- June avg high: 78°F/26°C
- June avg low: 66°F/19°C
- June avg precip: 0.0″/0.5cm
Tenerife highlights
- Sandy beaches and lovely hotel pools at almost every larger place
- A laid-back vibe with surprisingly affordable food and drinks
- Interesting and mellow nightlife with no mega clubs
- Teide volcano and national park
- Easy yet exotic place for English speakers with little stress
Officially part of Spain, Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands and located just off the northern coast of Africa. It has a stable climate that has pleasant temperatures pretty much all year long, and June is the first month that you should be able to get as much beach time as you like in.
The island fills up more in July and August when more Europeans have their month-long holidays, so if you can come in June you’ll be dodging some of the crowds and you should also be able to get a better rate on a hotel and a flight. There aren’t many cultural sights here, but it’s a great place to relax without breaking the bank. If you don’t speak much Spanish, then you’ll want to head to the southern towns of Los Cristianos and Playa de la Americas, which are always packed with Brits and Swedes. It’s also worth noting that Tenerife is only one of the Canary Islands and you can often find even better deals and sometimes smaller crowds on some of the others including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma.
- 3-star hotels from: US$59 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$74 per night for two people
>>Tenerife travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Tenerife hotel deals
Istanbul, Turkey
- June avg high: 79°F/26°C
- June avg low: 61°F/16°C
- June avg precip: 1.0″/2.5cm
Istanbul highlights
- Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are both stunning and worthwhile
- Grand Bazaar is huge and great shopping all over
- Topkapi Palace
- Great food at very reasonable prices, especially filling breakfasts
- Shockingly cheap hotels even with great locations
Tourism to Turkey has been off in recent years, but June of 2023 could be a great time to go unless something dramatic happens. This is a huge and fascinating city that is normally very easy to visit and filled with outstanding sights. But the country has been dealing with inflation and a plummeting currency, which has actually made things more expensive for residents and much cheaper for visitors.
Istanbul is the best place to visit on a trip to Turkey, but especially while it’s so cheap you might also want to visit the breathtaking region of Cappadocia with its fairy chimneys (google them) as well as the Mediterranean city of Antalya (see below), which is also historic and noticeably cheaper than Istanbul.
- 3-star hotels from: US$51 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$58 per night for two people
>>Istanbul travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Istanbul hotel deals
Antalya, Turkey
- June avg high: 89°F/32°C
- June avg low: 66°F/19°C
- June avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm
Antalya highlights
- Fascinating historic town center overlooked the Mediterranean
- Even cheaper than Istanbul
- Great beaches east and west of the city center
- All-inclusive hotels ranging from shockingly cheap to affordable
- Easy place to experience Turkish culture without Istanbul crowds
Due to a limited number of actual hostels in Antalya, it’s not a classic backpacker destination. In reality, you can get a private room at a nice 2-star hotel in the historic center for sometimes less than a dorm bed. This city is a fantastic bargain, and the weather in June is wonderful, at least until the end when the July heat starts kicking in a bit early. The entire Mediterranean coast of Turkey is the place to be this time of year, just before it fills up during its two hottest months. It’s not technically in Europe, but it very much feels like it is.
- 3-star hotels from: US$39 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$48 per night for two people
>>Antalya travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Antalya hotel deals
Africa
June is obviously winter in South Africa, and it’s blazing hot in most of the middle of the continent and over in Egypt, so you don’t have many great choices this month here.
Fez, Morocco
- June avg high: 82°F/28°C
- June avg low: 59°F/15°C
- June avg precip: 1.0″/2.5cm
Fez highlights
- The Medina (Old City)
- Visit a tannery (unforgettable)
- Ancient buildings and mosques, some are partly open to the public
- Spice and food markets (amazing photos)
- Very affordable hotels and food
Much like nearby Marrakech, Fez sounds to many people like a place that would be in the heart of a forbidding desert, but Morocco is just south of Spain, and the Atlas Mountains keep most of the heat on the other side, so this country is fairly pleasant even in June. Most visits tend to come as part of a trip to Spain, and those who make it past the hard-to-recommend border city of Tangier will find a fascinating culture and very appealing prices.
- 3-star hotels from: US$42 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$51 per night for two people
>>Fez travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Fez hotel deals
Middle East
A bit surprisingly, much of the Middle East still has very reasonable temperatures in June.
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
- June average high: 99°F/37°C
- June average low: 80°F/27°C
- June avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
This Red Sea resort in Egypt has been one of the most affordable sunshine destinations in the world in recent years, and an incident a few years ago will probably keep it on the very-cheap list for some time to come. Needless to say, this area has been safe for years and it will be considered safe again, so anyone who doesn’t get intimidated easily should consider a visit.
Prices here had become insanely cheap while Egypt was struggling with some issues a few years ago, but Sharm was the host of the COP 27 climate summit in late 2022 and it’s back on the map as a popular beach resort area, and it’s still quite cheap by international standards.
Sharm el-Sheikh highlights
- One of the world’s top scuba diving destinations
- Great Red Sea beaches
- Ras Mohammed National Park
- Sharm Old Market
- Amazing prices on beach hotels
- 3-star hotels from: US$51 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$68 per night for two people
>>>Sharm el-Sheikh travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Sharm el-Sheikh hotel and package deals
Amman, Jordan
- June avg high: 87°F/31°C
- June avg low: 64°F/18°C
- June avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
Amman highlights
- Gateway to Petra, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum
- Roman Theatre
- The Citadel
- Cafes, bars, modern malls and art galleries
- Great value hotels
Also quite cheap by international standards, Amman is usually used mostly as a launching point for trips to Wadi Rum and Petra nearby, but the city itself does impress many visitors. The weather in June is still quite nice, at least in the first half of the month, and the threat of rain is literally zero. It might not be worth flying a long distance just to visit Jordan, but this region is quite worth a visit so connecting a few nearby countries is worth a look.
- 3-star hotels from: US$61 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$74 per night for two people
>>>Amman prices
>>>Check current Amman hotel deals
Beirut, Lebanon
- June avg high: 80°F/27°C
- June avg low: 69°F/21°C
- June avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm
Beirut highlights
- National Museum of Beirut
- Beirut Corniche (seaside pedestrian area)
- Souks (market areas)
- Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
- Lebanese food is famously excellent
Similar to Amman, Beirut is actually quite pleasant during June with no rainfall at all. Prices here aren’t as low as they are in Jordan, but this city has plenty to see that might make it worthwhile on a visit to the region. There has been a long history of turmoil here and that has certainly hampered tourism. Nearly everyone who actually makes the trip seems to find it fulfilling, so it’s a good choice for the bold among us.
Beirut and all of Lebanon are still going through struggles after a huge explosion and some political turmoil. We are leaving it on the list with the hopes that things are better again soon, but it might not be the best year to visit again.
- 3-star hotels from: US$41 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$57 per night for two people
>>>Beirut travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Beirut hotel deals
Tel Aviv, Israel
- June avg high: 82°F/28°C
- June avg low: 69°F/21°C
- June avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
Tel Aviv highlights
- Great beaches and modern city
- Day trips to Jerusalem and Bethlehem
- Old Port Tel Aviv area
- Nachalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall and Bauhaus buildings
- Great food and interesting nightlife
Carrying on with the theme of places that aren’t as hot in June as you might expect them to be, Tel Aviv has its nice beaches to keep things even nicer than the inland cities as well. This is not a particularly cheap city compared to most on this list, but June is one of the best weather months here, again with no rain at all, so if you are thinking about an Israel trip you might as well do it this time of year.
Obviously the Israeli-Hamas war still going on in early 2024 is going to keep most people from visiting the region, but Tel Aviv is still open for business as of March 2024.
- 3-star hotels from: US$136 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$168 per night for two people
>>Tel Aviv travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Tel Aviv hotel deals
Asia
The cheap destinations in Southeast Asia will be celebrating the start of the drenching rainy season in June, so it’s not really an ideal time to visit if you have a choice. Still, there are some good options to consider.
>>>12 Best Asia destinations in June
Nha Trang, Vietnam
- June avg high: 89°F/32°C
- June avg low: 80°F/27°C
- June avg precip: 1.7″/4.3cm
Nha Trang highlights
- Great beaches for a city in Vietnam
- Long Son Pagoda
- Monkey Island (a bit controversial)
- Amazingly cheap hotels and food
- Great mix of traditional Vietnamese food and international favorites
The exception to the Southeast Asia rainy season pattern, this beach town on Vietnam’s southern coast avoids nearly all the wet during summer, so it’s especially appealing for Australians and such who are escaping their own winter down under. Nha Trang is not Vietnam’s best cultural experience, but the beaches are very nice, the nightlife is surprisingly good, and it’s extremely cheap once you get there.
- 3-star hotels from: US$39 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$47 per night for two people
>>>Nha Trang travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Nha Trang hotel deals
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
- June avg high: 85°F/29°C
- June avg low: 77°F/25°C
- June avg precip: 2.8″/7.0cm
Bali highlights
- Great beaches and surfing in many areas all around the island
- Stunning temples and monuments in many different areas
- Amazingly cheap hotels, with fairly cheap food and drinks
- Fascinating Hindu culture and gamelan music
- Even cheap buildings and hotels have gorgeous wood and stone work
Bali is near the equator so temperatures are similar all year long, but fortunately June is not part of the rainy season so this is one of the best times of the year to go. Rain never seems to be too far away, but of course the island is well adapted to the quick downfalls, so things get right back to normal again. June is a booming month for tourism in Bali, with most of the visitors coming from Australia, but it’s still reasonably priced and hotels are everywhere.
Those who only research on big travel sites might think Bali is very expensive for hotels, but there are still many cheap & cheerful guesthouses in all the main tourist areas, so just showing up might save you quite a bit compared to reserving online in advance. Those looking for the best beaches in June will find many good candidates here in Bali as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$29 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$48 per night for two people
>>>Kuta, Bali travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Bali hotel and resort deals
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- June avg high: 91°F/33°C
- June avg low: 75°F/24°C
- June avg precip: 4.9″/12.3cm
Kuala Lumpur highlights
- Fascinating mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures
- Modern business district but very lively and great shopping
- Very cheap 4-star hotels for a large Asian city
- Excellent food at surprisingly good prices
- Nearby temples and important sights that are easy to reach
Another city very close to the equator, Kuala Lumpur is hot every day of the year. And while there will be some noticeable rain during June, this is actually the driest month on average. An impressive and modern city, KL is built to drain off the wet stuff very fast, so it rarely impacts a visit. It’s not as cheap as the rest of Southeast Asia, but when you get to Kuala Lumpur you realize why, as things are much nicer than they are in most of the region, and more cosmopolitan as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$41 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$58 per night for two people
>>Kuala Lumpur prices
>>>Check current Kuala Lumpur hotel deals
Beijing, China
- June avg high: 86°F/30°C
- June avg low: 66°F/19°C
- June avg precip: 3.0″/7.5cm
Beijing highlights
- Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Nearby sections of the Great Wall are easy to reach on bus tours
- Palace Museum
- Excellent and varied food and drinks
- Hutongs (ancient alleyways)
Beijing can get really sweltering, steamy, and smoggy during summer, but June is a decent compromise before things start getting too bad. Of course this is one of the world’s most important cities, past and present, and it’s loaded with interesting things to see and do. Hotels and food are very good bargains here, and things are even cheaper in pretty much all of China, so this is a good time for a tour of multiple cities if you can pull it off. Here is why booking a tour to China is probably better than going independently. Most tours also include Shanghai, and Xi’an, but Guilin is an even better stop for most people.
Foreign tourism into China has almost ground to a halt as of 2024 as international tensions have been mounting with many of its neighbors and the West in general. This might not be a great time to visit China although that is up to you as long as you are following the news.
- 3-star hotels from: US$57 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$81 per night for two people
>>>Beijing travel guide and prices
>>>Check current Beijing hotel deals
Are your dates flexible? If so you'll have some other great options
June is one of the best months to plan a trip because it’s before the big crowds in Europe and there are almost never big Caribbean storms to worry about either. But if you end up having to go later you’ll be interested in our list of cheap places to go with great July weather for some other interesting options.
On the other hand, if you can go a bit earlier you’ll have even more great options. Our list of cheap destinations with great May weather is filled with really nice places that are going to be cheaper and less crowded than June, and still with ideal weather.
Hi, My husband and I would like to take a vacation June 9 through June 14th to celebrate his birthday and our anniversary, but we’really looking to stay in a budget of $1,500 or less. We are leaving from South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward / Miami). Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Gigi,
On your budget you will need to stay within a couple thousand miles, which is probably best for only 5 days anyway. It’s hard for me to confidently recommend anything without knowing more about whether you want a beach (I doubt it if you live in south Florida) or a city.
Off the top of my head I can highly recommend Mexico City. I lived in Miami all of last year and I went to Mexico City in June, partly because of the moderate temperatures. It’s a very nice city with an endless supply of things to see and do, and the whole huge central area is at least as safe as Miami or Miami Beach. It helps if you speak some Spanish, but I really don’t and I got on fine.
If that doesn’t sound good you should consider Canada. The exchange rate is still very good for Americans so you can live it up a bit. Montreal is the most interesting city up there and the one I’d recommend first. But Toronto is very nice as well.
If none of these ideas works for you, let me know with more information and I’ll try again. -Roger
Hello Roger! Departing Melbourne, Australia in early June & looking for a warm destination or destinations to stay for approx. 1 month? Beach, relaxation, pool – 2 adults & 3 childrean aged 5, 7 & 8. Thanks in advance 🙂
Bridget,
I’ll be happy to send along some suggestions, but I could use a few more hints first. From Oz it’s obviously far faster and cheaper to head to Asia, like Bali or one or more of the Thai islands, but those may not be ideal for younger children. If you were thinking more about Europe or nearby, I will have some suggestions, but it will be helpful to know if you are mainly looking for an easy and friendly place for the family to relax and swim, or if you also want to be near attractions and shopping and culture and so forth?
For a month and with children I assume you’ll want to stay in an apartment rather than in a hotel, right? That is becoming easier every year. In fact, I’m currently typing this from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, which has exactly what you are looking for, and not much more.
How cost sensitive are you? For example, for what you are looking for it’s hard to beat Hawaii in June, and it’s not too far from you, but it is kind of expensive compared to Europe and far more expensive than Asia. So please give me a few more things to go by on your wish list, and I’ll happily make some suggestions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Really impressed by the suggestions made by you in this forum for travel. I am also seeking for some guidance for my honeymoon . I am looking for a 6N/7D trip. Where I can spend a day on the beach, may have good night life,Beautiful cities and sites ,great architecture, may be a day on the cruise. Scenic ,fun places. Places not much hot. Temp in the earLy 20’S. Some where in Europe preferably. We will be starting from Mumbai. The total budget is 3000 USD (Including everything) total for the two of us. Planning in July.
Sunny,
If you want to find a Europe destination with cool (25C or below) temperatures in July, then you’ll either need to go to the north of the continent, or high in elevation. However, as long as you avoid the southern (Mediterranean) countries, then the daytime temperatures should be pleasant, and at night even more so. Everywhere in Europe will feel nice compared to Mumbai that time of year. 🙂
And if you avoid the hot, southern European countries, it will be hard to find a beach and a cruise. This is challenging. Trying to balance out all of the things on your wish list, I’ve come up with 3 suggestions that should all come close and be affordable.
Barcelona arguably has Europe’s most distinct architecture, excellent nightlife, nice beaches, and plenty of things to see and do for 6 days. Days will be around 30C or maybe higher, but since it’s on the coast there is often a nice breeze. There are plenty of good day trips available, and you could even take a high-speed train to Madrid or nearby Valencia for a couple days, as both of those are very different from Barcelona.
Lisbon, Portugal has most of the same features, though its architecture is more classical than experimental like Barcelona’s. Lisbon is also a bit cheaper and it’s great value once you get there. There are no great beaches nearby, but you can take a train down to the southern coast to an area known as the Algarve (around Faro), which is a very nice beach resort area.
Split, Croatia is the last one that I’ll recommend, which is even a bit cheaper than Lisbon. It’s gorgeous with fantastic architecture and very good nightlife. There are also beaches just a bit away from the historic city center, and nearby islands with great beaches that are good for day trips or for a couple of days.
I think Barcelona is the most impressive and memorable of the three, but I think you’d be happy and impressed with any of them. If you would like more information on any of them, let me know. Congrats and best of luck with all of it. -Roger
Hi Roger
Planning for trip the last week of June or first week of
July for 2 single guys looking to site see and some nightlife.don’t want a beach vacation. leaving from Ottawa. budget $2500-$3000. Where would you recommend?
Rod,
This sounds similar to a series of questions I recently answered for a guy named Kevin. Scroll up a bit and have a look at the responses I gave him because it’s the same advice I’d give you, at least to start with. If you have any specific questions about any of it, let me know and I’ll take a shot at them. -Roger
Hi Roger
Planning for trip the last week of June 7-9 days for 2 single looking to golf and some nightlife. Starting point is Toronto. budget $2500-$3000 per person where would you recommend?
Kevin,
On that budget you can go almost anywhere, as long as your green fees don’t get out of control. When you want to combine a good selection of golf courses and also nightlife, the first two places that come to mind are Oahu and Cancun.
You can get a nice hotel in Waikiki Beach for around US$200 per night and up, and rent a car for at least part of your stay to get to the many nearby golf courses. There are loads of bars and restaurants throughout that area. I’d say that nightlife is best suited to people over 30 years old, and it’s an interesting and international crowd.
Cancun has several huge mega-clubs where you pay like US$50 for entrance and then you can drink all you want for free once inside. Those are obviously more suited to those in their 20s. The clubs are all located near the corner of the hotel zone, so if that interests you it’s best to book a hotel within walking distance of that. The hotel zone is otherwise about a 15-kilometer strip of hotels and timeshare buildings, and most of them are spread out, so only about 10 of them are within walking distance of clubs and bars and restaurants and such.
Kind of a combination of the above would be Playa del Carmen, which is a lovely town about an hour south of Cancun airport by taxi or shuttle. It’s still close to a handful of very nice golf courses, and the town is filled with bars and clubs of all sorts, appealing to any age range. Unlike the Cancun area, Playa del Carmen is a complete town where every hotel is within walking distance of 100+ bars and restaurants. That’s probably the option I’d suggest if I was going on this trip.
Hopefully this helps. If you were thinking about going somewhere farther or more exotic, let me know and I’ll try again. -Roger
I was thinking going somewhere farther or more exotic.
Kevin,
Okay then, let’s see…The challenging thing here is that golf and nightlife are already kind of a rare combination, unless you want to go to Las Vegas, which wouldn’t be a good idea in June anyway. Then to add in “exotic” (for a North American) gets a bit trickier.
One thing that comes to mind is Scotland. Edinburgh is a wonderful city with great nightlife, and it’s within an hour by train (or rental car) from dozens of world-class golf courses, including the cluster of courses at St. Andrews. You could stay in Edinburgh and maybe hit a couple famous links courses during the days, and then head up to Inverness for a few more days for a look at the Scottish Highlands and maybe another round or two up there.
If you want farther and even more exotic than that, you could head to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They have quite a few golf courses within easy reach of the city, and also great nightlife. KL is actually my favorite city in Asia because it has so much to offer and it’s fairly easy to handle for an English speaker.
There are some nice golf courses near Antalya in Turkey, which is another really nice (and very affordable) city with decent nightlife.
Dubai is another interesting option with good golf courses and great nightlife (although alcohol is quite expensive there). It will obviously be hot in June, though not very humid.
Let me know if any of those ideas sound interesting, and I’ll be happy to provide more information if you like. -Roger
Thanks Roger. if we skip the Golf where would you recommend?
Kevin,
If you are mainly looking for a place that has good nightlife and is at least somewhat exotic for someone from Toronto, it’s a long list. If you wouldn’t mind, could you give me a few more things you are hoping to find? Beaches, great value, interesting architecture, famous sights, mild summer weather, blazing heat, attractive locals and fellow tourists? I’m happy to keep trying if you give me a few more clues. -Roger
Roger we are in are early 30’s we are looking for some sights some attractive locals and fellow tourists. decent night life. don’t want to lie on a beach all day. Would like to do a cruise but not sure if we will find any other singles to hang out at night
Kevin,
Okay then, I’ll take a few more stabs at this and if anything sounds interesting I can add more information. Speaking of cruises, some lines are better than others for singles and younger people, so that might be a really good idea if you find the right one. I did a cruise as a solo traveler on Norwegian last year from Miami and I really loved it. Most passengers were couples or families, of course, but there were actually many other singles and I met people every day. It’s also great value in general.
If you are open to Europe and want to see some interesting places, I highly recommend Prague and/or Berlin. They are 4 hours and 28 minutes apart by train, so you could easily spend 3 or 4 days in each. Both are very exciting cities with excellent nightlife and social opportunities, and both are places where you can basically speak English all the time and you’ll be understood. Prague is known for its impressive architecture, while Berlin is filled with expats from all over so you never know who you will meet next. Both are fairly affordable and easily among the most “fun” cities in Europe.
Another pair to consider would be Barcelona and Ibiza. Barcelona is a gorgeous city with famous architecture and nightlife, while Ibiza is obviously the party capital of Europe all summer. There are ferries between the two, but also cheap flights. Barcelona can be a bit challenging if you don’t speak Spanish, while Ibiza is mainly English-speaking tourists, so it should be easy.
The last one I can think of off the top of my head is San Juan, Puerto Rico. It’s got a great mix of beaches, culture, and nightlife in the newer areas, and Old San Juan is a gorgeous Colonial city that is filled with great restaurants and interesting nightlife. You could rent an apartment in either area and take a cheap bus or taxi to go between them, or rent a car and explore other parts of the island.
Let me know if any of those sound interesting and I’ll be happy to add more info if needed. -Roger
Thanks so much for the info. I’m doing Europe in August. so it will be a cruise
Roger
Have you given up ?
Would a Cruise be right for us. Say 7 to 10 nights, Italy etc.?
Around 1500 US per head ?
Thanks
Hi Roger,
My wife and I (am close to 60)are thinking of firming up (by Wed 11th May ) with Cox & Kings for 7 night ex Mumbai 25th June, covering Paris Chamonix Brussels,, Amsterdam, , Cologne,Heidelberg, Rhineland, Black Forest, Drubba,Lucerne, Zurich.
Will cost us about 3000 US (airfare, visas,accommodation and food) excluding only personal expenses I think.
Our priorities a laid back holiday in comfy accommodation and good weather (not wet, not cold, not hot)and not too crowded (!),. Are there any other similar places where we could get more for the money etc.
Thanks
YohanJohn,
Just so I’m clear, this itinerary you mentioned is for a 7-day bus tour of Europe? In 7 nights, it would mean spending most of that time on the bus, and only a few hours in each destination. If that IS what we are talking about, then there is nothing laid back about it. Even if that was a 14-day itinerary, it’s still a LOT of moving around on a short visit. I think you can do much better by booking yourself and choosing only a few cities so you spend more time enjoying them and less time traveling between them.
As an example, have a look at the answer I just gave (hopefully right above this one) for someone wanting to visit Italy from India on the same budget in the same month. I’d recommend doing something more like that, choosing whatever nearby cities that interest you most.
The June weather in most of Europe tends to be warm and rarely scorching and rarely wet, but you will get large crowds in all of the big cities. However, as someone who has spent 4 months in India myself over two trips, I can assure you that you won’t see any crowds resembling the city crowds in India. Europe’s busiest cities will feel empty by comparison, so I don’t think you should avoid them necessarily.
Let me know what you think about this and I’ll be happy to offer more specific advice if you like. But also please keep in mind that you really want to spend 3 nights in each of the larger cities you visit, or perhaps 2 nights in smaller cities. If you go faster than that, you end up spending half of your holiday in trains and in train stations. -Roger
Roger (Roger that ! and pardon the fun pun) I am just so glad that I seemed to be getting timely advice, so very glad.
I did see the advice you gave Mr. R. and that seems good.
We would prefer that all the formalities etc. are taken care of (as they would be through this agency). Maybe we could ask them for a package that covers a lesser number of places. (We did a 5 day 4 night trip to Dubai and were quite happy that it was a good hotel, did a creek cruise, some dune bashing, took in some of the sights with a friend/Burj/Dubai Mall etc,avoided a city tour, played some tennis at the Hotel, no shopping, ate at a couple of nice places french and another local; and we were happy !!
So how would you advise somebody like us (apart from letting us out to pasture !!).
For the price we are paying, a) which places should we shortlist b) how many days c) should we consider increasing the number of days (for the same price/lesser number of places. Should we shift locations and consider London and thereabouts.?
I think this agency will do a personalized tour instead of a group tour.
Please try and empathize, maybe you will understand better than I have expressed it. Do advise.
Thanks and best wishes
YohanJohn,
Sorry to keep you waiting, but I generally try to answer all questions and comments within 24 hours, 7 days a week. But especially on weekends I usually only do this once per day. I hope you understand.
I understand your travel preferences more now, and I think your own idea of a cruise is the perfect solution. Even if a tour company makes all the arrangements and bookings for a multi-city trip, it still means that you have to be on a tight schedule and that you spend a LOT of time in transit. In my opinion, on a 3-week trip it’s fine to visit 6 or 7 cities because you still have at least two full days in each place. But to see that many cities on an 8 to 10-day trip would mean that you literally would spend half of your daylight hours on trains.
Obviously, a cruise would be the perfect compromise for you because a cruise makes it easy to visit one city per day, while the guests are comfortable and only have to unpack and repack once. On one hand, a cruise typically gives you 8 to 12 hours in each city, and that is only enough time for a superficial look at a city like Rome or Barcelona. But on the other hand, if you were considering a land tour that only gave you one day in each city, then a cruise is going to be far more enjoyable and far less stressful.
So my recommendation is to do the cruise and choose an itinerary that sounds most interesting to you. If you don’t do a cruise, then I’d recommend staying 2 or 3 nights in a smaller number of cities, and getting around by train. Let me know if you have other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger, Me and my wife are planning for an anniversary holiday from Bangalore. it will be between 27th may to 4 June(flexible) Our budget is $3000 USD / 2 lac INR (Air ticket,stay,shopping,sightseeing,fun). i want to go to Italy and other places surrounding it or Bali,Maldives,Mauritius have been to Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia. Plan is to cut the cost on travel and stay. but i am confused with location and i dont like to go on package.is it difficult to go to Italy on our own ? Can you advise me on the itinerary for this location so that i dont miss anything when i am there.Also need to get visa in next 20 days is it possible. Please help.
Ramesh,
I just checked on airfare costs on flights from Bangalore to Rome and I was shocked that you can do that round-trip for US$645 per person with a quick change of planes in Delhi on Air India. I was expecting to see fares twice that expensive. As a result, I think your budget will work well enough to visit Italy since that seems to be your first choice.
With US$1,300 going to airfare for two, it would leave US$1,700 for 7 or 8 days on the ground. Hotels in Italy go the whole range, with double rooms in the tourist cities starting at around US$60 per night for poorly located places, or about US$100 per night for a double room with a decent location. Most hotels are more expensive than that, but you can find something decent in that range if you need to.
Italy has a “Big 3” for first-time visitors and that is Rome, Florence, and Venice. They are the Big 3 for a reason and I’d highly recommend focusing on those cities for the best first visit. Spend your first 3 days in Rome and then take a train to Florence for 3 more days. Then wake up early and take the 2-hour train ride to Venice and stay there for about 24 hours. Then you can take a train back to Rome for your flight home, perhaps staying in Rome one last night.
That is the classic Italy visit and it’s filled with all the best highlights. I explain more details and how to do it in this post about the best Italy and France itinerary for first-time visitors.
That obviously would be a culture and history filled trip. If you wanted to go to the Maldives, it would be simply to relax in similar heat to where you live, although with sea breezes. I haven’t been to Mauritius but I’ve heard it’s similar. Bali has plenty of interesting culture to go along with its relaxing beaches, but I feel that it’s too overbuilt these days to recommend and that there are better options nearby.
In other words, if you want to do Italy, you have enough money to do it as long as you shop carefully for hotels and buy those train tickets online as soon as possible from trenitalia.com. But if you are more in the mood to go somewhere that is very hot and mainly just relax, then you can afford one of the others.
Oh, and yes, you can definitely do that Italy trip without a package by planning it on your own. Italy is filled with tourists, most of whom speak little or no Italian, and so nearly everyone you encounter will speak at least enough English to help you. And all of the important signs (airports, train stations, museums etc) are in Italian AND English. I’m writing this from Tenerife in Spain right now, and I barely speak any Spanish, yet it’s quite easy to do what I want and enjoy the place. Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be happy to help. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Love your site, really excellent, intelligent and detailed information. Makes me want to be a backpacker again! However, I am at a different life stage now and am looking for a good destination for mid – late June, for around 12 days, leaving from the Bay Area. We have 2 teenage girls who would like to use their learned Spanish. Have looked at Troncones private rental combined with a few culture days in Mexico City, as well as an all in in Ixtapa, again combined with Mexico City. Also considering the area around Cancun so that we could go to chichen itza and other sites. Am open to any other suggestions. Our budget is around $6,000
PS Could go higher on the budget if needed!
Denise,
Thank you for the very nice words. I think your plan sounds very good as it is. Unfortunately I’m not sure how much help I can offer because I have only been to Mexico City and most of Mexico’s beach resorts as an adult, so I can’t give much advice outside of those.
What I can say is that Mexico City is an excellent choice and it will be very good Spanish immersion because almost no one speaks English there (except for at high-end restaurants and hotels). I speak very little Spanish and I loved it there. I’d think that about 4 days would be enough time to see all the main highlights.
On that same trip, I visited Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel, and by far my favorite of those was Playa del Carmen. Cancun has the best beaches of the three, but it’s essentially a long strip of tall hotels and time-share buildings where most of them are only close to a few things except at the very corner of the Hotel Zone. Playa del Carmen is a fairly large and tourist-friendly city with hundreds of restaurants and hotels to choose from, all within walking distance of each other. It’s a real town with things in all price ranges, and plenty of things to do.
Cozumel, as you may know, is a small island across from Playa del Carmen that is also nice, but I preferred Playa del Carmen because it had so many more choices. Cancun and Playa del Carmen both offer Chichen Itza day trips, and the Tulum ruins are very close to Playa itself. So I can’t help much with other areas, but I can highly recommend those. Have a great trip. -Roger
Many thanks for your suggestions Roger.
We have actually decided to combine Mexico City with Puerta Vallerta this time, and will plan on going to Playa del Carmen and Merida and some of the major Mayan and Aztec sites on another trip. Keep up the good work!
Hi Roger, am a Ugandan and looking for the best destination for family (2+1)for a small vacation in preferably Europe. The option would be Asia
I would like a place where one can do good shopping with favorable weather. Kindly give two options for us.
The budget is USD.1500 per head excluding flight costs.
Thanks
Lillian,
The weather all over Europe will be really nice in June, and the shopping is quite good in all larger cities and many smaller ones. I guess it depends on the kind of shopping you want. If you are after brand-name clothing and that sort of thing, the same chains are found in pretty much every city, with fairly similar prices throughout Europe.
You don’t mention how long your trip is supposed to be for the US$1,500 per person. If it’s 7 days, then you could go almost anywhere. If it’s 21 days, you’d want to pick some of the cheaper cities. If you provide more information I’ll happily suggest some custom ideas.
But to start, I think the best places for a first trip to Europe are the classics, notably London, Paris, and/or the Big 3 in Italy, which are Rome, Florence, and Venice. All of those are exceptional and quite easy for first-time visitors. It’s probably best to choose at least one or two of those, and use those as your main anchors for the trip. If you have more time, you can take a train to another city or two or three.
Again, I’m happy to help with custom suggestions if you tell me more about your time frame and preferences. -Roger
Thanks for the response Roger. I really appreciate your feedback
Hi Roger, am a Ugandan and looking for the best destination for family (2+1)for a small vacation in preferably Europe. The option would be Asia
I would like a place where one can do good shopping with favorable weather. Kindly give two options for us.
The budget is USD.1500 per head excluding flight costs. We are looking at spending there 7 days.
We are meant to set off on 19th June and return 26th June.
I would also like your view of Thailand. Is it a place to go to end of June
Looking forward to a pleasant holiday
Thanks
Lillian,
I’ll give you a few ideas, but I’m still a bit unsure what kind of shopping you hope to do. The big department stores can be found in every larger city in Europe, and prices won’t be too different among them. It’s the same story for electronics or other name-brand items. For trendy clothes or antiques, some cities are much better than others, though I’m not a big expert on either of those things.
With a budget of US$3,000 for 7 days and nights in Europe for a couple and a child, you can afford to go anywhere and have quite a nice time. With that in mind, the two top choices would have to be Paris and London, as each has plenty to keep you busy for at least a week, including some really good day trips. Those would also probably be the two places where you’d find other people from Uganda, in case that matters to you.
Another great option would be Barcelona, which you could combine with a visit to Madrid or perhaps Valencia. You could spend 4 days in Barcelona and the other 3 in the other city, and have an excellent time.
One more obvious and highly recommended option would be Rome for 3 or 4 days and then the rest of the week in Florence and Venice or in Sorrento and Naples. I wouldn’t recommend spending a full 7 days in Rome because it’s a bit chaotic and stressful, so not very relaxing for a holiday (although the sights are among the world’s greats).
Bangkok could be a good choice as well. It will be hot and fairly humid in June, but it’s not too bad because the quick rainstorms and occasional clouds cool it off a bit. Bangkok is one of the world’s great shopping cities as well, with a huge number of modern shopping malls all clustered together in the Siam Square area and along Sukhumvit Road. You could spend 3 or 4 nights in Bangkok, and then go to nearby Pattaya Beach for the other 3 or 4 nights. Or you could take a short and cheap flight to Ko Samui or Phuket.
Kuala Lumpur is another excellent city for shopping malls, but otherwise it’s not as interesting as Bangkok, and it’s a bit more expensive.
Let me know if any of these ideas sound good, and I’ll provide more information if you’d like. -Roger
Thanks Roger. This is very helpful
The shopping will be mainly clothing and a few electronics