Why Thanksgiving Is Actually the Best Time to Travel Abroad

Guatemala may be called the Land of Eternal Spring, but that doesn’t mean the weather is spring-like all year round.

A sizzling strip of coastal desert. Endless snow-capped Andean summits. A humid expanse of rainforest mazed by mighty rivers. These three types of terrain form a triumvirate of completely different climates, ensuring there is no bad time of year to visit Peru.  

Austria’s cultured and charismatic capital Vienna is anything but one-dimensional; the city changes with the seasons.

As a travel editor, one of the questions I get asked the most when friends or family are booking flights is: “If I wait, will the price go up or down?”

With awe-inspiring scenery, dense layers of culture, plenty of sun, surf and sand, and balmy temperatures year-round, Bali calls out like a beacon to adventurers, sun-seekers, and travelers who like to truly immerse themselves in the countries they visit. Whatever your travel tastes, you'll find rewarding things to see and do in Bali at any time of year.

If anywhere deserves the title of a true year-round destination, it’s Sri Lanka.

From towering mountains and semi-arid forests to serene salt flats, from the jungles of the Amazon to some of the highest cities in the world, Bolivia has a lot to offer – and the weather patterns to match.

From the watery wilderness of the Okavango Delta to the sweeping semi-arid savanna of the Kalahari Desert and the lunar-like salt pans of Makgadikgadi, Botswana offers superb wildlife-watching year-round.

A beautiful island that has everything from snow-dusted peaks and steaming hot springs to wildlife-filled nature reserves and neon-drenched cities, Taiwan is one of Asia’s most popular destinations.

The question of the best time to visit Hawaii is a tricky one. Sure, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world—and for good reasons: the magnificent and lush landscape, the ocean waves ripe for surfing, the culinary fusion of various Pacific foodways, and the local cultures worth understanding, remembering, and honoring. One easy, simplistic answer to “when is the best time to visit Hawaii?” is that, well, it’s always a good time to visit Hawaii. But because the destination is so popular, considering the effects of overtourism is key to timing your visit.

With its famously clear skies and abundant sunshine, Namibia is a wonderful destination at any time of year. The weather is almost always good – the ever-present sunshine is even highlighted on the national flag – and most areas of the country are accessible year-round.

New Zealand's biggest and most cosmopolitan city, Auckland, is a year-round destination.