Lonely Planet lists shoulder-season spots

Lonely Planet has published its May 2026 travel picks, naming 11 destinations it says are at their best this month. (lonelyplanet.com) The roundup spans the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and southern Africa, and includes Barbados, Belize, Thessaloniki in Greece, Newfoundland in Canada and North Sikkim in India. (lonelyplanet.com) It also recommends Uzbekistan and Norway for slower-paced trips, Murcia in Spain and Bali in Indonesia for food-focused travel, and Botswana’s Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta for wildlife. (lonelyplanet.com) The logic is seasonal. Lonely Planet says May can deliver good weather before summer heat or heavy rains arrive in some places, while avoiding the highest prices and biggest crowds of peak travel months. (lonelyplanet.com 1) (lonelyplanet.com 2) That “shoulder season” framing is now central to the publisher’s travel advice. In a separate 2025 explainer, Lonely Planet described shoulder season as the period between peak season and the offseason, when businesses are still open but demand is lower. (lonelyplanet.com) Some of the picks line up with Lonely Planet’s broader destination guidance. Its Barbados timing guide says the island’s shoulder seasons run from mid-April to June and in November, when prices fall after winter high season. (lonelyplanet.com) Its Belize timing guide makes a similar case for spring travel, describing April and May as a transition before the wetter summer period, with strong conditions for reef and beach trips. (lonelyplanet.com) The May list is not a ranking of cheapest destinations or a booking forecast. It is an editorial selection of places Lonely Planet says match the month’s mix of climate, activities and relative value. (lonelyplanet.com) For travelers planning late-spring trips, the message is straightforward: book for the in-between season, not the summer crush. (lonelyplanet.com 1) (lonelyplanet.com 2)