BA Holidays Finder: best weather

BA Holidays certainly likes to spoil its passengers. With more than 170 destinations around the globe to choose from, how will you ever decide where to go next?

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From exciting city escapes to relaxing beach breaks, there's a BA holiday for every interest, budget and preferred type of weather. Simply make your selection and discover the world.

In this dedicated guide to BA destinations, we'll show you what the weather is like in the most popular long- and short-haul hotspots to help you decide when and where to go in 2024/2025.

Top long haul destinations

If you're planning a far-flung adventure in 2024/2025, be it a city break in Hong Kong or some downtime in the Caribbean, we can show you when to go for the ultimate conditions to make your trip a real hit.

Top short and long haul destinations with BA holiday finder for 2024/2025 © Laurent de Walick - Flickr Creative Commons
Top short and long haul destinations with BA holiday finder © Laurent de Walick - Flickr Creative Commons

USA

Ah, America. One vast, open country where the weather varies greatly from east to west, north to south. BA hosts holidays to destinations across the land, from New York* to San Francisco*, Chicago* to Las Vegas*.

Visit New York city for a short break © sborisov - Fotolia.com
Visit New York city for a short break © sborisov - Fotolia.com

Weatherwise, it's hard to make sweeping statements given the country's size. There are, however, some general rules to consider: Florida* is one seriously sunny state, while over in southern California, be it LA* or San Diego*, it's also sunny and warm but the sea temperatures suffer on this Pacific coastline.

In the north and northeast, summers are warm and sunny, while winters are typically cold and snowy, ensuring you find the film-worthy Christmas getaway you've been dreaming of.

Holidays to the USA >>

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Caribbean

British Airways covers swathes of the Caribbean when it comes to holidays; choose from Antigua*, Barbados*, Grenada*, Jamaica*, and St Lucia* among others.

Deciding where to go from this list of top idyllic islands can be tricky, so hopefully our holiday finder will help narrow down your search.

The white sand and warm waters of the Dominican Republic © Fazeful - Fotolia.com
The white sand and warm waters of the Dominican Republic © Fazeful - Fotolia.com

The weather across the Caribbean is fairly uniform. The winter months from December to May are dry and sunny while the warmer summer months are more humid with rain at times.

Rainfall is always higher at elevation especially on the northern and eastern slopes of mountains as the Caribbean lies in the path of the northeast trade winds. June is generally the cloudiest month but even at this time places are mostly sunny, so don't be put off by the mention of the wet season.

Tropical storms and hurricanes can pass through the Caribbean from June to November but the chance of encountering one is probably lower than you might think. (see our tropical storms guide for more information).

You can use our holiday finder to compare destinations and come to a decision about where to go before choosing from the latest BA offers.

Holidays to the Caribbean >>

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UAE

British Airways offers breaks to Abu Dhabi* and Dubai* in the UAE. Both destinations have pretty similar weather: you'll find warm sea temperatures all year round, plenty of sunshine whatever time you go, and there's hardly any chance of seeing rainfall.

Bright lights of downtown Dubai, UAE © Ilirjan Rrumbullaku - Flickr Creative Commons
Bright lights of downtown Dubai, UAE © Ilirjan Rrumbullaku - Flickr Creative Commons

Summers are sweltering with daily highs often exceeding 40°C. This is why many people choose to holiday in the UAE from autumn until the end of spring when temperatures are more manageable and there's still loads of sunshine.

Holidays to the UAE >>

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Thailand

You can book beach and city breaks with British Airways to resorts across Koh Samui*, Phuket*, Hua Hin*, Pattaya*, as well as the bustling capital of Bangkok*. Like the Caribbean, Thailand has a dry season that runs from November to April with high temperatures and plenty of sunshine that make it popular for winter sun lovers.

Get to beautiful Bangkok for less in 2024/2025 with British Airways © Busara - Fotolia.com
Get to beautiful Bangkok for less in 2024/2025 with British Airways © Busara - Fotolia.com

From late March onwards it becomes oppressively hot and humid, which continues through the following wet season, although there is still plenty of sunshine. If you want to book a break to Thailand, don't forget to use the BA holiday finder for the latest deals.

Holidays to Thailand >>

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Maldives

The magnificent Maldives* is a wonderful beach holiday destination and BA has many great deals on luxurious escapes to this nation in the Indian Ocean. The weather is hot and sunny with warm sea water ideal for swimming all year round.

Island resort in the Maldives, Indian Ocean © Mac Qin - Flickr Creative Commons
Island resort in the Maldives, Indian Ocean © Mac Qin - Flickr Creative Commons

While rain may impact your holiday between May and December, don't be put off visiting at this time. For the finest sunshine and driest days, however, February is especially good weatherwise.

Holidays to the Maldives >>

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Indonesia

If there were an award for consistent weather all year round, Bali in Indonesia would be on the shortlist. While temperatures sit around 30°C all year, you'll find the most sunshine between April and October.

Temple beside mountain lake, Bali, Indonesia © Aqnus - Fotolia.com
Temple beside mountain lake, Bali, Indonesia © Aqnus - Fotolia.com

You can still enjoy a wonderful break in Bali* during the winter months, it's just that there's more chance you'll encounter rain at this time, normally in the afternoon. Sea temperatures are also delightful all year, and heat and humidity is almost permanently set to high.

Holidays to Indonesia >>

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Seychelles

Harnessing its tropical location, the Seychelles* is hot all year round. While rain can interfere with things from October to April (particularly in December and January), these showers usually move on quickly and shouldn't put you off.

Exploring the beaches of Seychelles © Haveseen - Fotolia.com
Exploring the beaches of Seychelles © Haveseen - Fotolia.com

The sea is delightfully warm all year, and there's plenty of sunshine, most notably during the dry season from April to October. It is, however, windier at this time, and the seas can be rough, especially in July and August. April and October are the best months weatherwise.

Holidays to the Seychelles >>

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South Africa

Cape Town* needs little introduction as a city break destination. This eternally sunny city is especially good from October to April when it's warm with little to no rainfall.

Characteristic blue skies over Table Mountain, Cape Town - photo courtesy of South African Tourism
Characteristic blue skies over Table Mountain, Cape Town - photo courtesy of South African Tourism

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg*, another popular BA destination with plenty to see and do, the wet and dry seasons are reversed with the dry season beginning in April. Remember, Johannesburg is nearly 6,000 ft above sea level so it's relatively cool for its latitude.

Holidays to South Africa >>

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Mauritius

The tropical island of Mauritius* is a beloved destination for sunseekers, and it's easy to see why. Here, you'll find between seven and eight hours of sunshine per day, warm sea water (especially from December to May), and bearable levels of heat and humidity all year.

Boating day out from Le Morne, Mauritius © Isabelle Barthe - Adobe Stock Image
Boating day out from Le Morne, Mauritius © Isabelle Barthe - Adobe Stock Image

When it comes to the temperature, November to May sees the hottest days at around 30&C. It really is a dreamy destination for a beach break.

Holidays to Mauritius >>

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Hong Kong

Asia's very own city that never sleeps, Hong Kong* attracts all sorts of travellers, from busy business bees and city breakers to those enjoying a stopover en-route elsewhere.

Arguably, you wouldn't visit Hong Kong purely for the weather; it's hot, rainy and humid in summer, and cool with little sunshine in winter, however, there are better times to go than others.

From the end of March to the beginning of May, it's warm and relatively dry, while October and November enjoy more sunshine before temperatures start to dip.

Holidays to Hong Kong >>

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Top short haul destinations

British Airways has long flown holidaymakers to beloved cities and beach resorts across Europe and the Med, and 2024/2025 will be no different.

From pulsating party islands in the Balearics to foodie haunts in Italy and natural wonders in Turkey, our holiday finder will help you find the right place to go on your next break.

The crystal clear waters of Ayia Napa, Cyprus © Vladimir Sazonov - Fotolia.com
The crystal clear waters of Ayia Napa, Cyprus © Vladimir Sazonov - Fotolia.com

Cyprus

Cyprus* is one of the luckiest destinations in the Med: residing in the east, it receives more sunshine and higher temperatures for longer than many other places further west, which is what makes it not only a wonderful spring and summer spot but also a fabulous place to go in autumn, even winter.

Holidays to Cyprus >>

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Greece

From its ancient capital city to its coastline full of treasures and a multitude of islands sprinkled across the Mediterranean and Aegean, Greece is about as diverse as it gets.

British Airways offers city breaks to Athens as well as luxurious escapes to the postcard-perfect island of Santorini*, Mykonos*, Zante*, Skiathos* and more.

Bay on the west coast of Corfu, Greece © Lornet - Fotolia.com
Bay on the west coast of Corfu, Greece © Lornet - Fotolia.com

Like most of the Mediterranean, Greece has hot dry summers and cooler winters with rain at times. Typically speaking, the islands to the east are hotter and have more sunshine for longer, while Corfu*, for example, gets more in the way of rain which means it's greener.

Lovely in spring, best in summer, delightful in autumn, and pleasant in winter, Greece has something for everyone. It's worth noting that BA only operates flights there during the summer months although the capital Athens can be reached all year round.

Holidays to Greece >>

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Italy

Italy is crammed full of incredible places to visit and explore, from ancient cities to striking coastlines, and British Airways operates many tempting routes and holidays to the country.

From stylish Milan and the ruins of Rome to Sicily*, Pisa*, and Naples*, there's just so much to choose from. When it comes to deciding where to go for the best weather, bear in mind that northern Italy is typically cooler and fresher than southern Italy, whatever the time of year.

Holidays to Italy >>

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Spain

Arguably the single most popular country for UK holidaymakers, Spain is a vibrant patchwork of intriguing and beautiful destinations. From the Canary Islands* and Balearics* to its mainland cities and coastal resorts, there's so much to see and do.

While Madrid* and Barcelona* continue to be city break favourites, the likes of Majorca*, Ibiza* and Gran Canaria* are open for business all year round.

Holidays to Spain >>

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Portugal

Sitting along the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal often feels the full force of weather fronts rolling in from the Atlantic.

Square in the centre of historic Lisbon, Portugal © Christian - Fotolia.com
Square in the centre of historic Lisbon, Portugal © Christian - Fotolia.com

While weather across the country, from Lisbon* and Porto* down to Faro*, is hot and sunny from spring to autumn, it's also liable to strong coastal winds and the sea temperature along some of the Algarve's coast is not as warm as you might expect.

Go to Portugal for the pretty cities and towns, lashings of sunshine and guaranteed good time vibes.

Holidays to Portugal >>

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France

British Airways offers great value breaks to the French capital, the city of Lyon, and the French Riviera, which incidentally all have very different weather.

While Lyon* and Paris* offer exciting city break options, Nice* is far more Mediterranean in spirit and climate, with sunshine and comfortable temperatures all year round.

Holidays to France >>

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Malta

The many natural and man-made historic charms of Malta make this a fantastic destination to visit all year, however, the weather plays a big part if you're planning a beach break.

As you might expect, Malta is at its finest in the summer months, when days are long and sunny and the sea is a thoroughly pleasant temperature.

Winters are cool with a slight chance of some rain but there is still plenty of sun to enjoy between December and February.

Holidays to Malta >>

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Morocco

Marrakech* is an exotic favourite within easy reach of the UK and BA offers many wonderful deals to this imperial Moroccan city.

Shop in the old town of Marrakech, Morocco © Kajzr Photography - Fotolia.com
Shop in the old town of Marrakech, Morocco © Kajzr Photography - Fotolia.com

Whether you want to wander the souks, sample the street food or go trekking in the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech has a pleasing climate all year round. Summers are hot, some may find it too hot, which is why spring and autumn are especially good.

You can also bag some winter sun safe in the knowledge that it will be sunnier than the UK and only require a light jacket.

Holidays to Morocco >>

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Croatia

Croatia has taken summertimes by storm, luring holidaymakers with its warm, clear waters, high temperatures, and ample sunshine.

BA hosts holidays to the capital, zagreb, the walled city of Dubrovnik* and the pretty port city of Split* (summer months only), all at their best from June to October.

Holidays to Croatia >>

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Turkey

Choose between two very different types of holiday in Turkey: on the one hand, you have the characterful city of Istanbul* with all of its history and charm just waiting to be explored.

On the other, is the southwest coast and resorts close to Dalaman* (summer months only), where the warm waters of the eastern Mediterranean greet holidaymakers well into autumn.

Holidays to Turkey >>

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Ready to book your 2024/2025 break? Give the BA holiday finder a whirl before browsing all current BA sale offers on flights and holidays worldwide.

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton is Weather2Travel.com's editor. Kirsten writes, commissions and edits our travel features, liaising with our contributors and ensuring copy is spick-and-span. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Kirsten also freelances writing articles on travel, history and the outdoors for titles such as Scotland Magazine and BBC Travel.

Updated on Tuesday 19th March 2024

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