The decision desk

Three places.
One good feeling.

Choose up to three destinations and put the practical details beside each other. The point is not to find a winner. It is to find the shape of your trip.

✦

Pick two or three places
to see them together.

At a glance	Bali	Krabi	Hoi An	Langkawi	Sri Lanka South Coast	Zanzibar	Albanian Riviera	Bay of Kotor	Antalya Coast	Yucatán	Madeira	Sal, Cape Verde
Daily budget	$82for two / day	$76for two / day	$64for two / day	$70for two / day	$72for two / day	$95for two / day	$92for two / day	$112for two / day	$88for two / day	$106for two / day	$116for two / day	$94for two / day
Good for	beach · culture · wellness	beach · islands · food	culture · food · beach	beach · nature · food	nature · culture · beach	beach · culture · wildlife	beach · road trip · food	culture · road trip · nature	beach · culture · food	food · culture · road trip	nature · food · adventure	beach · wellness · nature
Trip rhythm	8–11 nights	6–9 nights	5–8 nights	5–8 nights	9–13 nights	7–10 nights	6–9 nights	5–8 nights	6–9 nights	8–12 nights	5–8 nights	5–8 nights
Best months	Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct	Nov–Mar · Apr	Feb–Apr · Aug–Sep	Jan–Mar · Nov–Dec	Dec–Mar · Jul–Aug	Jun–Oct · Jan–Feb	May–Jun · Sep	May–Jun · Sep–Oct	Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct	Nov–Apr	Apr–Jun · Sep–Nov	Nov–Jun
One thing to know	Traffic around the south can eat into a short trip. Stay in two bases instead of trying to see the whole island.	The most famous beaches are busy in high season. Book an early boat and sleep outside Ao Nang proper.	The rainy season can be intense. Leave flexibility for weather and choose a hotel with a pool.	The island is spread out. Pick a coast and stay there unless you genuinely enjoy driving.	Transfer times are longer than the map suggests. Build in recovery nights and avoid overpacking the route.	Tides shape the beach experience. Check the tide chart and choose activities that work around it.	July and August are crowded and hotter. Shoulder season gives you the best balance of weather and value.	The bay is beautiful but compact. Add Durmitor or the coast for a longer trip.	Resort towns can feel interchangeable. Base yourselves in a characterful neighbourhood and day-trip out.	The coast is most expensive. Spend more nights inland to keep the overall trip affordable.	The island is mountainous and weather changes quickly. Bring layers and leave room for a rest day.	It is a beach reset more than a sightseeing circuit. Choose it when rest is the point.