At first glance, August seems like an ideal month for a vacation: summer manifests itself in full glory, delighting with warmth, bright sun, and other amenities. However, the key word here is “seems”. If you think about it, it becomes clear that the weather in August is far from always comfortable and far from everywhere, prices for resorts skyrocket, and crowds of tourists make you think that the apocalypse has come, not autumn.
Weather
In the southern hemisphere, experts note, August is followed by winter. However, this is not the winter we are familiar with in the north, but hurricanes, storms, and tropical downpours that can last all day. Exotic places like South Africa, Australia’s Gold Coast, and Argentina are not the best choices. Even the Caribbean, apart from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, can be too rough. Even Thailand, with its popular destinations like Phuket and Phi Phi, receives torrential rains.
On the coasts of Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia, jellyfish are found in the summer, and in the Maldives, which seem to be made for diving, the water becomes cloudy due to the monsoons. Some popular resorts in August also face unbearable heat. For example, in Turkey and Crimea, the temperature rises to +35 °C, in Cyprus and the UAE – up to +40 °C, in Egypt – up to +45 °C.
Although there are also milder places with the weather. Montenegro, Croatia, France, Portugal, the Canary Islands, and Malta are suitable for a beach holiday, but even their excursions can be a little heavy due to the heat.
Prices
Interestingly, the prices for vacations in August sometimes exceed even New Year’s prices. One would think that the season is coming to an end, and prices should decrease, but no – often in July you can relax much cheaper.
Perhaps hoteliers and other members of the tourism industry want to make the most of those who want to be impressed in the summer at the last moment. But that may not seem like much of a reason, given that prices drop in September, the weather becomes more comfortable, and the crowds begin to thin out – a true holiday paradise!
Many people choose August for holidays due to current trends. For example, in Europe, many people prefer to take a vacation in this month, as they are still cold at the beginning of summer. This leads to an influx of tourists from the Nordic countries to the regions of Southern Europe, such as Italy, Spain, and Greece.
Also in warm countries, fruits and vegetables ripen in August, such as peaches, grapes, figs, apricots, melons, tomatoes, corn, papaya, and mangoes. Gourmets, tired of underripe or chemically processed foods, seek to enjoy fresh, juicy, and flavorful food.
Bali at this time is mastered by Australian tourists who escape from the winter in the south. Wildlife migrations begin in Kenya and Tanzania, attracting many observers.
Even in Turkey, where there are national holidays, locals join the holidaymakers. Even in cities such as Paris, Budapest, and Rome, it is difficult to find a place in museums, restaurants, and shops due to the large number of tourists.
So, imagine that a person who is planning a holiday in August reads all this information. He’s done all the work, bought the tickets, mapped out the route to the best spots, and is getting ready to join the crowd waiting for the sun and the fun.
In this case, it is worth reassuring him: a holiday at the end of summer can be as wonderful as at any other time of the year. The main thing is to prepare for possible surprises, to have a good mood, and readiness to change plans due to force majeure. Sunscreen, umbrellas, and good communication can make your August holiday enjoyable and memorable.