Where’s hot in May? From Puglia to Vietnam, here’s where to find the sun

With a somewhat dismal spring under way in the UK, there’s never been a better time to escape the showers

Head to the Dominican Republic for spring sun (Getty/iStock)

If you can’t wait for spring to come back to Britain after its brief appearance in April, head to southern Europe or the Middle East for some proper heat. If that’s not enough of a warmth guarantee, try Southeast Asia or the Caribbean.

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Puglia

It’s hard to resist the romantic lure of staying in a trullo, the Puglian conical stone and whitewashed cottage that’s found in parts of this southern Italian region. Long Travel has two trulli sharing the same land with a pool and a view of olive groves and orchards. One-bedroom Trullo Noce costs £792pp for two people, and two-bedroom Trullo Melograno costs £550pp based on four people sharing for seven nights. They’re both free 19-26 May, and the price includes flights and car hire.

Puglia is beautiful in May (Jack78/Pixabay)

Jordan

Discover Jordan’s mix of breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine and extraordinary cultural heritage before June’s high temperatures kick in. Cox & Kings has a group tour exploring the country’s highlights, including the biblical site of Mount Nebo, the red wonder that is Petra, the sands of Wadi Rum and the salty waters of the Dead Sea. The starting price of £1,695pp for seven nights includes flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals, guides and excursions, and there’s limited space for departures on 6 and 27 May. A private tour costs from £1,725pp, subject to availability.

Discover Jordan before temperatures soar (Getty) (Getty Images)

Dominican Republic

By the time May comes round, the waters of the Caribbean are in the high 20s and the air temperature hovers around 30C. Perfect weather for enjoying the secluded beach at the all-inclusive Blau Natura Park Beach Eco Resort, which hugs the Dominican Republic’s easternmost coast near Punta Cana. The Holiday Place has an eight-day all-inclusive holiday at Blau Natura Beach from £849pp, including flights and transfers, for departures on 8 and 15 May.

Punta Cana has white sandy beaches (Getty) (Getty Images)

Vietnam

First-time visitors to Vietnam who want a leisurely exploration of this beautiful country can get a superb introduction on the Vietnam with Ease holiday offered by Selective Asia. Over the course of 14 days, you travel from Hanoi, cruise in Halong Bay and relax on the beach at Unesco-listed Hoi An. A final two nights in Ho Chi Minh City rounds off the holiday. It costs from £1,599pp, which includes internal transport, accommodation, guides, activities and some meals. International flights are extra but can be arranged.

Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating past (Getty) (Photos by Getty)

Book now for August

Slovenia

Compact Slovenia punches well above its weight, with its winning combination of an elegant, vibrant capital city and impossibly beautiful alpine scenery. Regent Holidays offers an eight-day fly-drive tour that starts in Ljubljana before nipping over to the tiny bit of Adriatic coastline at Piran. You then meander through vineyards and past the Soca river, and continue on to the wonder that is Lake Bled. The price of £1,072pp is for a 9 August departure and includes flights, B&B accommodation, car hire and transfers.

Lake Bohinj, just a short drive from Ljubljana (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

France

Come August, the exquisite French Atlantic island of Ile de Ré fills up with holidaying Parisians, so you don’t want to leave it too late to book a villa rental. Oliver’s Travels has the luxurious Maison Ile de Ré available from 4 August onwards, and it’s in the village of Bois Plage-en-Ré – a stone’s throw from a long string of sandy beaches. There are three bedrooms in the main house, plus two more in a garden cottage, along with a pool and a cinema room, costing £7,148 for seven nights.

Ile de Ré is popular with Parisians (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Montenegro

Another tiny country with a huge variety of landscapes, Montenegro is being discovered as an excellent base for active family holidays. Activities Abroad has a seven-night Montenegro Active Fjord and Mountain holiday that includes kayaking in the Bay of Kotor, white water rafting in Tara National Park and lakeside hikes in Durmitor National Park. The price of £1,345pp (£1,305 per child) includes flights, transfers, accommodation, activities and most meals, departing 9 August.

Montenegro is still hot in September (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk