Crowds are thickest and prices are highest during summer, especially in August when Italians take their vacations. If summer is your only time to visit, go anyway. You'll get brilliantly sunny days and fantastic people-watching opportunities.
Off Season: November to March
Winter brings wind and rain, so many hotels shut down from November to April to freshen up.
Sweet Spot: October; April
When resorts reopen in April, weather can be cool enough for light jackets or warm enough to sunbathe. The days may be longer in May and June, but the Mediterranean will be warmer in the fall.
Top 10Spas Gone Local These spas draw on the indigenous ingredients and customs of their locales
Top 10Undiscovered Islands If you're looking for a beach vacation minus the crowds, we've rounded up 10 islands around the world where you'll find just that
SpotlightSummer Islands Nothing signifies getting away from it all quite like an island visit
