Our Top Tips for a May Vacay & Discovering Glacier NP
Hey there, Travellers,
I'm back from sunny Senegal and here to wish you a Happy May! It's starting to feel like summer is on the way, not least because it's officially the beginning of whale watching season in Europe.
One spot I've been considering a trip to this year is the Azores, precisely for that reason. Where better than the mid-Atlantic to get the binoculars out and just hope things don't turn all Pinnochio? Of course, in Scotland I can practically take a day trip to the West Coast and try my luck, but that doesn't feel like so much of an adventure.
So, tell me, readers, where in the world have you had luck whale watching? I wanna hear all about your close encounters of the marine kind 
— bonus points if you drop a pic in the comments.
Happy travels and safe landings,
Katy - Editor of The Detour
Our Top Tips for a May Vacay
By Hannah
Hannah loves spotting a deal to somewhere she can add to her endless bucket list. When she’s not busy writing up travel inspo, you’ll probably find her buying some new vinyl or tackling her TBR list.
With the cold winter chill firmly behind us and the sweltering summer sun not quite here yet, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to looking for the best places to visit in May.
As with other shoulder months, you’ll be treated to fewer crowds and cheaper prices at this time of year. But you’ll also find the weather in that perfect sweet spot, with warmer temperatures in Europe and North America and the wet season ending in parts of South East Asia and East Africa.
And that makes it an ideal time for a trip filled with sunny beach days, hikes through lush forests, or just soaking up some culture in the shape of local festivals.
So, have your sunglasses, sun cream, and passport at the ready while we run you through some of the best places to visit in May! Let’s get into it:
Madeira, Portugal
Why? The Madeira Flower Festival
Key dates: The whole month, but aim for the 3rd & 17th May (2026) for floral parades
Closest airport: Funchal (FNC)
Madeira in spring is just a little extra special. It’s a great time for taking on the island’s actually jaw-dropping hikes and wandering along its black sandy beaches, and as an added bonus, the surrounding meadows and fields will be blooming.
And the locals love it too. So much so, they have a special Flower Festival!
The whole month of May is dedicated to celebrating the island's stunning natural beauty, with floral parades that add sweet smells and a kaleidoscope of colour to Funchal. Sure there’s a little less glitter, but with a lot more petals, these gorgeous and intricately decorated floats could even give Brazil's carnivals a run for their money!
Seychelles
Why? Good weather, great for outdoor activities
Key dates: All month
Closest airport: Mahé (SEZ)
If you’re looking for warm places to visit in May, Seychelles is hard to beat.
As the start of the dry season, the weather is ideal for all of your outdoor activities, whether that’s hiking through lush jungles or heading straight for the beautiful beach.
FYI, Anse Source d’Argent is the beach you’ll have seen all over socials!
And if you’re no stranger to donning some fins on holiday, then you’ll find a whole other world waiting for you below the water. With great water visibility, May is one of the best times to go snorkelling and diving near the Port Launay Marine Park.
Camogli, Italy
Why? The Camogli Fish Festival
Key dates: 2nd Sunday in May (10th May 2026)
Closest airport: Genoa (GOA)
Now, you may have never heard of Camogli before, but you’ll find it on the Ligurian Coast (just over half an hour away from Genoa). And on the 2nd Sunday in May, you’ll see it come alive.
Ever since the 50s, this tiny village has had its own Fish Festival to celebrate its centuries-old fishing traditions. How do they celebrate, you ask? Well, they cook up a feast using a giant frying pan and dish it out to the attendees — for free!
It’s worth sticking around and visiting some of the other towns on the Ligurian Coast, too. Sestri Levante is a particularly great choice if you’re looking for somewhere quiet and beachy.
Passport to the Parks: Meet Glacier National Park
By Olivia
A San Diego native, Olivia left home two years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast. When she's not hiking through the desert or the woods, she can usually be found exploring her current city and scoping out the best bars and coffee shops.
Since the first US National Park was established in 1872, sixty-two others have popped up, ranging from cacti-covered corners of the desert to huge swathes of Alaskan wilderness to colorful coral reefs in Florida.
Every park does things a little differently, so to help break each one down, we’re starting a new series: Passport to the Parks! It’s a chance for us to give you a quick introduction to the prettiest places in the country and cover the basic facts to know before you go.
And who knows, maybe we’ll take a tour around some other countries’ parks too. If you have requests or ideas, let us know in the comments!
First on our docket: Glacier National Park. Despite its fairly remote location in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, Glacier still cracks the top ten most visited US National Parks. That’s less surprising once you lay eyes on its soaring, snow-dappled peaks and sweeping valleys:
While the dramatic views here are pretty hard to top, the park’s popularity and mountainous terrain also come with some challenges. Let’s jump right in!
Quick Facts about Glacier National Park:
- Established: 1910
- Size: 1,583 square miles (4,100 km²)
- Location: Northwest Montana, just south of the Canadian border
- Closest small towns: West Glacier, Columbia Falls, Coram (<20 mins by car)
- Closest major hubs: Kalispell, Whitefish (30-45 mins by car)
- Closest airports: Kalispell (FCA) is the closest by far, but Bozeman (BZN) and Missoula (MSO) are within an afternoon’s drive and often far cheaper. International visitors may get the biggest bang for their buck by flying into Calgary (YYC) and combining their trip with some Canadian sights (more about that below!)
- Best time to visit: June-August
- Biggest highlight: Those jaw-dropping mountain vistas
As you might have noticed, the best time to visit Glacier is peak summer — while the park certainly gets crowded that time of year, it’s also the only time when the entire place is accessible. Remember that mountainous terrain I mentioned? Turns out it’s pretty hard to plow.
So while Glacier is technically open year-round, unless you’re handy with a snowmobile and don’t mind having next-to-zero open services, you’ll want to stick to the warmer months.
And hey, those verdant valleys are at their prettiest in summer anyway!
Step one of your trip should be getting a handle on Going-to-the-Sun Road: Glacier’s premiere scenic drive. The 50-mile road skirts along the edges of dizzying glacial valleys, tunnels through rocky cliffsides, and glides past crystal-clear waterfalls.
In the past, you had to snag a coveted vehicle permit to see it. For the 2026 season, the NPS is going to try stopping and starting entries throughout the day as needed instead of requiring timed entry permits.
We’ll have to wait and see how that plays out, but hopefully it improves accessibility, because this drive is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in the entire country. It’s the best way to see as much of the park as possible in one fell swoop, so if you only have one day in Glacier, you should spend it on this.
It takes about two hours to drive the entire length, but even if you don’t go hiking along the way, you’ll still want to stop at as many viewpoints as possible. I suggest setting aside one entire day for the drive itself, then using any additional days you have at Glacier to hike or explore the park’s other roads.
There are also shuttles along Going-to-the-Sun that can take you to Logan Pass (a major park hub and the start of several popular trails) without having to compete for parking. Score.
Once you’ve got your transportation sorted, you’re ready to scope out some hiking spots. With over 700 miles (1,100 km) of trails crisscrossing through the park, there’s truly a trek for everyone. The most popular is Highline Trail, a challenging ridge hike whose narrow paths guide you along the edge of the continental divide. Coming in at 11-15 miles (depending on your route), it’s a trail for the folks who want to disappear into the mountains.
For a shorter journey, try Hidden Lake Trail. Less than three miles in length, it takes you through a flowery meadow and around a glittering alpine lake. It’s also a great spot to see mountain goats, the shaggy white critters that are practically the park’s mascots.
Pick of the Clicks
All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
- Power banks are an essential item for many travelers, but airlines are increasingly bringing in restrictions. Here's what you need to know before you pack your bags and go.
- Sweep into the vibrant queer tango scene in Buenos Aires on your next Argentine adventure.
- Last week, ward B-737 of Delta Air Lines Hospital received an unexpected admission on approach to Portland with the arrival of baby Brielle.
- Party animals, assemble! If you're looking for a new club and music scene to get your teeth into, check out the Raver's Guide to Tbilisi.
- And finally, a PSA: don't commit mischief in Singapore, no matter how tasty that straw looks.