When to go where: a calendar of seasons

Half the cost of a trip depends on the season: the same hotel can differ twofold between August and November. Below is a practical calendar by destination.

December to February

Best: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha (+22…+28 °C, ideal), and Sharm El Sheikh (air +23 °C, water +22 °C — swimmable in winter).
Reasonable: Istanbul — cool at +8…+12 °C, but cheap and free of queues.
Avoid: Antalya — the beach season is closed.

March to May

Best: Cappadocia (the steadiest flying weather), Istanbul (+18…+26 °C), Sharm and Hurghada (+28…+32 °C).
Good: Dubai — comfortable until April, then hot.
From late May: the Antalya beach season opens.

June to August

Best: Antalya (peak beach season, +30…+36 °C).
Tolerable: Istanbul and Cappadocia — hot and busy, but the programme still works.
Avoid: Dubai, Doha and Egypt at +42…+48 °C, where outdoor programmes are barely feasible. Hotel prices are at their lowest then, so if you plan only the pool and the mall it can be good value.

September to November

The best window for almost every destination. Antalya in September: warm water, mild air. Istanbul and Cappadocia at +18…+26 °C with thinner crowds. Egypt at +28…+33 °C. Dubai and Doha open up from November. If you can choose, choose September or October.

About price

The dearest periods are the New Year holidays (25 December to 5 January), the Navruz break and July–August. The cheapest are February, early November and the Gulf states in summer. Holiday prices run 40–70 % higher and places sell out two to three months ahead.