Everyone knows how much I hate Top 10 lists, but after some reflection and convincing from some of my fellow travel bloggers, I have decided to give in and try my first one.
I thought it was important to pick a topic that would appeal to everyone. I didn’t want to be too specific, because in reality, who really cares about those narrow topics? So no Top 10 Beaches in Australia, or a Top 10 Things to Eat in Thailand or Top 10 Reasons You Should Carry Toilet Paper with You. This is my first one, so I need a big topic that hasn’t been done properly. Ergo…
Top 10 Months to Travel
We all like to travel, right? What better than blowing the lid off the best months to travel in… in top 10 form, of course. It took some exhaustive research and quite some time to narrow the list down to the top 10, but I persevered and got it done.
And let’s be clear, I have personal expertise in this topic — I have travelled in each and everyone one of these months. So this isn’t one of those bogus Top 10 lists where the writer doesn’t know of what he speaks.
Bingo. Let’s hit the countdown.
(10) January — Start the year right. You are already in credit card debt from all the damn presents you had to buy everyone for the holiday season. Screw paying off that debt — add some more on top and take a trip somewhere for the only person that really matters — you!
(9) August — It is hot. It’s Africa hot. If you have kids, you are so damn sick of them at this point of their summer vacation that the only thing you want is to go somewhere without them, or with them, if you can dump them at some pool all day to play. Do it. Go, now. And when those whinny kids want you to help settle some fight down by the pool, just tell them, “not now honey, this drink is medicine for Daddy.”
(8) May –May is named after Maia, the goddess of growth of plants. Couldn’t be more clear and direct link to travel. ‘Nuff said.
the #1 reason to travel?
(7) October — October has always seemed a neglected month to me. I mean, what important holidays are in October? Oktoberfest actually begins in September. Halloween has been taken over by children on a sugar high and barely slips in on the last day of the month. Go somewhere and celebrate this undiscovered gem of a month.
(6) September — Speaking of Oktoberfest, good enough reason to travel right there in my book. I think this should be an international holiday. Someone should start a Facebook page. If Facebook and Twitter can overthrow tyrannical governments, let’s see if it can get something that is really important done. How about #OktoberfestRevolution?
(5) June — It’s freezing out there (now I am talking to my readers in the Southern Hemisphere, bear with me, I am popular all over the world), so get to to someplace warm, like Thailand or St. Barts. Plus, it is named after the goddess Juno, which means it is the only month named after a woman. Women of the world — unite in travel.
(4) April — According to Shakespeare, “Rough winds do shake the buds of May.” Well bard, in actuality, April was named from aperire, Latin for “to open buds,” so clearly you don’t know anything about much of anything. Personally, I think a little April travel, if only to show that you know more than that overrated hack is a hell of a reason to get up off the couch. Plus, April 15th is the tax deadline, the time to break out your best tax software and do what everybody loves doing—paying the government. Imitate all the rich people everywhere, dodge paying what you rightfully owe and spend that money in purely selfish pursuits.
(3) November — The month for Americans to give thanks — or in other words, the month where we get a four or five day holiday from work sanctioned by our government. Given how adverse America is to time off work, use it. If you insist on making it about family time, go ahead and bring them along to, I suppose. Up to you.
(2) March — Just say that word to yourself a few times. Doesn’t it just scream to you to get up and…. march off somewhere? Does to me.
I rule the world based on my killer tan
(1) July — Named after one of the biggest egoists of all time, Julius Caesar. Hell, this dude thought so much of himself that he crossed the Rubicon and had himself named a god. And isn’t that what travel is all about in the end? Going somewhere and pretending we are the deity of our own little world?
Come to think of it, I think I just want a photo of my swimming across the Rubicon.
Now, I know what you are asking yourself: “Michael, you hit this out of the park. It has changed the way I will look at travel henceforth, but what happened to February and December? Why didn’t they make the cut?”
Fair enough, these pressing questions deserve answers.
February is the shortest month, which should be enough reason, but it is also named after Februalia, a time period when sacrifices were made to atone for sins. I sin more on the road than at home, though now that I write that I realize that might be a close call. Regardless, good month to stay and home and contemplate our navels.
December is my birth month, and while I personally always like to be traveling on my birthday, I think it is important for everyone else to stay home and pick out really nice presents for me. Its name also comes from decem, Latin for “ten,” and ya’ll know how I feel about Top Ten lists…..
Thumbnail photo credit: razorsharp.net
What?!?! No February love? That to me is the best month to travel as it is still only a few degrees above absolute zero here in Canada. So… What better time to leave for warmer climes than the miserable, dreary, and frosty month of February.
I kinda like December for travel as well. Less crowds everywhere, as people usually stay home before the holidays.
This should have been a top 12 list 😉
Choices have to be made. I mean seriously. Coming up with ONLY 10 months to make a Top 10 list was tough work. Really tough. Do I regret that I couldn’t expand the list out to include a few more?? Of course, but them’s the marbles when you deal with the holy Top 10.
HAHAHA top 12 list FOR SURE!
Wow, groundbreaking stuff that will really help me shape the way I travel. Or at least, when I travel.
Still a little disappointed that you caved in the Top Ten pressure cooker, but with quality travel advice like this, how can I stay mad?
I’m Marching off to buy my plane ticket….
Hey, when I dive into a topic, I dive in full-bore. Groundbreaking? Well, of course. I mean, it is one of my posts… did you expect anything less?
Great resource! I was actually planning on writing a listing of the “Top 10 numbers from 1 to 10”. Should be useful for nerdy travelers.
Too easy. In order (counting down, of course): 10, 2, 9, 4, 8, 6, 1, 5, 3, 7.
Man have I been waiting for someone to write a post about this. I’ve spent nights awake trying to decide should I travel in March or maybe earlier in Feburary. So glad you’ve saved me from making a horrible mistake, my whole trip could have been a disaster.
Dude, I am here to help. Frankly, I don’t really know how people managed to travel at all before this blog. Must have been like walking through the wilderness without a map, compass, or annoying friend constantly asking, “are we there yet?”
Wooo hoo, our starting month is #4! Finally a top 10 list to conquer them all!
#4 isn’t bad. Personally, I think it’s important to NOT start up right at the top. That way you have something to look forward to.
Hahaha, the comments just make this post more awesome!
February is a good month because it’s depressing no matter where you are or who you are. Either it’s some kind of grey, shitty, cold season or you’re pissed that you have to live through a day about celebrating love (and you all know who you are). I like Valentine’s Day, so why not travel to celebrate it!
Sweet tan BTW.
Ummmm, I’m sorry, but did you cuss in your comment? This is a no-profanity/respect-for-all-things-holy website. I guess I’ll leave it up, since you were willing to worship at the alter of my tan bod.
Is “poopy” still allowed?
Be careful here, someone is likely to come in with a top 12 months and scoop you. I shall then start creating new months and doing top 13 and 14.
Top 12? Shame. As we all know, Top 10 lists are the gold standard. Let others dabble.
@Andrew Ahaha, best comment ever!!!
@ Michael, you made me crack up a loooot since I first saw the tweet.
p.s. July is OBVIOUSLY #1… since I was born on July 9th 🙂
I second this, being a fellow July baby. We’re only ones tough enough to have an astrological sign named after a deadly disease. Definitely #1 material…
it’s obvious this article was only written for SEO, so the author could get Google traffic for the months names! 🙂 lol You crack me up man!!!!!
You have found me out. I have a secret plan to corner the SEO market for each of the names of the months. Then I am going to corner the silver market and succeed where the Hunt Brothers failed. Then I am going to put Google out of business.
p.s. Don’t tell Google. I am afraid of them a little. Tell them I’m going to take Facebook out of business instead, as a ruse to get their confidence.
Funny, Michael. But just to quibble, If May is named after the “goddess” Maia, then June is not the only month named after a woman, is it? I’ve got to agree with Ken and Annie, there are so many reason to travel in February…hey, maybe someone could write a “top 10 reasons to travel in February” post? Like:1) it’s too damn cold to stay home 2) you want to hide from Valentine’s Day 3) to take advantage of the President’s Day weekend 4) the month is so short, they’re less likely to miss you at work….
I am supposed to count, prioritize, research AND somehow keep genders in my head also??!! Look folks — seriously — I can only manage so much awesomesauce at once. I am still in training to rule the world.
What important holidays are in October? WHAT IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS ARE IN OCTOBER? Only the best one — my birthday!
Ummmmm, hello?! Did you read the post? Let’s be clear…. the ONLY important birthday is mine. Some people and their inflated sense of self-worth. Get a grip on yourself.
Damn! You beat me to a great post that would be SO helpful to fellow bloggers. I agree that everyone needs to stay put in December to make MY traveling easier.
Ahhhh, another angle. I likey.
Huh. This is so lame. Any *real* traveller knows that to have a truly authentic cultural experience you need to get away from travelling during the western calendar, I always plan my trips using the Ethiopian calendar to get away from the tourists – I find the month of Hamle is normally the best.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_calendar#Months
Hamle does rock the mobility angle, but let’s not let on to all the heathens that we are multi-calendar knowledgeable. The jealousy would be hard to handle.
hahah… very cute! My birthday is in Dec too!
Well, I suppose it is fine that you and I share a birthday month, but just remember that mine is far more important. 😉
Michael, I love your blog but even more I love reading your responses to your readers comments about your blog…LOL!!!
You have January NAILED for #1. Plus I think if you run your own biz and your biz IS to travel, you should be able to write off those travel expenses in April, right?? I am right?? 🙂
P.S. Read your article from HuffPost about the top-10 or whatever travel websites/blogs and I have gotten to connect with a lot of cool people that way, so thanks!
Tax write-offs? Ripping off the government. Ya, ya. Mikey likey!
You chose some interesting non-travel months, actually. Up here (Norway), December and February (OK, and January, too) are relatively slow travel months and you can get very good deals.
Don’t give away my secrets. I am convincing the entire world to NOT travel on those two months, so that I can extend my world dominance by getting all the deals.
Haha, I heart Julius Caesar and how he had to add a month to the calendar just for him. Love it.
To be honest, I think every month has a good reason to travel 🙂
et tu, Brutus?
Totally agree with June. My birthday is in June, and since I’m from the southern hemisphere (tis true, you are globally popular :P) I usually try and head northwards that time of year. Fun post 🙂
Yet another verification of my emerging world dominance. I am trying to let this not all go to my head…. too late.
Dude! I love February and December. This list is a sham! 🙂
Well, I suppose you’d like to think your opinion matters, but really, we all know that mine is the only one that moves the needle, don’t we?
Hey dude! I have to laugh because you and I first “met” with you razzing on Top 10 lists. 🙂
Coming soon: Top 10 YEARS to travel. This year, next year, the year after that….
don’t you steal my ideas!! Well, unless you are going to pay me residuals….
You were born in December? Me, too. Are you a Sadge or Capricorn (I’m Sadge)? Why haven’t you brought astrology into this list? And how about numerology? I’m very disappointed that you didn’t post about either of those from a travel perspective. You’re making it hard for me to plan my next trip. I’m going in May, but I don’t know which day would be most auspicious for me to begin that journey….
I’ll bet you $10 that this ends up in the spam pile…lol. 🙂
You cave and mock at the same time. Genius.
I cannot believe February did not make this list. I am so personally offended by what you chose. This list is a sham!
Seriously, WTF! As you noted February is already short, so how dare you add even more insult to its impotence by snubbing it.
Michael,
Why have you been writing all those long descriptive posts when you have such a talent for Top 10 lists? Now you have broken the ice with the Top months, I can’t wait until you post you Top Ten reasons for toilet paper post. 🙂
May after Maia? I thought it was after Mars, God of war. Lot of wars started in May, or carrying on during May. Gee , I’ll be travelling Namibia in May….X fingers everybody!
You will love Namibia. One of my favorites.
This is clearly a paid advertisement for July. I would expect someone like you to disclose that.
I am writing a follow up post called “Top 12 months for Traveling.” It is going to be more inclusive than this.
You are on to me! Damn it. Thought I’d get that July sponsorship by everyone.
Very funny! Poor February!
Well, it does have Valentine’s Day, so it’s got that going for it. 😉
All I have to say is that those other two months must really suck. Good list though, Mike.
thanks, Renee!
Great post, Michael. LOVED the comments too – I haven’t had such a good laugh in quite a while. Oh, and you are so right about January and April: screw paying those debts! :))
Btw, I was born in December too and I do like to travel during this month, but I usually stay at home for my birthday so I can collect my presents LOL.
HAHAHA top 12 list FOR SURE! Don’t give away my secrets.
Totally agree with June. I am so personally offended by what you chose. Really tough. That to me is the best month to travel as it is still only a few degrees above absolute zero here in Canada.