November–April, when the weather is warm, dry, and perfect for margaritas. Summers can bring rain and humidity, plus hurricane threats.
December–April—warm days, cool nights, and beaches that practically beg you to nap in a hammock. Avoid June–October unless you’re into sticky humidity and hurricane season.
March–May for warm, dry weather. Rainy season runs June–September, but it’s mostly afternoon showers that freshen up the cityscape.
October–April. Summers here can sizzle like a fajita plate.
If you’re planning to visit ruins, cenotes, or do a day trip, I recommend booking ahead—especially in busy seasons. You can browse tours here.
Mexico’s international airports—Mexico City, Cancun, and Guadalajara—are your gateways to a country that’s as vibrant as the street art in Oaxaca. Domestic airlines like Volaris and Aeroméxico connect you to every corner of the map, from colonial towns to hidden beaches. And if you’re craving the authentic travel experience, hop on a long-distance bus—ADO buses are comfy enough to catch some z’s between tacos.
For short hops, local taxis, Ubers, and collectivos (shared vans) make getting around easy, even if you don’t habla español fluently (smile and point works wonders). Renting a car is great for exploring cenotes, ancient ruins, and those off-the-grid villages where the real magic happens—just watch out for topes (speed bumps that could double as small mountains).
Tip: Cancun is often the cheapest airport to fly into, even if you’re heading to nearby areas like Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
Ports like Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta roll out the red carpet for cruise lovers. From quick getaways to multi-country itineraries, cruises to Mexico serve up beaches, tequila tastings, and enough mariachis to last a lifetime. Whether you’re on a mega-ship or a boutique vessel, get ready to trade in your WiFi worries for sun-soaked decks and ocean breezes.
Before you go, make sure you’re actually packed for it—because forgetting one small thing on a cruise somehow turns into a full inconvenience. You can check out my Cruise Packing List: 31 Must-Have Items You Shouldn’t Forget to make it easy.
Drink bottled water
Even at resorts. Most places provide it, so it’s easy to stay on the safe side.
Bring cash
Cards are widely accepted, but smaller places, taxis, and local food spots often prefer cash.
Don’t skip travel insurance
Especially for international trips. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you need it.
Check your location logistics
Distances can be misleading. Tulum is not right next to Cancun. Cabo beaches aren’t all swimmable. Knowing this ahead of time helps you plan better.
Make reservations when needed
Popular restaurants and tours can book out in advance, especially in busy seasons.
I ate chilaquiles while a Cessna taxied past the window, and that’s just a normal Tuesday breakfast in Sedona.
@mesa_grill_sedona sits right beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so along with your food you get red rock views stretching in every direction and a front-row seat to tiny planes lifting off. Chef Mercer Mohr runs the kitchen, serving up Southwestern comfort food from breakfast through dinner, chilaquiles, elevated diner classics, burgers, steaks, seafood, all of it.
The view is what pulls people in the door, but the food actually holds its own. Good enough that this place stays packed with locals, not just tourists passing through on their way to the lookout. It also picked up the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, so it’s not just me saying it.
Indoor seating if you want the AC, a pet-friendly patio if your dog’s along for the trip. Either way, get there before plane-spotting turns into a wait for a table.
Link in bio for the full Sedona breakfast roundup ✈️🌵
Confession: my newsletter is where the good stuff lives. Not the polished, edited-for-the-grid stuff, the “here’s the hole-in-the-wall I almost skipped” stuff, the packing lists I actually use, the “don’t book this hotel” warnings before you waste your money on them.
The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
Link in bio if you want in. ✈️
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
