This heavenly destination in the Indian Ocean has never been more accessible than in May, “don’t wait to leave” – ​​Grazia

In 2026, the May bank holiday calendar offers an ideal window to go away for longer than just a long weekend. With a few well-placed holidays, a break of one week to ten days becomes realistic, long enough to aim for a distant destination. Reservation platforms are already seeing a surge in searches for islands and lagoons far from Europe. And an archipelago in the Indian Ocean occupies a very special place there.

Bridges of May 2026: a springboard for a long, distant journey

THE bridges of may 2026 allow you to add public holidays and RTT without completely emptying your vacation counter. Many French people take advantage of this to plan a longer stay, looking less for a nearby city break than for a real break from the sun. And then, on ten days of rest, a long-haul flight starts to seem much more profitable.

In this context, the Maldives are establishing themselves as the star destination. Data from the Hotels.com platform shows an increase in 225% of searches for stays in May compared to last year, a sign of unprecedented enthusiasm. Long reserved for honeymoons and XXL budgets, the islands now offer a wider range of accommodation, from large resorts to 3 or 4 star hotels, including local guesthouses. As a result, the dream of the archipelago becomes accessible to more couples, families and groups of friends.

Maldives in May: weather, drop in prices and competition from Seychelles or Phuket

Going to the Maldives in May also means traveling in low season. The southwest monsoon brings more showers, but air temperatures hover around 30°C and the water remains close to 29 to 30°C, which maintains very pleasant conditions for swimming. On the other hand, attendance decreases and prices for flights and hotels drop significantly compared to the winter months, while offering the same turquoise lagoons and white sand beaches.

The Maldives are not alone in this niche of great change of scenery for May bridges. The Seychelles, which recorded an increase of around 80% in searches, and the Phuket region in Thailand also attract travelers looking for remote beaches at reasonable prices. But there again, these are indeed the
Maldives which concentrate most of the desires, the low season allowing you to consider a villa on stilts at a more reasonable cost, provided you choose an atoll little exposed to rain by checking the local weather before booking.