I’m a summer-loving person. Don’t like the cold and tend to avoid traveling to places that are shivering through winter. Maybe that’s why I’ve never seen snow before.

That’s not to say I think visiting a place in the midst of frosty temperatures isn’t worthwhile. I’m sure there are loads to see and do, just like in summer, spring and autumn.

It’s hard to pick a perfect time of the year to travel, be it a trip abroad or a few kilometers from our backyard. Each season is beautiful in its own right.

When we visit a place during a certain season, we have the opportunity of seeing and doing things particular to that season. Travel to Japan when it’s spring over there, you’ll see cherry blossoms in their full pink bloom. Europe’s fairly cool summers makes it a good time to visit its beaches then. Visit Canada in the winter and you can have the time of your life skiing on its snowy slopes like the Big White.

Some say it’s best to travel to a place where it’s spring. Spirited spring, a season where flowers bloom, birds chirp and temperatures are pleasantly balmy. But Mother Nature is always fickle. You can have a sourly cold spring day and a scorcher the next, at least in Melbourne where we can have four seasons in one day. And earlier this winter and spring in the northern hemisphere, Niagra Falls froze over twice. A rare marvelous sight, actually.

Some say the worst time to visit a place is when it’s going through biting winters. Snowstorms, slippery roads, travel delays and frostbite are just a few of the unfavourable conditions we might have to put up with. Not to mention the bulky winter clothing we need to lug around, which is a pet peeve of mine.

There’s also not forgetting budgets and timing when it comes to choosing the best “season” to travel.

So what’s the best season to travel? It depends. Depends on where we’re going, what we want to do, how much we can afford to spend. Some of us travel to escape the freezing winters or blistering summers at home. Then there are some of us who travel for the love of life and seeing the world regardless of season. It’s down to personal preference.

As for the best time of the year to travel to Melbourne? We have summer in December and winter in June, so if you like to shiver come down in the middle of the year and beginning/end if you like surfing. We don’t have snow unless you go up to our mountains and heat waves don’t happen too often. Personally, I think it’s great to visit Melbourne any time of the year. Never too hot, too cold or too wet to try a lamington or a Tim Tam.

Do you travel to a country during a particular season? What’s your favourite season?