The Mediterranean is beautiful, but I wish I hadn’t spent several weeks there in July and August — some of the area’s hottest, busiest months.

While docked in places like Turkey and Greece, temperatures climbed over 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat and humidity put a damper on my trip, sometimes making sightseeing feel like a survival training exercise.

Additionally, I was one of many tourists visiting these countries during their busiest travel season.

I reached my breaking point in Santorini, which had been on my bucket list for years. Instead of the magical experience I imagined, I spent my time wading through crowds in near-suffocating heat.

After standing for over two hours in the direct sun, waiting in a mile-long line just to take the gondola back down to where my ship was docked, I had mentally checked out.

Though these places are incredible, I couldn’t fully appreciate them. In the future, I’d like to prioritize traveling during the shoulder seasons for milder weather and fewer crowds.