Where to travel in March
Author: Amber Louise-Large
Spring brings a sense of possibility. There’s the chance for sunnier days, the expectation of blossoming flora and, if you’ve got a holiday booked, the opportunity to tell everyone you’re off for the week so you won’t be answering any emails. Take a trip to one of our top March destinations for a strong likelihood of gorgeous views and cultural insights.
The city
The lowdown
See Portugal’s capital during one of its quieter months. March brings mild weather, with average highs reaching around 19C, and an anticipation of spring as sunshine bounces off pastel buildings. Listen to the trundle of buttercup-yellow trams mixed with the low hum of local-filled fado bars as you explore. Expect relatively short waits for the iconic pasteis de nata at Pasteis de Belem, calm sunsets at miradouros (viewpoints) and a sense of coastal ease. Take time to admire it all, from views of the Tagus River to the whites and blues of the azulejos at the National Tile Museum.
Stay
Heritage Avenida Liberdade is a pop of powder blue on tree-lined boulevard Avenida da Liberdade. The 18th Century facade boasts balconies with iron railings, while the interior is awash with pombaline tiles. It’s all style and serenity here – don’t forget to peruse the books in the hotel library and lie back by the petite pool.
The beach
The lowdown
March in Malaga is especially sweet, with the smell of orange blossoms in gardens and the sight of in-season strawberries in markets. The Andalusian city sees highs of around 19C, its Mediterranean climate lovely for beach hopping and tapas tasting, as the Costa del Sol settles into spring. When you’re not traipsing across the sand or toasting to the sunset, get to know Malaga’s cultural side. The birthplace of Picasso is home to eye-boggling art in galleries like Centre Pompidou Malaga.
Stay
Away from the bustle of the city, Puente Romano Marbella is filled with sun-splashed gardens that extend right out on to the Golden Mile. Stroll cobbled walkways between whitewashed buildings and sparkling pools. If you fancy staying on site as much as possible, you’ll have every excuse – including the 20 restaurants and bars. Try the gazpacho at Chiringuito beach club and taste the black cod miso at Nobu.
Just the two of us
The low down
Self-declared ‘fabulous’ Las Vegas is an oasis of neon and glamour in the thumping heart of the desert. Visit the city of sinfully good times to wave to Vegas Vic on Fremont Street, stay in supersized hotels and see shows you couldn’t have dreamed up. March also welcomes highs of around 22C, comfortable enough to spend plenty of time outdoors wandering the Mojave sands and nearby Grand Canyon. Visiting as a couple? You know there’s one more thing we must suggest: visiting a chapel. Whether you declare your love at a vintage altar on the strip or in a Taco Bell (yep, the flagship store has a chapel), it’s a truly Vegas experience.
Stay
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is LV all over, covering more than 25 acres with more than 30 restaurants and bars. This five-star behemoth boasts rooms and suites overlooking the strip or the mountain ranges that rise and fall in the desert beyond. Visit the spa while you’re there – try everything from the ‘star & snow showers’ to the ‘heated tepidarium chairs’.
The family trip
The lowdown
Take your family to St Lucia to sit on vanilla-white sands between the tapering Piton mountains, watch for catamarans on the waves and listen for waterfalls in the rainforests. March is one of the driest months on the island, with temperatures peaking at around 29C, and the north-easterly trade winds bring cooling, sea-spritzed breezes. A flurry of roses, orchids and flame-like heliconia also arrives with spring. You might even spot migrating humpback whales. If all that wasn’t enough, there are hot springs to soak in and single-origin chocolates to sample.
Stay
Windjammer Landing winds down a tropical hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Spend time digging your feet into white sand on the beach and swaying in an in-water hammock. There’s also a kids’ club and nanny service. Choose one of the Hilltop Villas (the smallest fits two adults and two children) for spacious rooms, kitchen facilities, ocean views and balconies or terraces.
The cultural break
The lowdown
Japan’s a marvel at any time of year, from the hot spring studded mountains to the skyscraper-filled cities, but spring is something else. In Tokyo, cherry blossoms tend to erupt into a canopy of pale pink at the end of March. Hanami (flower viewing) parties continue into the lantern-lit dark in Ueno Park. If you’re visiting Japan earlier in the month, the cherry blossoms in Matsuda Town usually blossom from the end of February onwards – and views of the trees often come with views of Mount Fuji. The weather is cool and crisp at this time of year, with highs of around 13C in Tokyo, getting colder in the evenings as warming bowls of ramen call from little restaurants. When you’re not cherry blossom chasing, try to get tickets for a March sumo tournament.
Stay
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo’s showstopper is its tranquil Japanese garden in the midst of the mega city’s mayhem. Think ponds, a pagoda and, yes, cherry blossoms – some in early March and many in mid to late March. To see it all from a unique angle, book one of the rooms featuring bathtubs with garden views. That’s five-star luxury with a difference.
The wild card
The lowdown
Malta’s a full-time beach babe, with 300 days of sunshine a year and countless sea-view spots filled with loungers. March sees average highs of around 17C – ideal for strolling alongside the olive-oil-coloured buildings of Valletta and taking taxi boats across the Grand Harbour. Visit promenades on the mainland, spotting luzzus (traditional fishing boats) with eyes painted on their lemon-yellow prows, before heading to Mdina to try Fontanella’s famous chocolate cake , and island hopping to Gozo to see temples older than the pyramids or Comino to wade in the diamond-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.
Stay
Rosselli AX Privilege’s Baroque facade glows on Valletta’s Merchants Street. Expect marble and velvet aplenty in this five-star property. There’s one more star to consider, too: the Michelin Star awarded to Under Grain restaurant. After tasting local flavours in the renowned eatery, head up to Over Grain for rooftop drinks with a view of the skyline and Sliema across the harbour.
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