Don’t miss…March travel experiences
For a dose of sunshine...Sri lanka
You can visit Sri Lanka at any time of the year and find a dry(ish) sunny spot. But, all things aren’t necessarily equal, so if you’re planning your first visit to Sri Lanka, make it count and head there in March for the best sunny spot.
Sri Lanka has strips of coastlines dotted with resort after resort, and it has strips of coastline with some decent hotels but not a lot else to do. It also has a gorgeous coastline on the south west of the country where you’ll find small but beautiful boutique hotels in historical mansions, magnificent restaurants aplenty, palm fringed beaches, and heaps of history to immerse yourself in. And it is this little corner of Sri Lanka that is close to perfection in March.
So then you have a choice. You can either hot foot it straight from Colombo to the coast and spend a few days interspersing lounger time with pottering around the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle and grazing on Sri Lanka’s finest street food.
Or you can save this part until the end of your trip. Because you really shouldn’t just go to Sri Lanka and lie on the beach. Sure, you’re reading this piece because you’re looking for your next long haul sun spot, but there is tons to explore in Sri Lanka beyond the beach! From the Hill Country where you can wander or hike at your own pace among the tea plantations, to the island’s beautiful temples and national parks like Yala where elephants roam free and you might even spot a leopard, if you like your sunshine with an edge of adventure, Sri Lanka might just be for you.
Ideal for:
Adventure lovers
Romantic escapes
Culture seekers
Nature lovers
Photo credit - Sri Lanka Collection www.srilankacollection.com
for a wonderful spring time experience...japan
There’s a Japan for all seasons. Sunseekers head for the islands in summer, skiers seek Hokkaido’s epic powder in winter, and everyone else goes in between. For good reason, Spring is particularly wonderful as it’s when the sakura (cherry blossom) arrives - framing Mount Fuji’s snow-capped summit, forming a sea of pink around samurai-era castles and trailing the gardens of Kyoto’s many temples - all in all making Japan even more show stopping than ever!
The trouble is, everyone has the same idea. So rather than telling you why you should be going to Japan in Spring, because you probably already know that, let me give you a few tips on how to do it well:
Avoid the crowds - if you don’t want to weave in between selfie stick- wielding tourists, go where they don’t. My picks would be the less visited but no less lovely areas of Kawazu (early March), Kakunodate (ideally into April) and Megijima (late March).
But don’t miss the best spots - if you’re going all that way, hit some of the hotspots as part of your trip. As early as you can face it, make sure you swing by some of the most beautiful urban sakura hotspots - Tokyo’s Ueno Park, Hamarikyu Gardens and Shinjuku Gyoen are firm favourites in the capital, as are Kyoto’s Maruyama Koen and Philosopher’s Path. Fuji Five Lakes is also a good place to gaze at everyone’s favourite mountain surrounded by the pink stuff
Have a Hanami (flower viewing) picnic - if you do one thing, spread your blanket under the blossom trees, grab a bento box and sip on your sake. If you can stomach your sake early, have a breakfast picnic to enjoy the peace and quiet
Plan, plan and plan some more - if you can, plan this trip a good year in advance. Book seats on trains as soon as you can, reserve restaurants and consider staying in a local hotel or ryokan right by the cherry blossoms so you can see it before everyone else arrives. Sunrise has never been so sweet.
Perfect for:
History lovers
Nature lovers
Foodies
Romance
for a laid-back family break...anguilla
The expression ‘so chilled he’s practically horizontal...could easily be referring to the actual Caribbean island of Anguilla, not just its inhabitants. For not only is the pace of life deliciously laid back and instinctively unhurried on this little spot in the Lesser Antilles, the actual island is flat as a pancake. Which makes it easy to get around on little legs.
This is the place for families (and everyone else) to come to for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To take a breather from keeping plates spinning, all day, every day - whether you’ve got tots, toddlers, tweens or teens. The second you jump off the boat from St Martin and sink your toes in the sand for the first time, your whole family will instantly relax and you’ll know you’re in for a happy time.
What Anguilla absolutely nails is the complete harmony of the island’s sugar-almond pastel coloured homes and bold rasta striped buildings with world class hotels on the Caribbean’s most spectacular beaches. There’s no us and them here - the locals are oh so friendly and time is in good supply so forget your watch and settle in for a good conversation with them about everything and absolutely nothing at all.
A big part of Anguilla’s appeal is the food scene. If you want to flop at your hotel and never leave, choose another island. This is not all inclusive territory. Go to Anguilla if you want to head out of the hotel en famille to eat delicious Queen Conch tacos on the beach and enjoy a twist on Caribbean favourites in a treehouse.
As the saying goes, happy mum (and dad), happy child. And there aren’t many happier places than Anguilla. Annnnnd relax...
Perfect for:
Tots, tweens and everyone in between
Beach lovers
Romantic escapes
Photo credit: Malliouhana, an Auberge resort.
FOR A nature at its best...the galapagos islands
Nearly 200 years ago, Charles Darwin took a trip to some volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean that changed our understanding of nature and life forever. It was during the five weeks that Darwin spent in the Galapagos islands in 1835 that he first formed his theory of evolution.
So if you want a front row seat to nature like nowhere else in the world, the Galapagos Islands is the place to find it. From giant tortoises the size of a Fiat 500 to heaps of iguanas sunbathing on top of each other. To nosy sea lions and wolf-whistling frigate birds, this Pacific archipelago with more than 4,000 species and over 40 per cent of them not found anywhere else on earth, is one heck of a wildlife spectacle. The best way to enjoy it is from land and sea, so head for an Eco Lodge for a few nights and then hop on a gorgeous boat for a completely different perspective.
The Galapagos Islands are fabulous for wildlife watching all year round, but it is in March when the archipelago springs to life and the breeding season begins so you’ll see blue footed boobies dancing around to lure their mates, and green sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs in the dead of night.
Perfect for:
Adventure seekers
A sense of discovery
Active travellers
Special occasions
for an early spring city break...dUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Dubrovnik is shiny. But not in a blingy, showy way. Quite the opposite. Its shininess comes entirely from the glistening polished limestone streets that give the ancient Adriatic city an ethereal glow.
The Game of Thrones’ producers certainly thought it was a magical place when they cast Dubrovnik as the setting for the fictional city of King’s Landing in the popular fantasy television series. But there is much more to this city than fictional dragons and its a fabulous city break destination, particularly in early Spring.
At this time of year the weather is great but the summer crowds are yet to land so hotels are more affordable. The gorgeous cafes and restaurants that line the aforementioned shiny streets and ancient squares are busy enough to give a good atmosphere but not so busy that you have someone else’s elbow in your Soparnik. Another great reason to visit this part of the world now is the Mali Ston Oyster Festival that kicks off in March every year at this pretty little fishing village about 40 minutes from Dubronik.
Picture yourself pottering down the ancient cobbled streets and admiring the view of the ocean from Dubrovnik’s 900-year old city walls...and think about getting stuck into wine tastings, shellfish and folklore performances at the oyster festival. If that appeals...what are you waiting for?
Perfect for:
Foodies
Group trips
Romantic escapes
History lovers
