Where to Go on Holiday in March

Vietnam is a cultural melting pot – from the Parisian grace and belle époque architecture of Hanoi to the rural villages of the Mekong Delta, where life has scarcely changed for generations. Mingle with the locals at bustling markets, learn the art of Vietnamese cooking with a traditional chef and venture to some of the country’s most remote outposts to observe how village life unfolds. March in Vietnam is one of the most pleasant months to travel – clear blue skies and very little rain frame the iconic sights beautifully.

For a magical safari adventure, South Africa is up there with one of the best places to visit in March. It is the end of the wet season in a lot of the country, which means fewer tourists and full watering holes to tempt the animals. If you're keen to see the big five, head to Kruger or Marakele, both of which have temperatures in the mid-30s. If you’re looking for coastal views and Michelin-star food, travel to the south for a holiday in Cape Town and the Winelands.

Beguiling Cambodia is a beautiful mix of cultural and religious sights bordered by stunning beaches. Experiencing one of the world’s largest temples, Angkor Wat, at dawn is a memory of a lifetime. Around it are Siem Reap’s paddy fields and colourful markets. There are moving reminders of the country’s poignant history in Phnom Penh, as well as cosmopolitan city life, with chic cafes and restaurants. For beach time, head out to the unspoilt Koh Rong archipelago, where you’ll find the heavenly Song Saa private island hideaway hotel.

On the same latitude as North Africa, Tenerife is one of the few places where it is hot in March in Europe. After a four-and-a-half-hour flight from the UK, you’ll be greeted with warm sun, pretty beaches and a fantastic hotel in the Ritz-Carlton Abama. More than just a fly-and-flop destination, Tenerife has plenty to keep people active, with golf, tennis, hikes, and water sports. If you are travelling in the school holidays, the hotel is also fabulous for families, with a top kids club to keep little ones busy and happy.

Out of season, the Algarve’s tourists are replaced with long, empty beaches, quiet villages, and crisp, blue skies. It’s the ideal location for a refresh after the winter, to find your golf legs again or take long coastal walks while the Atlantic waves crash on the sand. Find local restaurants barbecuing fresh seafood or book into an all-bells-and-whistles resort, which will have everything you need for a bit of rest and relaxation.

Famed for its relaxed, happy approach to life, as well as its unfaltering commitment to sustainability and ecotourism, Costa Rica delivers on every level. While its rainforests and wildlife are a major draw, so are its beaches, of which there is a vast variety to pick from for your holiday in March. There’s surfing on the Pacific Coast in places like the Nicoya Peninsula, while the turquoise waters of the Caribbean side, Tortuguero for example, are calmer and better for snorkelling and swimming. March is one of the driest months making it one of the best times to visit Costa Rica.

When it comes to beach holidays, the Maldives is in a league of its own. Quite literally an entire beach, each hotel is on its own atoll, surrounded by powder-soft sand and bright blue water. With a vast coral reef and impossibly colourful marine life, it’s not only an ideal place to lie on the beach and do nothing but also to do some serious diving and water sports like surfing and windsurfing, which are particularly good in March.

Punctuated by the lush, mountainous backdrop of the majestic Twin Pitons that soar out of the sea, St Lucia is one of the most distinctive Caribbean islands. Beaches are glorious, with milky-white sand and a translucent ocean that’s as warm as bath water. Dive alongside a kaleidoscope of colourful marine life, while above water, there are non-motorised water sports to enjoy. We love this tropical island all year round, but December to April is considered the best time to visit St Lucia, when the sunshine is reliable, and storms are kept at bay.

Austria is perfect for spring skiing, the longer days bring with them more opportunity to carve up the fresh powder and a higher probability of sunshine. Ski conditions are great in the high-altitude resorts of Lech, Zurs, St Anton and St Christoph, all of which are family-friendly too and encourage skiers to start as young as 3. The Goldener Berg in Lech is a great choice for families, it’s ski-in-ski-out and has a kids club too.

Thailand’s east coast islands and beaches are sunny and dry in March, making this the best time to visit the likes of Koh Samui. Flights to this island’s airport from Bangkok take an hour, where you’ll be greeted with some of the best resorts in the country. They’re stylishly decorated and kitted out with fabulous kids clubs and spas, but also have activities for more adventurous families, including trekking to waterfalls, cooking classes, diving and island hopping. A holiday in March to Koh Samui will leave you feeling like a new person.

UK spring and autumn are idyllic in Mauritius when the clear blue sea is calm and warm. April is among its peak season, which makes March a savvy time to go, just before prices hike up for the Easter holidays. Make the most of having pre-school-aged kids – for whom Mauritius is a paradise – and book into a family-friendly hotel, where staff are waiting with outstretched arms to look after you and your babies.

Val d’Isère is one-half of the renowned Espace Killy, which is arguably the greatest ski area in the world. The village itself dates back to 1664, giving the resort far more character than most other high-altitude resorts. At 1850m (6,000 feet), Val d’Isère is among the highest resorts in Europe and has one of the best snow records in Europe.

The Dolomites reach up to 3,000m above sea level, which means it usually has excellent snow conditions and is thought to have 100 days of sunshine in the season. The main ski area – Dolomites Superski – is made up of 12 ski resorts, including San Cassiano and Val Gardena, which are all well-connected by lifts. While a lot of the slopes are great for beginners and intermediates, the vast area means experts never get bored.

Australia is a land of limitless horizons, where vast expanses of wilderness stretch out as far as the eye can see. Nature’s colour palette comes to life through the clear turquoise waters, lush green rainforests, and red rocks of the Outback. Throw into the mix cosmopolitan cities, celebrated wine regions and some truly world-class cuisine, and there are few things a holiday to Australia can’t offer. There is always somewhere hot in March in Australia, but it is a fabulous time to travel to the east coast when New South Wales is still warm and the rains in Queensland have dried up.

Spring is one of the best times to visit Japan, when temperatures hover around 20C, and the landscape is most colourful. The end of March is the beginning of the cherry blossom season in the south – you have to wait until April to see it in Tokyo. Because of this, March misses the peak tourist season and is less crowded and expensive than later in spring. Even without the cherry blossom, Tokyo before the summer heat picks up is beautiful, or explore Hiroshima and Miyajima for amazing landscapes and temples, and make a pilgrimage to Kumano Kodo.