Where to go on holiday in MarchWednesday, 6 January 2016PinterestFacebookTwitterEmailPrintMoreSpring still seem a long way off? Kick start the season of rejuvenation with our guide to the month’s hottest travel destinations for city breaks and beach holidays, as well as the best international events in March.Where do you like to travel in March? Share your favourite spring holiday spots and we'll feature your pick in an alternative list of the best recommendations.Best city breaks in MarchAthens, GreeceVisit the cradle of democracy just in time to see the Aegean regain its sparkle and the wildflowers bloom - in March the temperature in Athens can hit a very pleasant 16°C. This intense city, with its own brand of anarchic wit (apparent in the graffitied responses to the country's ongoing economic woes) will be coming alive again at this time of year. Take a crash course in classical civilisation, smug in the knowledge that you've avoided the crowds that invade the historical sites in summer. Starting point: the Acropolis, with its ancient temple, the Parthenon. A brainchild of Pericles, the fifth century statesman, it's regarded as an enduring symbol of western civilisation. From there, head to the Acropolis Museum, with its reproduction of the Elgin Marbles, which used to be a part of the Parthenon, but now – controversially – reside at the British Museum. Fancy diving in deeper? The National Archaeological Museum covers all bases, including the defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. Climb to Areopagus, the marble hill below the Acropolis where Saint Paul is said to have preached, for the most spectacular views of the city. Athens, being the home of Narcissus, is the place for plenty of selfies. But watch the waistline, this also being the home of moussaka, souvlaki and sticky baclava. For more on the ancient sites and local cuisine, check out our top tips for things to see and do in Athens.
The Acropolis in Athens, Greece
Muscat, Oman
Cradled by a dramatic mountain range, facing the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman, it's not for nothing that Muscat is known as 'Arabia's jewel'. In an age of identikit high-rises, Oman's capital remains resolutely low-rise and whitewashed, with arabesque flourishes and a sprinkling of golden minarets. Dhows bob gently in the harbour, while the palace of Sultan Qaboos and the Mutrah fort stoically watch over the city from a rocky hill. In Mutrah Souq, old men in flowing white robes sell frankincense, khanjar daggers, kumma caps and silver and gold jewellery - make sure to stop for qahwa, a local coffee flavoured with cardamom that was once the beverage of Sufi mystics. As you sip, contemplate a visit to the date-rich oases nestled amongst the mountains, or a night under the stars in the desert. Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands is one of the best picks for day trips into the desert, as it's close to Muscat. Hire a car and drive yourself over the dunes (but beware, there are very few provisions out there and getting stuck in the sand is a distinct possibility) or arrange a trip with one of many tour companies offering 4WD safaris and overnight desert stays - try Oman Day Tours to start with - many of which will collect non-driving guests for an additional fee. If you're interested in finding out about more hidden gems of the Middle East, the emirate Ras Al Khaimah is one of our seven secret countries for remote getaways.
Waterfront of Muscat, Oman
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Peel back layers of history in this beguiling city. A visit to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields memorial and the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum provides a glimpse not only of the country's dark past but also of the resilience of a people renowned for their gentleness and hospitality. Going a little further back in time, the city’s leafy boulevards and stately colonial buildings are a reminder of the country’s period under French rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A few centuries earlier and you'll step upon the splendour of the great Angkor Empire, which flourished from the ninth to the thirteenth century: its relics, art and sculptures are now on show at the National Museum. Today, traditional crafts are being revived and displayed in showrooms, such as Artisans Angkor, and you can find more contemporary takes on Art Street (Street 178). In the evening, pop into the Foreign Correspondents' Club, a hub for aid workers and journalists after the 13-year civil war that followed the Khmer Rouge's demise, and knock back a well-deserved scotch and soda while watching the sun go down over the Tonlé Sap River. For more tips on things to try in Phnom Penh, including deep-fried tarantula, consult our guide.
Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Las Vegas, USA
Its Spanish name means 'the meadows', although there's nothing pastoral about Sin City. From its beginnings as a cowboy town, through its rat-pack mobster phase to its current image as a neon-drenched strip of tack, Las Vegas delivers big time. You don't have to be a gambler to come here: Las Vegas bills itself more as an entertainment centre these days. Indeed, just a walk down The Strip to see some of the characters strolling (or is that stumbling?) along is a decent night's entertainment. Be dazzled by a Great Sphinx (The Luxor Hotel) a Statue of Liberty (New York New York) and an Eiffel Tower (Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino) while flashing signs and billboards vie for your attention. What's it to be? Celine Dion or Donnie and Marie Osmond? David Copperfield or the Chippendales? No, wait a minute, it has to be Boyz II Men. If the legacy acts get a bit too much, head off to the casino, where you can get sozzled for free, even at the penny slots - The Wynn, for example, offers free mojitos and tequila. A word of advice though: avoid the poker table until at least 3am, when most of your adversaries are likely to be as drunk as you! True to its name, Las Vegas stays awake all night - and if you manage to rise before sundown, aim no higher than floating away your afternoon in the hotel pool on one of those giant inflatables with cocktail holder. And, if you really must do it, get hitched at The Hangover Chapel. Elvis will be conducting the ceremony. But if you're looking for something different from the usual sights, take a look at our guide to experiencing the alternative Las Vegas - including shopping for the zombie apocalypse and hiking through dinosaur-strewn canyons.
Panoramic view of Las Vegas at night
Best beaches to visit in March
Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal
For those truly serious about getting away from it all, the Andaman Islands are hard to beat. Out on a limb in the Bay of Bengal, closer to Burma than to Mother India, this archipelago of paradise islands is as remote as they come. And it has an intriguing backstory to tickle the cerebral cortex as you chill on white-sand beaches after hanging with the angelfish in translucent waters. The archipelago - made up of 572 islands and islets, only 26 of which are inhabited and with a dozen open to tourists – has baffled anthropologists. They think that some of the Andaman tribes are directly descended from the first humans to leave Africa some 50,000 years ago, but how they got to these remote islands remains a complete mystery. The islands were totally isolated from the world up until the nineteenth century, when the British government created a penal colony for Indian nationalists. Today, the islands are becoming more widely known (and the criminal colony is long gone!) but despite the world-class diving, they remain quiet, with Havelock Island catering for a mix of intrepid backpackers and celebs seeking anonymity. As if we haven't made it clear enough, go there before everyone else does!
Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island in the Andaman Islands
St. Martin/St. Maarten, Caribbean
Three for the price of one: you'll find French flair up north, Dutch decadence down south and Caribbean cool all over. At just 34 square miles, this French/Dutch island is the smallest in the world to be divided between two nations, a historical quirk dating back to 1648, and March is the perfect time to visit - it's the month with the lowest rainfall and the weather is hot, on average 29°C. Wherever you are on so-called 'Friendly Island', you'll be assured a warm welcome and no shortage of fun, whether its horse riding, windsurfing or drowsing on a catamaran in the clear waters. Discover the island’s breathtaking scenery on the uphill track to Wilderness Beach on the northernmost point of the island, or if that's too quiet for you, get down to Orient Beach, grab a guavaberry rum and groove with the steel bands. In the evening, head to the French seaside town of Grand Case, the island's gourmet capital, for a Gallic repast of bouillabaisse followed by creme brûlée at Le Tastevin, open for lunch and dinner during high season. Easier on the pocket are the roadside shacks, worth checking out for the delicious, local fish grilled on metal drums. Shopaholics can spend their euros in the French capital Marigot or in Dutch Philipsburg - both have plenty of duty-free shops selling electronics, haute couture and designer bling.
Philipsburg beach on St Maarten
Con Dao, Vietnam
It's one of Southeast Asia's most alluring getaways, with heavenly beaches, well-preserved coral reefs, rolling hills and dramatic cliffs, yet it seems to have remained a well-kept secret. One explanation may be that Con Dao, part of a 16-island archipelago off Vietnam's southeast coast, used to be known as Devil's Island: the French set up a harsh justice and prison system here in 1862, and this remained in force until Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese in 1975. Up to now, most visitors were government-sponsored groups of former Vietcong soldiers returning to pay their respects to colleagues buried on the island. But recently, the visitors have been coming from further afield, attracted to Con Dao's unspoilt natural enviro
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