Where to go in March

If you’re looking for an ideal place to visit in March, we’ve put together a mini-guide series to share our favourite destinations for each and every month of the year. Having visited them ourselves, we’ll share why it’s a good time to go, how to get there, who to fly with, and where to stay. We’ll also share our target prices, which we aim to get as close to as we can. Read on for our tips on where to go in March:

Where to go in March

• Cape Town, South Africa
• Lake Tahoe, California
• Malaysian Borneo
• Maldives

Cape Town, South Africa

Known for its staggering natural beauty, wildlife and wine making abilities, Cape Town and the Western Cape is an incredible place to visit.
Natural landmarks include the majestic Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the rugged Cape Point. Human’s have embraced these natural wonders by creating some world renowned wines up in the Franschoek and Stellenbosch valleys. By the ocean, the surf’s up most days at Muizenberg Beach, bringing in the surfers and hipsters who follow them.

Why March?

It’s approaching the end of summer and peak season turns to shoulder season. Prices drop and places are just a little less busy. The weather is still lovely and warm, as is the sea around Muizenberg – forget swimming in Camps Bay, it’s never warm enough!

How to get there

Cape Town is served direct from major European airports. The direct flight time is around 12 hours. Alternatively, you can transit in Doha, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi, if you’d like to pick up a deal and fly with the likes of Qatar Airways or Emirates.

Business class deals from Europe are common with British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Air France/KLM. Our target price is £1,250 return.

For a Premium Economy seat our target is £650/€760. In Economy we’d be looking for something nearer £350/€410 return. Like all targets, we may not hit them, but we’ll try to get as close as we can.

Where to stay

We’d recommend staying in either a hotel or Airbnb. We found a lovely rental in Camps Bay for part of our stay – it was great value for money and was perfectly placed for Table Mountain.

Highly-rated hotels include the Belmond Mount Nelson and One & Only.
Most of the big points-earning chains can be found in and around the waterfront.

Outside of Cape Town, we heartily recommend having dinner and staying the night at Springfontein near Stanford.

BG1 Tip

Because Table Mountain is frequently shrouded by a tablecloth-like layer of cloud, you must let the weather dictate when you go to the top. Being stuck on the top in fog isn’t fun more most people.

We were advised to be up and ready to hike each and every morning of our stay. The rule we were told was “if you wake up and you can see the top, go hiking.” We were very glad to have done this on our first morning, as the top was covered in cloud by the afternoon and remained that way for several days after.

Lake Tahoe, California

Fly into San Francisco, then take the 3-hour drive up to picturesque Lake Tahoe. The ski season usually runs from mid-December, right the way through to late spring, thanks to the huge “dumps” of snow Tahoe receives each season. The town of South Lake Tahoe straddles the state-line between California and Nevada. As you walk across the line, the high street suddenly turns from quirky gift shops to mega casinos.

On the way back, spend a couple of nights in San Francisco and visit Alcatraz and Sausalito.

Why March?

By March, the days are considerably longer and the sun is a little warmer, giving you more daylight to enjoy the outdoor wilderness. If you’re a skier, you’ll appreciate that extra hour on the mountain.

How to get there

There are direct flights to San Francisco from most major cities. The flight time from Europe is around 11 hours 30 minutes. South Lake Tahoe is a 2-3 hour drive northeast of San Francisco along good roads.

Business class seats can be picked up at £1,400 return for a non-stop from Europe. Average prices hover around the £1,600 mark.

Our price target for Premium Economy is £700 and our price target for Economy is £350.

Where to stay

Accommodation comes in the form of high-end casino hotels, smaller motels and Airbnb condo rentals. We rented a lovely studio lodge that came with a hot tub on the decking. We made friends with a fat raccoon, who came to visit us each evening.

As you’d expect for North America, most of the big points-earning chains are in town. Hyatt are over the state-line on the north end of the lake.

BG1 Tip

Go for lunch at the Lone Eagle Grill at the Hyatt on the north shore, the take a stroll along the beach afterwards.

Spend a day at Northstar ski resort.

Malaysian Borneo

Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world, after Greenland and New Guinea. It is home to wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else on earth, including the Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Orangutan, Pigmy Elephant, and Sun Bear. Visit the lush inland jungles to discover some of these amazing creatures, then dive into the crystal ocean at Sipadan Island to witness schooling Barracuda, turtles and reef sharks tearing through enormous shoals of fish. Fly in and out of Kota Kinabalu, to enjoy some high-end hotels and tasty local cuisine.

Why March?

With a tropical climate, it’s warm all year round, but March brings warm and settled conditions. This is especially useful if you wish to climb the imposing Mount Kinablu (4,095m) or head out to the islands.

How to get there

There are no direct flights to Kota Kinabalu (KK) from Europe or North America. Fly into Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Hong Kong, then take one of the many regional services direct to KK.

Business class fares from Europe to Singapore can drop as low as £1,200 return.

Our price target for Premium Economy is £700 and our target in Economy is £350.

Economy flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu hover around £150 return.

Where to stay

Hotels are the best places to stay in Kota Kinabalu. There are a few big brands and all generally offer very good value for money.

Shangri-la is dominant, with three properties: Tanjung Aru and Rasa Ria are the best for tourists, with the downtown hotel better suited to business travellers. The Magellan and Pacific hotels at Sutera Harbour are also worth a look.

Hilton, Le Meridien (Marriott), and Hyatt are also in town.

BG1 Tip

Visit the Sun Bear sanctuary. Most tourists visit Borneo to see the orangutan, but the other indigenous species rarely get a look-in. The little Sun Bear is now highly-endangered in Borneo and the conversation teams need the help of tourist money.

If you’re hoping to climb Mt Kinabalu, be sure to plan ahead. The mountain pretty much rises from the sea to a dizzying 4,095m, making it a taxing climb that must be done with a guide.

Maldives

Warning: Once you visit the Maldives, no other beach you set foot on will compare. The Republic of Maldives is a country in the Indian Ocean, comprised of thousands of tiny islands, which are arranged in circular patterns called Atolls. While many of the islands are uninhabited, others are home to small communities of Maldivian people. Some of the uninhabited islands have been turned into resort hotels that provide everything you could need to escape it all.

Why March?

The islands are only a few degrees north of the equator, so have a year-round tropical climate. The dry northern monsoon blows from January through to April, bringing settled weather and beautifully calm seas. In March, plankton blooms begin to peak, brining an abundance of beautiful ocean-going animals to the islands. Snorkel or scuba dive with giant Manta Rays and very cute (and very harmless) Whale Sharks.

How to get there

Plenty of airlines serve Malé Airport in The Maldives. While there are a few direct services, including a British Airways flight from London Gatwick, the majority of us will get there via one of the Middle Eastern hubs. Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates and Gulf Air all have short connections on their networks to Malé.

The non-stop flight time from London is about 10 hours 30 minutes.

Business class fares from Europe to Malé are often on the pricier end, but can drop down to £1,400 return.

Our price target for Premium Economy is £700 and our target in Economy is £350.

Once you arrive, you transfer to a speedboat or seaplane for the journey to your resort.

Where to stay

You have two options, an island resort or a dive charter. If you’re not a scuba diver, we’d recommend the former! The sky’s the limit on how much you can spend on room in the Maldives. Achievable rates are found in modest beach chalets, while bungalows on stilts over the water can set you back 5 figures per night!

As you’d expect, the big chains have a strong presence in this high-end honeymoon Mecca. Hilton, Marriot, IHG, and Hyatt all have flagship resorts in the Maldives.

If you’re interested in a liveaboard dive safari, we’d recommend dive boat operator Blue o Two.

BG1 Tip

Do a scuba dive! At the very least go for a snorkel. The Maldives is by far one of the most beautiful marine habitats on Earth. Stick your head under. Marvel at the coral reefs and wonderful animals that live there.

We’d like to hear from you!

Got a tip for where to go in March that we haven’t included? Put a comment below and we’ll gladly go investigate! Why not also have a look at our recommendations for where to go in January and February.