Spring is just around the corner but if you can’t wait any longer for that dose of sunshine, these destinations are hot now – and just one flight away from many global cities.
If you’re looking for properly sizzling climes, Dubai will deliver – it has average highs of 28C in March. And, given there are flights to the Emirate from over 100 countries worldwide, there’s a fair bet that wherever you live you can take advantage of its balmy charms with just one flight. Spend your days sunning yourself on one of the resort beaches, explore the old souk or getting stuck into sandy adventures at a desert camp. By night, dine high in a glassy skyscraper with the city twinkling below.
Paradisical islands normally require multiple flights – or at the very least boat transfers – to reach. But for many big-city dwellers, Phuket, a beach-encircled isle dangling off the south of Thailand, is an exception. With guaranteed steamy days on tap, your winter sunshine break can be spent entirely on the soft sandy beaches, working on your tan and working through your resort amenities. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, get stuck into a myriad of island activities, from yoga classes to surfing.
Morocco’s capital is buzzing, but with its tranquil riad courtyards, landscaped gardens and steamy hammams, it can be relaxing too. Flights land in Marrakech direct from destinations around the world, so within hours you can be wandering the vast souk in search of treasures or sipping mint tea by a palm-lined pool – all perfect activities for March’s 22C days. If you have more time to spare, head out to Bedouin villages in dramatic valley landscapes or to the edge of the Sahara desert to overnight in a tented camp.
Picture-perfect golden sands, crumbling Mayan temples, zinging salsas and moreish fish tacos – the Riviera Maya ticks every possible box for a holiday, combining good looks and adventure with top hotels and enticing eats. Flights from many North American and European cities land in Cancún, but get away from the big resorts by making for boutiquey and beachy Isla Mujeres, a brief ferry ride away, or for the cool beach clubs of Tulum. If you can bear to leave the turquoise waters of the coast, you’ll find plenty more to explore, from cenotes to haciendas, in the Yucatan interior.
Whether you’re whizzing in for a week to hop between the city’s excellent beaches, or touring the nearby wine regions of Stellenbosch, Constantia and Franschhoek, March is a brilliant time to visit South Africa’s capital. Blue sky days and 25C temperatures are hot enough to tick your sunshine boxes but still make the iconic South African stuff – climbing Table Mountain, going on safari – doable. Even if you are here just for the warm weather, don’t miss the epic Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) at the atmospheric V&A Waterfront.
With temperatures hovering at a lounger-perfect 30C in March, beachy Mauritius is the perfect place for a fly-and-flop resort break. But even if your number one priority is relaxation – snorkelling among reefs, say, or reading a book under an umbrella’s shade – make sure you get out to see some of the island’s other riches. Rum distilleries, coffee plantations and bird sanctuaries are all on the roster. Come evening, take in a blazing west coast sunset with a knee-wobbling cocktail in hand.
