Where to go this spring?

[wendyginasarah]

I'm new to LL and have really enjoyed reading many of the informative posts here. I am hoping that you seasoned travelers will be able to give me some info about a trip at the very beginning of April. I had hoped to go to Peru on one of the Inkaterra trips, but I just read that April is the rainy season and I could look forward to mudslides so I decided I should put that trip off for a little later! Anyway, now I have 10-12 days and don't really know where the best weather would be. Not really looking for a beach/resport type vacation--prefer having great things to do and see. Our starting point is Chicago.

[thepiranha]

Have you considered the Canary Islands? I spent three and a half weeks in the islands in December of 2006. Since you will be traveling in April, flights to Madrid should be reasonable. You can book flights from Madrid to the islands over the internet (Iberia Airlines) and rates are extremely cheap. I think that our family of four flew round trip from Madrid to Lanzarote and Tenerife back to Madrid for under $400 total. Weather in the Canary Islands should be in the upper seventies in April. Although each island has its own unique flavor and charm, I particularly recommend Lanzarote. There is a lot of culture on the island because Cesar Manrique, the great Spanish artist, was very involved in island architecture. Besides the many buildings that he had a hand in building, there is evidence of his work all over the island. Many of the roundabouts have Manrique sculptures in the their centers. Food is good in the islands. You can get traditional Spanish fare as well as food that is typical of the islands. The traditional dish is papas con mojo, or potatoes with sauce, and you can find it everywhere in the islands. Unfortunately, there are many timeshares in the more inhabited parts of the islands, and you'll have more contact with British and Germans than native Canarios. Besides Lanzarote, we explored Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, each of which has its interesting areas to explore. If you're just looking for a beach to relax at, the Canary Islands have many beautiful beaches. I hope that you found this helpful.

[kyshel]

Buenos Aires? I'm currently torn between North Africa and BA for early May. It'll be a bit cooler for us, but lively, from what I understand. And I guess there's no shortage of fabulous beef any time of year!
I would suggest Turkey, since it's still early in the season. I just took a very short trip to Istanbul and it's reasonable and somewhat user-friendly (meaning lots of people speak English) You could combine it with a rip to the seaside? Great food!!
You might want to search "May" and see what pops up?

[no-backpacker]

What about Tunis? I am going there myself, in the last week of April. I have not been there before, but I have read and heard it is fantastic. You just have to get away from all the touristic-resorts.

Or what about Hawaii? I was at Hawaii (Oahu) last May and the weather was fantastic.

Another place I can highly recommend is Japan, mainly Tokyo and the South. In the North I think it will be cold in April. I was in Tokyo, Hakodate (in the North), Kyoto and Hiroshima in early-middle og May two years ago. If you are lucky you will reach the cherryblossom in Tokyo or further South.

If I should decide between those three places, I would go for Japan.

C.

[welcometoedu]

How about Andalusia in Spain and the Algarve in Portugal? sandy beaches, great weather, excellent food and wines, and nice locals.

[bonniejoy03]

Definitely Guatemala!!! You can visit the Mayan ruins in Tika. (amazing.) Stay in the colonial city of Antigua (beautiful and quite cosmopolitan), and spend a few days at Lake Atitilan (mystical.) I posted a blog on my recent visit to the area. There are great flights from Chicago to Guatemala City and then you can use drivers for the rest of the trip. (I would fly though to Tikal.) The trip would allow you to see sights and spend a few days relaxing at the lake.

[jashermd]

Hello,

I'm not sure how far from home you're willing to venture, but if long-haul is a possibility than you should really consider South Africa. Early April is the perfect time to be in Cape Town and the Western Cape -- it's warm and sunny during the day and just a bit crisp at night. April is early autumn in the southern hemisphere so you can enjoy a riot of fall colour in the winelands as well. The Garden Route is at its most beautiful around this time of year. In terms of activities, SA has tonnes of options, from going on safari to wine-tasting and bungee jumping.

LL often has some superb deals for properties in Cape Town and the Western Cape -- right now there is a great one which combines three days at The Marine in Hermaus with three days at The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay. Both are marvellous Relais and Chateaux properties and would make a perfect pair for exploring the Garden Route. There are often great deals for the Twelve Apostles in Cape Town and Le Quartier Francais in the Winelands as well.

The safari deals don't tend to be as good value, as many of them are for only two nights (and you really need three to relax and enjoy yourself) but you could probably add a third night at a reasonable cost.

It's easy to fly from SA to other Southern African countries, so you could also take advantage of some of the great LL deals offered in Mozambique (if you enjoy snorkelling and diving) and Zambia (if you want to experience a walking safari in the land where walking safaris were born).

South Africa is a particularly good option in terms of value for money -- it's one of the few countries where the currency is falling against the US dollar.

Cheers,
Julian




Message Edited by jashermd on 02-27-2008 04:22 PM

[claassenam]

Have you considered Vietnam? April is a great time to visit Vietnam (or so I've heard - I went in August and it was hot!) - it is the end of a cooler Spring and the beginning of the summer, which gets hot but I managed to tolerate it at the hottest part so I wouldn't worry. Also, of course, it does depend on where you go - Vietnam has pockets of weather along its coast so it can vary.

That said, 10-12 days would be plenty of time for a wonderful trip. The major cities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh - are quite interesting, but it is the countryside that really grabbed me. Spend some time in the Mekong Delta for a taste of what life there has been for decades. Also, from Hanoi, be sure to do a cruise in Halong Bay, it is absolutely gorgeous. Finally, although you say you don't need a beach resort, you may want to spend a few nights in one of the many beach towns - Hoi An, Danang, Nha Trang, etc. Luxury Link has a couple great packages in Nha Trang as well as in Danang. It may be a little chilly if you go into the mountains, but they also feature a package inland as well. For a splurge, I highly recommend the Evason Hideaway in Nha Trang - it is heavenly!

The best part of Vietnam? (Besides the food, which was consistently good) - the prices. So many places are so expensive these days for Americans due to the devaluation of the dollar, but Vietnam is quite affordable. You can have a wonderful, luxurious trip for a fair price.

If you want more information, check out the Vietnam thread(s) under Destinations - Asia. Or feel free to send me a PM.

[matthewlawrence26]

how about Spain?You can see a lot of places in Madrid alone, like Barrio de la Moreria, Plaza de la Paja, San Nicolas de los Servitas (a Mudejar-styled Church), tower San Pedro el Viejo, and Casa de los Lujanes. There are a lot more museums and momuments you can visit in Madrid.

[nomadbea]

What about Australia? The geography really is varied so no matter what you want to do, be it watersports or something with the snow or trekking/hiking, there's always somewhere for you to go. The weather will be nice during that time of the year too. And the people? Well, they're always nice