Where is hot in March?

Barbados

If Barbados is good enough for Simon Cowell and crew, it’s good enough for us. Unravel your towel on the west of the island, known as the Platinum Coast, and warm your toes on 92 kilometres of beach. If you fancy the south coast, add Crane Beach to your to-do list. Its rose-pink sand has earned its coveted status as one of the best beaches in the world. Once you’ve dusted the sand off, head over to the capital, Bridgetown, to get your culture fix. Dance to live reggae, sample rum at the local distilleries, and snap a selfie or two by the Admiral Nelson statue. Still need convincing? March is the month that brings the most hours of sunshine to Barbados, so you’ve got a ten sizzling hours to top up your tan. No wonder Simon Cowell always looks pretty sun-kissed behind those aviators…

Average March temperature: 26C

Average March rainfall: 33mm

Average March sunshine: 10 hours

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Egypt

Ever fancied swimming in a tropical fish tank? Dive into Egypt's bath-warm waters in March, and you’ll spot stingrays, crocodile fish and tonnes of colour-popping coral reefs. Hurghada’s a top snorkelling spot, but there’s also plenty to do once you’re out of the water. Go back in time with a wander around El Daha, the historic old town, then fill your suitcase with souvenirs in Sakalla, the fast-paced town centre. Or, if you’re after something a little calmer, grab an iced coffee and watch the luxury yachts bob about in the marina. Just outside of Hurghada, you’ll be met with the unforgettable sight of the Sahara desert, so if you fancy having dunes on your doorstep, get booking quick.

Average March temperature: 18C

Average March rainfall: 8mm

Average March sunshine: 11 hours

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Cuba

Swap getting stuck on the M1 for cruising around Cuba in a Cadillac. Need to cool down? Sip a rum on the rocks in one of Hemingway’s favourite haunts, Bodeguita del Medio, in Havana. Freshly rolled cigars are also a speciality in Cuba, and you can see watch them being made in the Partagas factory in the city. Or, if you want to get out of the capital and explore the rest of the island, a two hour drive will take to you to tropical paradise of Varadero. Monetemer Great National Park offers up a 70-metre-deep flooded cave that acts as a giant fish bowl to loads of tropical sea creatures. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even be able to snap a crocodile in the swamps – see what we did there?

Average March temperature: 23C

Average March rainfall: 40mm

Average March sunshine: 9 hours

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Mexico

Turn off your heating and hop over to Mexico for a slice of the Caribbean. Stretch out on Cancun’s 22-kilometres of beach, or marvel at a new wonder of the world at the Chichen Itza ruins. You’re not going to go hungry here, either. Tuck into quesadillas spilling with salsa, tacos topped with mountains of cheese and shoot a few tequilas to wash it all down. If you’re more into street food, over at the Pacific Coast you can stick a fork in everything from Cabeza - cows head, to Campechanoo – beef and chorizo kebabs. Once you’re there, sail through the Sierra Madre mountains on a zip-line or see why there’s so much fuss made around Puerto Vallarta’s 800-kilometres of white, sandy beaches.

Average March temperature: 25C

Average March rainfall: 40mm

Average March sunshine: 10 hours

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Tenerife

If you’re after somewhere hot without the long flight, then Tenerife's your island. The Canary Islands are just starting to warm up in March, and after a four and a half hour flight, you’ll be on the beach in no time. Hop between lilo and lounger on Las Vistas beach, ride up the cable car at Mount Teide or shop in the gorgeous boutiques of Santa Cruz. Then, dance into the night at the bars and nightclubs at round-the-clock resorts like Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. If you’re after something a bit tamer, head to sleepy Playa de la Arena to spend your evening at a beachside restaurant and relax to a soundtrack of crashing waves. Bliss.

Average March temperature: 18C

Average March rainfall: 38mm

Average March sunshine: 8 hours

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Picked your favourite?

Stay home. Keep dreaming. Keep discovering.

Just so you know, this was written before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Browse our best deals for a March holiday. Or, if you haven’t made up your mind, see where’s hot in April and Where’s hot in September.

Plus, we now include departure fees and taxes in the upfront price of all our long-haul holidays.

 

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Lucy Perrin