March 2017: Travel

Top Destinations This Month.

–Conde Nast Traveler recently named the 10 most beautiful small towns in Spain; in March, a cross-peninsula road trip seems to be in order. Many on the list are lovely for a short stop during the day, while a handful would be perfect 1-2 day stopovers. For example, Benasque, surrounded by the tallest peaks in the Pyrenees Mountains, is ideal for outdoor activities: explore glaciers, ski runs, fly fishing, hiking trails and waterfalls.

—The Emilia Romagna in Italy region provides culinary delights such as balsamic vinegar, Parma ham and Parmigiano and is also the birthplace of luxury cars Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. Visit markets and take an afternoon cooking lesson in Parma, then visit the Ferrari museum in Maranello.

–The US Virgin Islands celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Transfer Day, when St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix were transferred from the Dutch West Indies to US territory. There will be parades and concerts throughout the spring – March 31 is the official commemoration.

–With temperatures on the rise, get an early dose of sun on the west coast of Mexico. Enjoy pool time, cocktails and possible celebrity sightings in Cabo San Lucas, or whale-watching (its prime time for this) in Baja.

—Vietnam. March is the country’s driest month of the year; take advantage of the sunshine and explore the northern mountains, navigate the waters of Halong Bay in a private junk or visit the Khoai Chau district and watch human chess playing and dragon dancing at the Chu Dong Tu festival.

New Resort and Hotel Openings This Month.

–The new Kokomo Island resort in Fiji will have just 21 rooms on its private 140 acres; owned by Small Luxury Hotels, there will be an on-site diving center, each villa will have a plunge pool, and guests will arrive by helicopter or float plane.

–The 28-room Silo hotel on the waterfront in Cape Town will sit atop the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (which opens in September).

–The first Preferred Hotels & Resorts member in Sweden, the 343-room At Six hotel in Stockholm, will open this month in central Brunkebergstorg Square. The property will host curated art exhibitions, and its restaurant, Tak, will serve Nordic-Japanese dishes from chef Frida Ronge.

–The Exchange Hotel in Cardiff, Wales is a 200-room property in the former Coal Exchange Building; it will include a memorial dedicated to World War 1.

–The UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya is an adults-only resort on the Mayan Riviera located five minutes away from Mexico’s famous cenotes and only 15 minutes from vibrant coastal nightlife; it features swim-up poolside rooms, locally-designed art and furniture and a spa center.

–The St. Regis Shanghai is set to open March 15, located on the 29th through 59th floors of a skyscraper in the Jing’An district.

–Celebrity Cruises adds two small ships to its fleet, both sailing to the Galapagos Islands: the 48-passenger Celebrity Xperience will offer 7-13 night trips; a smaller craft, the Celebrity Xploration, will hold 16 guests.

–Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will launch the art-and-antiques filled 128-passenger Joie de Vivre in France.

See other March 2017 events: 
Food & Drink
Planes, Yachts & Autos
Fitness & Sports
Fashion & Design
Entertainment
The Arts

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