Where to go in April? LUXE has partnered with veteran travel expert Wendy Perrin for her top tips – flowers in full bloom, festive celebrations, and mild temperatures make this early spring month a lovely time to visit many parts of the globe. Read on…
Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., is great in the spring before Memorial Day, when you can avoid the high season while taking advantage of the balmy weather. Several fun events take place in April this year: the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Blossom Kite Festival (April 2) and parade (April 16); Opening Day for the Washington Nationals (April 7); the Smithsonian Craft Show (April 21–24); and the Wine and Food Festjust down the Potomac River in National Harbor, Maryland (April 23–24). —Paul Bennett, Trusted Travel Expert for Washington, D.C.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Starting a week after Easter Sunday and running through May, rates are low, resorts aren’t too crowded, and the weather is pleasant (mid to high 80s) with little rain. —Zach Rabinor, Trusted Travel Expert for Mexico
Hawaii
April means an optimal combination of great weather and relatively low prices in the islands. (Just make sure to avoid the crush of visitors and higher rates that Spring Break brings.) —Jay Johnson, Trusted Travel Expert for Hawaii
Peru
April sees the best mix of weather both inland and on Peru’s coast; it’s sunny and warm in Lima, and dry and temperate in the Andes. Since the rainy season has just ended, the air is clear, and the fields are green and lush, dotted with the yellow, pink, and mauve hues of quinoa, amaranth, lupins, and potatoes ready to harvest. —Marisol Mosquera, Trusted Travel Expert for Peru
Amsterdam
April is bright and pleasant, and it’s prime time for Tulipmania, when the Keukenhof (one of the world’s largest flower gardens) is full of blooms. King’s Day, on April 27, is the biggest street party of the year in Amsterdam; it’s very busy, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the Dutch joie de vivre. There’s also the Spring Beer Festival in the Posthoornkerk, a beautiful old basilica, on April 17. —Paul Bennett, Trusted Travel Expert for Amsterdam
Mediterranean Cruises
April is the perfect month to enjoy the brilliant blue skies in the Mediterranean, when the sunny days start to outnumber the cold and cloudy ones of winter. Cruise ships have just repositioned to the region, so you can explore iconic ports such as Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, and Venice without the crowds and heat of summertime. And fares are lower, since this is considered the off-season. —Leslie Fambrini, Trusted Travel Expert for Luxury Small-Ship Cruises
Istanbul
During the annual tulip festival in April, the city is awash in millions (literally) of colorful blooms. The weather is temperate, perfect for visiting the outdoor ancient sites that can be scorching in summer—and the tourist hordes have not yet arrived. Since it’s shoulder season, there are deals to be had at hotels. —Earl Starkey, Trusted Travel Expert for Turkey
Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic
April means mild weather, springtime flowers, and no bus-tour crowds in Eastern Europe. (In other years, when Easter falls in April, there are charming holiday markets and festivals in Vienna.) Popular summertime destinations, such as Lake Balaton in Hungary, are relatively tranquil. In Budapest, there is a nice spring festival that lasts most of the month and includes performances (mostly classical music and jazz) from both local groups and international ones. In the Czech Republic, all the countryside castles are just reopening from their winter dormancy. —Gwen Kozlowski, Trusted Travel Expert for Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary
Crete
As the most southerly of Greece’s islands, Crete starts its season earlier than the rest. There are beautiful wildflowers in April, fewer crowds, and lower hotel rates than you’ll find later in spring. While Greek Orthodox Easter falls on May 1 this year, you’ll witness festive celebrations throughout late April as well. —Christos Stergiou, Trusted Travel Expert for Greece
Luang Prabang, Laos
Songkran, the Lao New Year, is celebrated in mid-April with a whole week of parades, street markets, and concerts. Tradition holds that revelers douse one another with water in order to wash away the past year’s sins; unlike in Thailand, where you might well be ambushed outside your hotel in the morning, in Laos the locals usually ask before splashing you. —Sandy Ferguson, Trusted Travel Expert for Southeast Asia
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