March is here! I feel like March is a bit of a nothing month for travel in Europe unless you’re into mountain/skiing type getaways. Which maybe you are. I’ve never skied in my life, we don’t exactly have snow where I’m from, but I hear it’s acceptable to go to the mountains purely for the après-ski experience. 🙂
Most destinations in March are grey and miserable which means I mostly want to stay at home tucked away in my cosy bed. But I do think March is probably the perfect time for a luxury weekend or resort getaway. A cosy weekend away from home.
I’m thinking of the kind of place where you can treat yourself at the spa or put on your dressing gown and fluffy slippers and curl up with a good book/Netflix and then indulge in some five-star room service.
Or am I wrong on this?
I’ve picked out a few mountainous weekend and spa getaways which I think are perfect for this time of the year. I’ve also included some Easter hotel deals where you can get 20% off for a short time and the deal includes daily breakfast and a complimentary welcome drink.
Tirol, Austria
I visited Austria’s Tirol region one summer a few years back and it was stunning! All that fresh air and greenery and of course the mountains were just incredible. I imagine it’s 10x better in the snow.
There are loads and loads of resorts in this part of Austria. I stayed at a couple of different places. One was really nice but had a full-on plastic surgery clinic which I thought was kinda weird! There are plenty of other options in Tirol of course but it’s was interesting observing what went on.
Stepantsminda, Georgia
Full disclosure: I have never been to Georgia. But it is very, very high on my bucket list. Northern Georgia looks particularly stunning. A quick Google will show it’s all about the mountains. I would love to go and my close friends who have visited recommend visiting in March. It might seem unusual to stay in a fancy resort in this part of the world but Georgia is growing quickly as a tourist destination. This is quite the dream location and hotel for €114 euros per night.
Aosta Valley, Italy
Northern Italy is another leading destination for mountain resorts with a popular après-ski scene. This site gives a thorough explanation of the different ski areas in Italy but basically, you’d be looking at South Tyrol which has German influences or the Aosta Valley where the French culture is more prominent. The good news is you have an 80% chance of blue skies this side of the Alps.
Verbier, Switzerland
Aside from a short stay in Zurich all of my trips to Switzerland have been just passing through. It’s disappointing because it’s such a breathtakingly beautiful place but it’s usually out of my reach price-wise. But for a couple of days in the mountains, I’d totally splurge on a luxury weekend.
Verbier is one of the finest ski regions in Switzerland and always has been. It has boutique shops, great restaurants and it’s famous for its après-ski nightlife. You can find hotels in Verbier for less than €250 per night.
Dijon, France
While not a relaxing mountain retreat, Dijon is a heavenly gourmet destination and another option for cold and grey March.
I’ve written a little about Dijon’s foodie scene but you don’t have to listen to me, it’s world-renowned for its cuisine and listed as one of France’s official cities of gastronomy.
Affordable boutique hotels are located right in the centre so you needn’t stray too far in the cold for an incredible meal or you can order room service if you stay somewhere with a gourmet restaurant.
These destinations came on to my radar while searching for Easter break destinations but if you want to find where I really recommend, all year round, these are what I think are the best places to visit in Europe, a travel list which includes more than 50 destinations.
