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Anguilla, Caribbean, Europe, Greece, Grenada, Hawaii, Islands, Kauai, Plan, Trip Ideas

Where To Go In May 2023

April 11, 2023

Croatia

Once you’ve seen Dubrovnik’s medieval city walls and visited some of the historic cities along the gorgeous Dalmatian Coast you’ll want more. Take the next chapter of touring from the sea on a cruise of the Croatian Islands. You’ll hop from port to port visiting charming villages, fishing ports, and hilltop strongholds. Wine tastings on the island of Hvar, the Blue Cave off Korcula, and the medieval town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Trogir are on most itineraries. There are a least fifty ways to see these islands from sailing yachts to small ships with a dozen cabins that depart from Split or Dubrovnik.

Off the beaten path this secret turquoise beach is on the island of Brac, in the Dalmatian Islands of Croatia. Photo: xbrchx/Shutterstock

Crete

This mountainous isle, the largest Greek island is a botanist’s heaven with over 2,000 species of plants on the island, some endemic and are only found on the island, while others including olive trees and grape vines grow throughout the region. Cooking tours are busy with visitors hosting them on excursions and outdoor classrooms to check out olive groves, olive mills, and pressings. Wild herbs like chamomile, marjoram, thyme, oregano, and fennel grow on the rugged mountainous landscapes and are collected by cooks and chefs used in flavoring soups and stews. When spring is in full force the hillsides, slopes, and roadsides are carpeted in yellow, red, and purple blooms. Tiny wild tulips are early bloomers and are best seen on the hillside that spills over the village of Slili. Miniature purple orchids pop out among the yellow-colored flowers of chamomile. Small red poppies, full-petaled peonies, and delicate anemones make a multi-colored tapestry that rests over the landscape.

Spring on Crete is covered in wild poppies surrounding olive trees that grow throughout the hillsides. Photo: olgalngs/iStock

Anguilla

An island known for its 33 white sand beaches is also a culinary leader in the region. There are 70 restaurants many with a French flare combining Continental seasonings and techniques with local seafood; you’ll have grilled lobster with Herbs de Provence. Local barbeque is big and Caribbean cuisine including pigeon peas and rice, shredded salt cod and jerk chicken is prevalent but when visiting chefs come to the island, there is no limit. The Anguilla Culinary Experience runs for four days in early May and brings together local talented chefs with award- winning pros from the states and Europe. The event kicks off with a party and tasting at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Spa; guests will try dishes from each of the six restaurants. Resident and guest chefs will host dinners at set restaurants and days and evenings will include cooking demonstrations and rum tastings. Private dinners, beach barbeques, and gourmet island tours are all part of the festivities. The event runs from May 3 to 6, 2023. Order your tickets at: https://anguillaculinaryexperience.com/

Plated crayfish will most certainly be on the menu during the Anguilla Culinary Experience in May. Photo: Natalie Volchek- Alvarez/ACE

Santorini

Without a doubt, Santorini is the most famous of the Cyclades Islands, and visiting in the off-season is preferred. When July and August roll around the tourists flock in. In May, the weather is warm, sunny, and dry and you’ll be able to see one of those fabulous sunsets without rubbing shoulders. Explore as many villages as time allows. Fira, the largest town is good for shopping and nightlife and has a bus connection to get to other villages. Oia is the town most visitors head to when they get off the ships, its stone pedestrian paths wind up and around the hills connecting restaurants, inns, and shops and offering breathtaking views below of the cobalt-blue Mediterranean Sea.

One of the main streets in Oia, Santorini is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. Photo: Mo Wu/Shutterstock

Grenada

Chocolate lovers will want to mark their calendars for this culinary event. The island is once known for its nutmeg, the pod that’s pictured on the National flag, and is now becoming the chocolate capital of the Caribbean. An island where agriculture was king, the volcanic soil is spectacularly fertile and today the central agricultural regions of the island are not only growing the iconic nutmeg and cinnamon but among mangoes, vanilla, and bananas grows the prized cacao. In the past, cacao was mostly exported but farmers today are holding onto the precious pods. Today there are five tree-to-bar companies, and they all play a role in the Grenada Chocolate Festival, a celebration of all things chocolate. You’ll find tastings, pairings, dinners, hands-on experiences, and plantation excursions. Meet the growers, participate in the raking and walking of the cacao, and learn the art of making bars. The event takes place May 16-21, 2023. Sign up at: https://www.grenadachocolatefest.com/

Special dinners from the 2022 Grenada Chocolate Festival included several chocolate desserts and rum tastings. Photo: Grenada Chocolate Festival

Kauai

The rainy season is over, and the weather is considered ideal in May, although humidity plays a role in a lush environment during the day evenings cool down and best of all, the summer visitors haven’t arrived yet. For hikers, the island is a nonstop adventure as 90 percent of the island is unpaved and accessible via hikes and bikes. A hike will take you just about anywhere there is a semblance of a trail and there are easy strolls along the coast to tougher hikes up 3,000-foot-high ridges offering breathtaking views. The Waimea Canyon on the west side takes in several hikes of various levels through the state park. Trails to Koke’e State Park carpeted in green forests meander through 4,345 acres reaching a plateau 3,200 to 4,200 feet above sea level. The views are amazing and the forest is home to some of Hawaii’s endemic birds. Most will want to hike the hanging valley of the Napali Coast, it’s not for the beginner but the views are worth it for those conditioned for a challenging and strenuous hike. This hike along the Kalalau Trail is 11 miles one way and follows the path of the ancient Hawaiians.

Hawaii’s most popular and scenic hike is on Kauai; the 11-mile Kalalau trail overlooks the Napali Coast. Photo: Sam Camp/iStock

Malta

Spring months are best for a visit to the island of Malta when the nights are still cool, and the majority of tourists haven’t arrived yet. Summer months can get intense with heat and overrun with visitors, many of who fancy the Instagrammable beach clubs. May is considered the sweet spot. History buffs will marvel at the architecture and since the island has been occupied first by the Phoenicians, then the Romans and so on there’s influence from Spain, Sicily, France, and England. The island became independent in 1964. However, the collision of cultures and unique buildings remains. Visit Malta’s Silent city of Mdina, once the capital, which dates to the Phoenicians 4,000 years ago. It’s a walking city with no cars except for residents who number under 300. Walk the narrow streets where churches have become museums and galleries and many of the palaces are now private homes.

Popular with tourists for the views and the fishing boats, Marsaxlokk fishing village showcases the colors of Malta. Photo: eli asenova/iStock

Africa, Antigua & Barbuda, Asia, Barbados, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Islands, Oceania, Plan, Seychelles, Thailand

Where To Go In April 2023

March 24, 2023

Bali

Bali is less than 600 miles from the equator, so there’s never really a “cool season.” Unless you head for the lakes. The northern highlands of this volcanic island include four alpine lakes that sit more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Trips to the lakes take in emerald-hued rice paddies and some of the island’s most iconic temples. The Ulun Danu Beratan temple complex overlooks the clear waters of Lake Bratan, which reflects the iconic profile of the 11-roofed shrine to the Hindu god Vishnu. Lake Bratan offers local restaurants, boat rides, and a botanical garden, while the shores of the lakes of Tamblingan and Tamblingan are favorites with hikers. April is a perfect time to visit, as it is the dry season, with almost no chance of a passing shower to dampen the scene.

The iconic Hindu water temple, Pura Ulun Danu Temple was built in the 17th century and is set in the highlands of Bali. Photo: Nikada/iStock

Hawaii

Each year the Island of Hawaii hosts a week of traditional crafts, art, music, and hula known as the Merrie Monarch Festival. This event dates back to the 1800s when King David Kal’kaua celebrated his 50th birthday with a two-week party that revived ancestral hula traditions and sparked a newfound interest in traditional Hawaiian culture. Kal’kaua was not only a patron of traditional arts and culture, he was also a fun-loving character who earned the nickname “Merrie Monarch.” The festival now held in his honor in the town of Hilo includes parades, art shows, music, and performances by ho’opa’a chanters and ‘lapa dancers who compete for top honors. The 2023 festival takes place from April 9 to 15.

Hula performances include ancient-style and modern-style dances at the Merrie Monarch Festival on Hilo, Hawaii. Photo: Bruce Omori/Merrie Monarch Festival

Canary Islands

In-the-know travelers come to Grand Canaria in April to get ahead of the crowds and heat of summer. In addition to warm, sunny days and balmy nights, an early-season visit offers some tasty events. The cobblestone square of Flor de Guia is the setting for the annual cheese festival, which celebrates the island’s signature soft and creamy goat and sheep cheeses. A couple of years back, winemakers started getting in on the act as well, giving festival goers the perfect pairing for the celebration. April is also time for the island’s annual Valsequillo Strawberry Festival, offering live music, farm tours, cooking and dessert competition, and a chance to sample all manner of strawberry-based treats. Other mark-the-calendar events in April include the island’s lavish Semana Santa Easter processions and the historic reenactments and traditional costumes at Fiesta de los Aborigenes.

The twin-towered Cathedral of Saint Ana is on the visitor’s guide located in the heart of Vegueta in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Photo: Gerold Grotelueschen/iStock

Philippines

March and April are the driest months in Bohol, and that’s the best time to take in one of the island’s signature attractions. The area known as the Chocolate Hills are covered in grassy mounds shaped like giant chocolate drops. And the region’s resemblance to an oversized candy store becomes even more convincing when the grass dies in the dry season, leaving the hills covered in a carpet of brown. Bohol is known as the eco-adventure capital of the Philippines. In addition to more expected activities such as snorkeling, paddling, off-roading, and trekking to waterfalls, visitors can zipline superman-style across an entire river valley, swim in hidden underground caves, seek out the world’s smallest primate, or take an evening trip on a river where huge clouds of fireflies light the way.

The island of Bohol in the Philippines hosts seven waterfalls, Pahangog Falls aka Dimiao Twin Falls is one of the most favored. Photo: zcesty/Shutterstock

Thailand

Thais love a party, which is probably why they celebrate New Year’s three times. It starts with the global event on January one, then there’s the Chinese New Year a few weeks later. And when April 13 rolls around, it’s time for Songkran, Thai New Year’s national holiday. There’s a solemn element to the occasion, as it’s considered a time for spring cleaning of homes, monuments, and temples to remove bad luck. But it doesn’t take much for the washing to get out of hand, and in cities and villages across the country, Songkran becomes a three-day water fight in the streets. Most people welcome the cooling splash, as April is one of the hottest months of the year in the Kingdom of Smiles, and seasonal rains are still a few months away.

During the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the traditional bathing of the Buddha Phra Singh parade takes place on an annual basis. Photo: nuwatphoto/Shutterstock

Seychelles

Sitting in the open waters of the Western Indian Ocean, Seychelles is bathed in lively northern trade winds from November through March, Then the southern trades kick in beginning in May. This leaves April as the month with the best chances of enjoying calm seas for swimming, snorkeling, and boating. It’s also the dry season, which means lower humidity and temperate nights. A favorite destination is the island of La Digue, where postcard-perfect beaches are framed in palms and lined with huge granite boulders. The shoreline known as Anse Source d’Argent often described as the most beautiful beach in the world. It’s home to the Kissing Rocks, likely named for the almost-touching nature of the formation — though the setting is undeniably romantic enough to elicit a smooch.

Grand Anse Beach on the south side of La Digue island in Seychelles is one of the world’s most beautiful white sandy beaches. Photo: Igor Tichonow/Shutterstock

Barbados

The Barbados fishing village of Oistins is famous for its Friday Night Fish Fry, which serves up a savory array of fresh catches against the backdrop of a lively street market that reverberates to the sounds of Calypso, Reggae, and traditional Barbados tuk band music. Each year during the Easter weekend, the party keeps going as Friday’s fest transforms into the annual Oistins Fish Festival. Known as the largest community festival on the island, this event adds even more food, music, and dancing, plus all manner of fun such as an Easter Bonnet competition, boat races, a fishcake eating contest, and a celebrity cook-off. The 2023 Oistins Fish Festival will take place from April 7th to 10th.

Oistins Fish Fry is a Friday night occurrence in Barbados but during the Easter season, it evolves into a huge festival with food, music, and dancing. Photo: Barbados Tourism Marketing

Cape Verde Islands

Beaches. That’s why you visit the Cape Verde Islands. This cluster of 10 volcanic islands set off Africa’s west coast offers plenty of sun and sand, and April sits squarely in the center of the dry season while also enjoying refreshing trade winds from the north that keep temperatures in the mid to high 70s. There are remote beaches for long walks, lively beaches lined with cafes and restaurants, surfing beaches, wind-swept strands that draw windsurfers and kiteboarders, and calm shores where clear waters invite swimmers and snorkelers. In recent years, the fishing village of Tarrafal has become a new favorite for snorkelers and swimmers, as it is located on the main island of Santiago but sits comfortably far away from the crowds.

Fishing boats rest on Tarrafal Beach, the most beautiful beach on Santiago island, the largest island in Cape Verde. Photo: Iacob Madaci/iStock

Antigua

Sunshine, blue water, and steady trade winds create the perfect formula for a yacht race, and that’s exactly what you get when you visit the Caribbean island of Antigua at the end of April. Billed as the Caribbean’s most prestigious regatta, Antigua Sailing Week attracts more than 100 yachts from the Americas and beyond for a series of around-the-buoy and around-the-island races. To keep things competitive, there are separate categories for everything from small open boats and casual live-aboard cruisers to sleek million-dollar speedsters, giving everyone a chance to get in on the action. After the sails are furled, the parties start, and it isn’t just the sailors who celebrate, as most events are open to spectators who watch from shore.

Action from Antigua Sailing Week 2022, during the English Harbour Rum Race Day 1, sponsored by Antigua’s favored rum. Photo: Paul Wyeth/Antigua Sailing Week

Palau

The waters of Palau’s southern lagoon are festooned with some 300 small limestone islands surrounded by sparkling waters that hold colorful coral formations. It’s a snorkeler’s and kayaker’s dream destination, and April is a great time to visit. While air and water temperatures remain fairly constant through the year, April sees a drop in winds that makes for easy paddling and glassy waters for snorkeling. The Rock Islands have been named a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of their unique beauty. This area is also home to the famous Jellyfish Lake, which is an inland lagoon where swimmers can immerse in clear water to swim with thousands of non-stinging jellies.

Nikko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is laced with tunnels and marine caves ready to explore via kayak. Photo: Naima Niemand/Shutterstock

Colombia

Sometimes known as the “Accordion Olympics,” the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata is actually much more. Held each April in the Colombian city of Valledupar, this four-day event is a celebration of all things related to the folk music genre known as Vallenato. Top billing is given to the musical contests that lead to the crowning of Rey Vallenato — the king of accordions. Similar contests are held to determine top honors for guacharaca percussionists and songwriters. The long weekend also includes plenty of parades, dances, parties, and food. The festival draws competitors from across the region as well as Venezuela, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States, and more than 50,000 spectators. 2023 marks the 56th anniversary of the event’s founding, and it is dedicated to Luis Enrique Martinez, which is known as the king of Vallenato music.

The Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata showcases some of the best composers and performers of vallenato, the popular folk music of Colombia. Photo: Merly Diaz Bustamente/Flickr

Key West, Florida

While Key West is often thought of as a tropical destination, the truth is that winter months can get a bit chilly and breezy when cold fronts from the continent sweep across the islands. That’s all over by April – and as a bonus, the spring break crowds are back at school or work. This leaves visitors with plenty of personal space as they walk the historic streets of Old Key West. Temperatures typically peak in the mid-80s, while the humidity remains lower than during the muggy summer months. It’s also a great time to grab some shoulder season rates at hotels and enjoy wait-free dining at popular restaurants. For an extra bit of local color, plan your trip during the annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration for a week of parties, parades, and whimsical reenactments.

Duval in downtown Key West is the most visited street in town. It’s lined with ornate architecture where hotels, restaurants, and shops have set up shop. Photo: Birute Vijeikiene/iStock

Bahamas-Out Islands, Belize, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Greece, Islands, Mexico, Plan, Playa del Carmen, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Places to Travel in February 2023

January 18, 2023

St. Croix, USVI

Every year on Saturday before Fat Tuesday the island of St. Croix celebrates Mardi Gras with the same vigor and raucous as those in New Orleans. At the helm is Krewe de Croix, a group of Louisiana ex-pats and Mardi Gras aficionados. Everybody joins in and follows the parade along the scenic North Shore of the island, beginning at La Valle and ending in eastern Cane Bay. There’s plenty of food along the way as well as music and floats to guide the party. This year’s festivities take place on February 11 beginning at noon-DS For more information on events in St. Croix visit: https://www.gotostcroix.com/

St. Croix Mardi Gras is only a one-day event where most of the island joins in. Photo: gotostcroix

Trinidad

In countries around the world, February means Carnival! And one of the most iconic pre-Lenten fetes takes place on the Island of Trinidad. This is the home of steel pan music, and a highlight of each year’s Carnival celebrations is Panorama, which brings steel band orchestras from more than 30 countries together in a melodic battle for top honors. And that’s just the beginning. Carnival week is a time for calypso and Soca competitions, limbo contests and street parades where dance troupes decked out in dazzling over-the-top costumes show their moves. Add in plenty of lavish parties and there are plenty of reasons to mark your calendars for this year’s big event, which takes place from February 15- 22.-PH

Dancing at the sambadrome during the Carnival celebration in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Photo: Mauro Repossini/iStock

Abaco, Bahamas

One of the largest islands in the 700-island chain nation, Abaco is bringing a Rum and Music Festival to its shores. The event brings a roster of musicians while hotels like Firefly Sunset Resort, Hope Town Inn and Marina, the Abaco Inn, On the Beach, and Sea Spray Resorts will host the experience and guests. This small friendly island makes an ideal location to host intimate beachfront concerts along with a selection of rums for tasting. The Hope Town Music and Rum Festival runs February 7-12.-DS

During the rum and music event on Abaco visitors will want to explore the Hope Town lighthouse on Elbow Cay. Photo: Wirestock/iStock

Tulum, Mexico

For a funkier take on the Carnival season, head to the Mexican Rivera hotspot of Tulum. During the winter high season, this is an A-list destination prized for its stunning beaches, wellness culture, and offbeat-but-upscale vibe. February Carnival celebrations take place all across the Yucatan Peninsula, but Tulum’s take on the party adds an extra helping of glamor, glitter, and funkiness, thanks to an eclectic mix of jet-setting millennials, celebrities, new agers, Instagram influencers, and pride posies, plus a smattering of aging hippies, and colorful locals. The action kicks off with the famous Full Moon Party at Papaya Playa Project, is pretty much non-stop all month, and builds to the big parades happening over the weekend of February 17 to 19.-PH

Celebrations in Tulum can last the entire month of February and into March. Photo:Katiekk/Shutterstock

Rhodes, Greece

Often viewed as a summer destination when cruises and tour operators bring in hordes of tourists, Rhodes can offer you an escape from the crowds during February. Visit Old Town, the Medieval city, a World Heritage Site, where you can explore the 200 streets and alleys on your own. Wander through the picturesque town of Lindos where whitewashed homes line the labyrinth of village streets and overlook a beautiful cobalt-blue bay. Here you’ll be able to dine with locals as many tourist spots shut down until summer. Imagine being able to roam the walls, terraces, and columns of the Acropolis without bumping into others trying to capture the spiritual space on their phones and cameras. Pack a raincoat for that cloudy day and a jacket for cooler temperatures that average 15 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.-DS

Explore the ancient Greek architecture at the famous tourist attraction of the Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes without the crowds of summer. Photo: frantic00/iStock

Ambergris Caye, Belize

In the final days of February, the island of Ambergris Key is home to Belize’s most colorful festival —literally. El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro is a cultural tradition dating back more than 150 years. It centers around a character known as Juan Carnival, a legendary Lothario credited with 1,000 sexual conquests before being done in by his jealous wife. Festival participants atone for their collective transgression by burning Juan’s stuffed effigy and doing a lot of painting. Buildings, monuments, street signs, and people are all fair game for decoration during this three-day flurry of brush strokes. Adding more fun to the festivities are troupes of cross-dressing men who stage dance competitions, with top honors going to the most outlandish performance.-PH

Everybody joins in during the Carnival in San Pedro, Belize. Kids paint their bodies and face while adults keep the party going for three days. Photo: Tony RathFollow/Flickr

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

If you want to celebrate Carnival, there’s certainly plenty going on in the capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to fuel your party cravings. It might be the second largest and most popular after Rio, so don your sparkling costumes and head to the streets for some Latin music and wild dancing. February is also a month you can have some quiet time. Head to the southern beaches and you’ll share the sand with sea birds and surfers. The island’s longest stretch of sand is at El Médano, a favorite spot for locals and is also popular with windsurfers and kiteboarders when the winds are up.-DS

The perfect view of Playa el Médano with Montana Roja in the background on the island of Tenerife. Photo: Anita Bonita/iStock