April is our little secret. Far from being fools, savvy travellers make the most of fewer crowds, lower prices and better availability this month. That means European destinations, such as the Amalfi Coast, usually overrun with tourists in the height of summer, are yours for the early-season taking – if you’re prepared to sacrifice a few degrees.
GO WITH THE FLOW
To take part in hanami (literally, ‘looking at flowers’) is to experience Japan in gloriously eccentric microcosm. The national obsession of early April’s cherry-tree bloom is best witnessed in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, canalside in quaint Nakameguro or in old-world Yanaka – each of them a haiku-inspiring reminder of the fleeting nature of existence – and an excuse to glug a choko of sake with loved ones.
ESCAPE THE CROWDS
April is ideal to visit Queensland’s sun-kissed coast. At the Great Barrier Reef, for instance, there’s a very low chance of rain, meaning good visibility for snorkelling and scuba diving. New Zealand is heading into its autumn, but enjoys a warmer climate than its northern hemisphere equivalent – great weather for adventure-seekers. Our top tip, however, is the Amalfi Coast, where the relatively empty switchback roads and hilltop villages are yours for the taking.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Two Stateside festivals dominate music lovers’ diaries in April: California’s hipster love-in Coachella and hedonistic fais do-do the New Orleans Jazz Festival. If you’re nostalgic for your teenage summer holidays, then consider Songkran (New Year), which Thailand celebrates by staging enormous water fights across the country.
BOOK NOW FOR…
If you’re a UK traveller, next month is replete with reasons to travel, including two long bank holiday weekends and the school half-term, too.
For more travel inspiration, explore where to go in May…