Guide LIII — Calendar — March
Best Places to Travel in March: The Last Month of Winter Sun
March is the winter season's graceful exit: the Caribbean still dry, the Alps still holding snow, the Maldives ending its clear-water run — and rates softening as the month goes on.
The season's long goodbye
March is two trips in one. The first half still belongs to winter: dry Caribbean trade winds, full alpine snowpack, the Maldives' last clear-water weeks. The second half begins the softening — spring-break families go home, the snow turns to corn at altitude, and rates begin their slide toward the shoulder.
The opportunity is late March. The weather in the warm destinations is barely distinguishable from February's, but the crowds thin and the houses that were committed all winter begin to open. In the Alps, late March at a high resort — Zermatt, Val d'Isère, Lech — is the best-value skiing of the season: full base, spring sunshine, terrace lunches, and rates that have given up the peak.
Where March is at its best
| Destination | Why March | Crowds | Indicative nightly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Dry season holds, sea at 27°C | Moderate | USD 1,100 – 3,800 |
| St Barts | Calm, dry, social season easing | Moderate | USD 1,800 – 5,500 |
| Zermatt & Val d'Isère | Full base, spring light | High mid-month | USD 1,400 – 5,000 |
| Maldives | Last clear-water weeks | Moderate | USD 1,300 – 4,500 |
| Marrakech | Warm days before the heat | Moderate | USD 700 – 2,400 |
| Los Cabos | Dry, whales still in the sea | Moderate | USD 1,000 – 3,200 |
How to choose between them
For spring skiing
Go high and go late: Zermatt, Val d'Isère, Lech. The base survives March comfortably at altitude, and the terrace lunch becomes a genuine pleasure rather than a rumour.
For the last of the clear water
The Maldives' dry season winds down through March — go in the first half of the month for the visibility, and expect the odd dramatic shower by its end.
For city-meets-coast warmth
Marrakech in March is at its most liveable: warm bright days, cool nights, none of the summer's ferocity. The best riad-houses book out for Easter, so March proper is the window.
For value
Late March in the Caribbean — Barbados especially — gives you dry-season weather at rates already sliding toward the shoulder.
The booking calendar
US spring break — the rolling fortnight in mid-March — fills Mexican and Caribbean family houses; book those by Christmas. Late-March alpine trips can be assembled six to eight weeks out. If Easter falls early, expect the last week of March to price like a holiday week and plan accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the best place to travel in March for sun?
- The Caribbean is still in its dry season, Mexico's Pacific coast is reliable, and Marrakech offers warm days without summer heat. The Maldives keeps its clear water through mid-month.
- Can you still ski in March?
- Yes — at altitude, March is excellent. High resorts like Zermatt, Val d'Isère and Lech hold a full base all month, with warmer days and lower late-season rates. Lower resorts become risky by late March.
- Is March cheaper than February in the Caribbean?
- Generally yes, especially in the second half of the month. Once the half-term and spring-break weeks pass, rates soften while the weather stays essentially the same.
- What should I book early for March?
- Anything tied to US spring break (mid-March) or an early Easter — Mexican and Caribbean family houses, and the best Marrakech riads. Late-month alpine trips can wait until six to eight weeks out.
Editorial note & limitations
Weather figures are long-run seasonal averages and rates are indicative planning figures assembled from resort-market research and connected partner inventory in September 2026, not quotations. School-holiday and festive weeks are quoted separately by the partner holding those dates.