Where's hot in March?

A tiny cluster of islands located off the coast of West Africa, Cape Verde feels like a million miles away – even if it’s not that far on the plane!

Part of Cape Verde’s unique allure is its cultural complexion, which is derived from African, Brazilian and Portuguese influences and its laid-back way of life – the islands live by the wonderfully chilled mantra of “no stress”.

Cape Verde is slowly but surely gaining pace in the UK market and is being developed more and more as a mainstream tourist destination due to its reliable weather and relatively short flight time (it takes around six hours to get there and there’s no jet lag!).

Most people come for the long, white-sand beaches of Sal and Boa Vista, which are relatively unspoilt and you will find them very quiet compared to other popular winter sun hotspots. These two island are the main hubs for dedicated sun seekers.

Intrepid travellers can take internal flights and ferries over to some of the other islands, such as Fogo, a rugged volcanic island, and Sao Vicente, the cultural centre of the archipelago.

March is a wonderful time to visit the blissful beaches of the Caribbean, with average temperatures across the region hovering in the high-20s.

Although it’s slightly cooler in the north (Cuba, and Turks and Caicos) and a bit hotter in the south (Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago), generally, you’re guaranteed good weather.

It’s also well within the dry season, so rain showers are at a minimum and humidity is also quite low. You’ll find that, although March is in the Caribbean’s peak period, it falls in between the busier periods of Christmas and Easter. Expect it to be busy, but much less crowded.

Even during busy periods, excellent value package deals are available, especially to Spanish Caribbean islands such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Don’t be tempted to book on price alone, however.

The Caribbean is a varied region, both culturally and geographically. Each island has its own character, quirks and reasons for visiting so make sure you take the time to research your destination carefully.

Tiny Gambia is often overlooked by UK holidaymakers seeking winter sun, who tend to flock to the Canaries, Balearics, Greece and Turkey instead. However, with average temperatures in the high 20s and more than 10 hours of sunshine a day, Gambia is the ideal place to escape the British cold in March.

Blessed with a sub-tropical climate and a coastline fringed with idyllic, sandy beaches, Gambia ticks most of the boxes sun-starved Brits seek in a winter sun escape. March is well within the dry season, so rain needn’t be a worry either.

A diverse country teeming with wildlife, Gambia has seven national parks where you can see all kinds of fascinating creatures up close. Crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and more – you won’t get that in Majorca!

A holiday to Gambia comes with a bit more prep though as you’ll need to visit your GP about the injections you may need. Malaria tablets are also a necessity for holidays in Gambia.