When you're wondering where to go for the best honeymoon experience in March or April, some defensive planning is in order to avoid the spring break hordes. Although weather is variable in early spring, and higher elevations are cooler than low-lying areas, odds are good that you will find comfortable weather during your honeymoon in the following destinations.
The Netherlands
Consider a romantic honeymoon cruise through the Netherlands that starts and ends in Amsterdam. March and April are prime time for its annual floral extravaganza. The highlight of this journey will be an excursion from the port to Keukenhof Gardens, a 70-acre park outside of the city. En route are endless fields of tulips and modern windmills.
Wander through Keukenhof to admire the 800 varieties of tulips, stop to snap photos, have an ice cream, or sit for a meal. In years to come, when someone suggests that you think of your happy place, this is what it will look like.
Since the seven-night cruise starts and ends in Amsterdam, you'll also have time to explore its world-class art museums spotlighting Van Gogh and Rembrandt, visit the Anne Frank House, stroll along the canals, try out a coffeeshop, and trip through the world-famous Red Light District.
Palm Springs, California
A desert oasis that looks like nowhere else, Palm Springs became the place that Hollywood stars and studio big shots escaped to for weekends around the mid-20th century. They built homes that looked a lot different from traditional architecture. Mid-Century Modern style—single-story structures with clean lines, a flat roof, open floor plans, and sliding glass doors to welcome the sunshine—was born.
Couples today can tour some of these extraordinary houses, and a visit to Sunnylands, the apotheosis of this style, is highly recommended.
Make time to unwind in the Spa at Two Bunch Palms, swim in its boulder-edged grotto fed by a waterfall, or indulge in side-by-side, mineral-rich mud baths.
Best of all, reserve accommodations at one of Palm Springs' most romantic desert hideaways for a warm and wonderful March or April.
Paris
If you're willing to sacrifice sunny summer days for the ability to somewhat avoid crowds, March and April in Paris can be your best bet for a honeymoon here. There's so much to see and do, and you'll want to embrace it all.
Fortunately, Paris is relatively compact, which makes it a great place to explore on foot. Most major sights and museums are within walking distance of one another. Exquisite gardens, stunning architecture, cobblestone streets, beautifully landscaped parks, stylish boutiques, and lively cafés and bistros along the banks of the river Seine await your discovery.
For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. If you can arrange to have a meal there, arrive at the Restaurant Jules Verne just before twilight to savor the beautiful vistas.
First-timers will also want to see Paris's world-famous churches, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Sacré-Coeur Basilica. The city also boasts dozens of fascinating museums. If you can only make it to two, the illustrious Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay—known for its Impressionist collection—ought to top your list. And the best hotels in Paris are destinations unto themselves.
Tip: To truly experience the true flavor of Paris, arrange to take a cooking class while you're there, and bring home the ability to recreate some of the world's most lauded cuisine.
San Antonio, Texas
It's no wonder San Antonio is the most-visited city in Texas. First of all, a river runs through it, creating scenic spots for couples to stroll, dine, and pause for a kiss. San Antonio is also a gateway to Latin America; here you can savor Mexican cuisine and shop for handmade imports at low prices.
Appreciate culture? See the largest collection of Latin American folk art at one museum; visit a Smithsonian satellite at another. And for history lovers, there's the Mission Trail, including both the Alamo and hauntingly beautiful Mission Concepcion.
Panama City, Panama
Can't wait for summer weather and Central America intrigues you? Panama City—yes, the one that's home to that famous canal—is not only close to some of the best snorkeling and diving around the San Blas Islands, but also contains a hip neighborhood that honeymoon couples ought to explore.
Casco Viejo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most historic, densely packed areas of Spanish colonial architecture in Latin America.
Today Casco Viejo lies at the heart of the city’s rebirth and has a proliferation of trendy new bars, cafes, shops, and art galleries. Plazas are packed on weekend nights with tourists, locals, and expats wining and dining in the shadows of imposing 18th-century cathedrals.
The Tantalo Hotel is where you'll want to perch: It's not just a hotel, but also a restaurant, an art space, a place to see a variety of live entertainment, and a place to take in the Panama City and Casco Viejo skylines from the buzzy rooftop lounge.
Asheville, North Carolina
A cool, laidback town with a unique attraction, Asheville lies at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s most popular scenic roadway and national park.
No trip to Asheville is complete without a tour of Biltmore Estate. A National Historic Landmark, it is the largest home in the country. Opened in 1895 by a Vanderbilt scion, the French Renaissance-style mansion contains 250 preserved period rooms and is surrounded by magnificent themed gardens.
You'll find that Asheville celebrates creativity, from masterful expressions of traditional Appalachian culture — bluegrass music, mountain crafts — to avant-garde art and performances. The Downtown Asheville Art District surrounding Pack Square Park consists of 25 galleries and museums within a half-mile radius.
If you admire Arts & Crafts décor, the lobby of the Omni Grove Park Inn has preserved many of its century-old pieces in the lobby. Go underground to access the vast spa and its subterranean pool. End the day by toasting the incomparable scenery at the aptly named Sunset Cocktail Terrace.
Mexico City
While the coastal beaches of Mexico tempt many honeymoon couples, those with a strong interest in art and culture will find a visit to Mexico City worthwhile in March and April thanks to ideal spring weather. This is also where you can savor traditional Mexican cuisine and mariachi music, both on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Although it's home to more than 150 museums, you'll want to explore the museums devoted to Mexico's most famous lovers, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. The Diego Rivera Mural Museo is in the Palace of Fine Arts, considered the city’s cultural center. If you're fortunate, you can catch a performance of Ballet Folklórico de México while you're there.
Also known as the Blue House, Museo Frida Kahlo, where she was born and and lived her life, preserves her workspace, brushes, and palette, and paintings by both Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Her personal collections of vintage folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, and photos and memorabilia are on display.
If you go, be prepared that as one of the world's largest capitals, Mexico City is large, densely populated, and prone to air pollution. It will feel more manageable if you concentrate on a few neighborhoods and choose accommodations that suit your taste and budget.
Las Vegas
More than America's wedding capital, Las Vegas is also popular with honeymoon couples. It's been called Disney for adults, and it certainly delights with plenty to see, do, eat and shop. The Las Vegas Strip was designed to dazzle, and its ever-growing number of attractions make it a romantic place to stroll day or night, even though you can expect crowds. Using the Las Vegas Monorail, ride in air-conditioned comfort, hopping on and off to take a closer look at attractions that catch your eye, from the fountains at Bellagio to the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel.
Perhaps the best reason to visit Las Vegas in March and April are the hotels. Posh places such as Caesars, Wynn, and even the Waldorf-Astoria tempt with rates significantly lower than luxury accommodations in other major cities.
New Orleans
With its spirited parades and calendar filled with festivals, it seems as if New Orleans is constantly celebrating. That’s no illusion, and couples are welcome to join in. The beginning of March usually coincides with Mardi Gras.
If music moves you, any time is great to be here. New Orleans has more musical genres than a jukebox has song selections. You can hear some of the world’s greatest musicians in intimate settings, hotel lounges, restaurants, nightclubs, concert halls, on riverboats, and at giant gatherings. You’ll also encounter them in the streets, as brass bands and marching clubs lead second lines and so-far-undiscovered talents practice in parks and on front stoops.
Caribbean
If you can hold out until April 15, that's when rates in the Caribbean traditionally drop as the high season ends. On that date until the start of hurricane season (June 1), the beaches are still gorgeous, the resorts remain inviting, and the warm water a calm and inviting shade of turquoise.
Take your pick of all-inclusive resorts that cater exclusively to adults, luxury resorts, and private villas. If you crave privacy, the Out Islands of the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands deliver. Music fans can groove on reggae in Jamaica. Shoppers can apply what they save on lodgings to what's on sale in Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Like action and nightlife? Once again, the Bahamas, with its Atlantis and Bahamar complexes, offer gambling and entertainment. It can take a lifetime to discover the tropics to our south, and March and April are ideal months to begin.
You may also want to look into affordable honeymoon ideas as well.