Thinking of booking a last-minute getaway? April is a great month to get some early summer sunshine before the tourist crowds descend on many parts of the world.
Whether you want action and adventure or lazy days on the beach, here are some of the best places to go on vacation in April.
Where to go in April
Orlando, Florida
April is a great time to visit the ‘Theme Park Capital of the World’. The weather in Florida is really starting to warm up by April and the rainy months are still a way off so it’s an ideal time to make the most of Orlando’s outdoor attractions. What’s more, if you travel outside of the UK Easter holidays (April 1) and the US Spring Break (from March through early April) you’ll avoid the worst of the tourist crowds.
If you’re planning on visiting Disney World you’ll find 4 fantastic theme parks, 2 water parks, and heaps of opportunities for shopping, dining, and recreation. It’s unlikely that you’ll be hampered by any long queues in April but even if things get busy, Disney World offers a Fastpass service which allows you to skip the queues for certain attractions by making reservations in advance.
April offers the perfect weather for visiting Universal Resort too, especially if you want to make a splash at the new Volcano Bay water park. Nights are very comfortable at this time of year too which is ideal for evening trips to Universal Citiwalk which has plenty of restaurants, clubs, and shops, not to mention concert venues where acts such as the Blue Man Group can be found.
If you want to skip the theme parks altogether you’ll find myriad other things to do both in and around Orlando. There are loads of free and cheap activities including visits to the region’s many parks, museums, and cultural attractions. You can also go on some fun day trips from Orlando to top attractions like the Kennedy Space Center, Daytona International Speedway, and the popular East Coast beaches.
If you’re visiting Orlando on vacation, what more could you want than a private villa decked out with family-friendly facilities? Many Orlando vacation rentals come complete with swimming pools, hot tubs, and game rooms. Some also have home theaters, fitness rooms, and themed kids’ bedrooms. Homes are ideally located close to Disney World and benefit from fantastic onsite facilities such as water parks, golf courses, spas, restaurants, bars, and more!
See our Orlando villasBarbados
Fancy a springtime trip to the Caribbean? If you head to Barbados in April you’ll get the best of both worlds. The busy peak season months have passed and the low season rains are still a way off so you’ll enjoy fantastic weather and tourist-free beaches. Daytime temperatures start to really warm up in April with highs of around 84F. As it’s a ‘shoulder season’ month, April tends to be a cheaper time to travel, too.
Besides the weather, there are plenty of reasons to visit Barbados in April. The lively Barbados Reggae Festival kicks off in mid-April with an action-packed week of events including a huge beach party, a vintage dance show, party cruises, and a massive music festival at Farley Hill National Park. There’s also a new music festival coming to Barbados in the form of the Vujaday Music Festival which features house and techno music with top DJs performing at outdoor venues.
The Sugar & Rum Season runs through mid-April with island-wide events including mixology roadshows, pop-up villages, and street parties. The Oistins Fish Festival also takes place over the Easter weekend. Oistins is on the south coast and is home to a weekly fish fry, but it really livens up at this popular festival which features parades, dancers, steel-pan bands, greasy pole climbing – and plenty of fried fish.
If you need a break from the crowds you can head off to explore the island’s other attractions. You’ll find charming towns, underground caverns, and old plantation houses hidden in leafy sugar cane fields.
You can do a walking tour of Bridgetown which has a great selection of shops, street markets, and Unesco World Heritage sites such as National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square). Once you’ve finished sightseeing you can end the day with a refreshing rum punch at Bridgetown Harbor while fishermen’s boats and catamarans sail past.
If lazing on the beach is your idea of vacation bliss you’re well placed in Barbados. You’ll find miles of pristine white-sand beaches including award-winning Crane Beach and Paynes Bay along the west coast. This region is also home to luxury resorts, upmarket shopping malls and a number of exclusive restaurants and nightspots.
See our Barbados villasSt. Tropez, South of France
Golden beaches, glamorous resorts, and scenic countryside are just a few of the things that define the South of France. April is a really good time to visit this region as the temperatures are starting to rise and the days are getting longer in the lead-up to summer. Out and about you’ll find the streets blooming with spring flowers and the beaches still relatively quiet.
Temperatures can reach the mid-60s in April so you’ll be in good time to enjoy a spot of early season sunbathing. You’ll find some of the best amenities at Pampelonne Beach (the most famous in the area) with its exclusive beach clubs including Nikki Beach, Le Club 55, and Tabou Beach Club. In high summer, this three-mile beach welcomes around 30,000 people a day but in April you’ll get to enjoy it without the tourist throngs.
If you prefer sunbathing in privacy there are some small, sheltered beaches fronting the oldest part of St Tropez town. You may not want to spend all day on any of them but they’re ideal for a dip and a few hours of relaxation.
Shopping is another must-do when visiting St Tropez. The best designer boutiques can be found in the ‘golden triangle’ of Rue Allard, Rue Gambetta and the Place de la Garonne. At the other end of the spectrum is the morning market along the Place des Lices every Tuesday and Saturday. This fantastic open-air market sells a huge range of local products with everything from fruits, vegetables, fish and meat to clothes, toys, flowers and furnitue.
For somewhere a little more rural it’s a short drive from St Tropez to the medieval village of Grimaud. This pretty hillside village is dominated by the ruins of its 11th-century castle. From the remains at the top of the town you can enjoy panoramic views of the coast and the splendid Massif des Maures mountains.
Koh Samui, Thailand
From April it’s the hot season in Samui with temperatures soaring well into the 80s (around 30c). There’s an increase in rainfall in the region with the weather following a pattern of hot daytime sunshine followed by cooling afternoon rain showers.
If you’re thinking of visiting Koh Samui in April you’ll be contending with both the Easter and Spring Break crowds at the beginning of the month, plus you’ll be in time for the lively ‘Songkran’ or Thai New Year festival which takes place from April 13-15. A three-day public holiday in Thailand, Songkran is celebrated with a huge water festival and is one of the most memorable events of the year.
The main water-throwing takes place in the busy tourist resort of Chaweng. If you head to the main high street you’ll find foam parties, water fights, DJs, and lots of boozy brunch parties. The celebrations are island-wide though, so if you want to keep it a little low key there are plenty of quieter places to celebrate.
Given the extra heat and humidity in April, many tourists prefer to hang out in their hotels and villas during the hot afternoons. Daily temperatures can reach the mid 80s which means it’s beautifully warm for swimming and sunbathing although you may have little interest in strenuous activities like hiking, cycling and exploring.
If you’re wondering where to stay why not consider renting a private villa? You’ll find some great deals after Easter and Spring Break with the added perk of private facilities, air-conditioned rooms and free airport transfers.
See our Koh Samui villasChamonix, France
When it comes to skiing in Europe, April is considered low season however that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as you pick the right resort, a spring ski trip can offer some real advantages. If you avoid the Easter holidays you’ll find far fewer skiers on the slopes which means shorter lift queues and more time to ski. Skiing in April is easier on the purse strings too – the price of a lift pass falls during the off-season and you’ll find plenty of deals on accommodation.
Located at the base of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is one of the highest and best-known ski resorts in the Alps. It boasts sunny days and longer lift opening times in the springtime. And while the quality of snow may not be as good as in the winter months, big snowfalls in April are actually quite common. You’ll find some great apres ski too with many skiers opting for longer lunch breaks and earlier dinners on the sunny mountain terraces.
If you’re thinking of booking a ski trip in April you should aim to ski up until lunchtime to get the best of the snow. You can also supplement your skiing with other outdoor activities like hiking, husky sledding and snowshoeing. If your idea of a good time is complete relaxation, you’ll find refuge in the region’s many spas, boutique shops and gourmet dining venues.
Greece
Its countless sunny islands and fantastic inland destinations make Greece another top place to vacation in April. Located in southeast Europe, Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate so by April most of the country is really starting to warm up.
With warmer days come plenty of opportunities to explore everything that Greece has to offer. In Corfu you’ll find the beautiful main town, plus pretty villages, stunning beaches and beautiful countryside. Corfu starts to get busy by the spring especially around the Easter weekend when you’ll see a mix of unique Easter traditions and family friendly events.
By spring, the pretty island of Chios is blooming with color making it a perfect time to explore its amazing medieval settlements. The region also has a black-sand beach and a UNESCO-listed Byzantine monastery which attracts sightseers from all over the world.
Chios is typically quiet in the spring but if you visit over the Easter weekend be prepared for the festivities to get lively. Every year at Easter, the small town of Vrontados stages a mock battle aiming thousands of fireworks at its neighboring parish in an event that dates back to Ottoman rivalry. During the event, locals from the two congregations assemble around 50,000 handmade rockets and fire them at each other’s church bell tower.
Other places to visit in Greece during April are many and varied. The small island of Santorini is a top spot for couples with its cozy clifftop restaurants and pretty volcanic caldera. While islands like Mykonos and Zante offer a livelier vibe with their reputation for fun and partying. Crete and Rhodes are ideal destinations if you’ve got the kids in tow as they offer plenty of beaches, shops, restaurants and family-friendly attractions.
See our Greece villasOther useful resources
How to save money at Disney World
10 things you didn’t know about Universal Orlando
If you’re thinking of booking an April vacation and you need advice on the best places to stay then contact us today. Additionally, our dedicated concierge team can arrange any added extras you need such as great-value car hire.
You can see all of our vacation rentals here.
