Looking for travel idea around March

Hawaii? Always a nice destination!

If you're looking for good weather, head south. Hawaii or Mexico (Loreto, Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta), or Phoenix. Chicago and Vancouver will probably be cold, wet, or both. Palm Springs and San Diego could be good choices but you may want to get more $ value out of that free ticket.

I live in Austin TX which is served by Alaska Airlines.

Every March, we have a huge film, media and music festival that goes on for two weeks. It is called SXSW and it can get chaotic but it can also be fun.

There is also a very big rodeo and of course March madness.

Hotels are going to be expensive. Flights are expensive and sell out so if you think you might be interested, you want to research Austin and book fast.

Weather is unpredictable. it can be very nice or even hot or even cold. You just don't know

Hawaii is over 5 almost 6 hours from SFO, a long flight for a couple of days. Los Cabo’s is only 3 hours.

Easy.

• Hawaii (multiple islands to choose from)
• Mexico (multiple destinations to choose from - Baja, Mexico City, Yucatan, and more)

Honestly, if you're excluding Belize or Nassau because they are too far to go for an extended weekend, I'd argue that any destination that gets you to warm sunshine is going to consume a whole day to get there (and another to get back). Is there much difference in how long it takes to get to Hawaii verses Nassau? Belize versus Baja? I've flown to all of them, and it's more or less the same - it takes a whole day. Accept that and you have more choices.

Just make that extended weekend a bit more extended. Problem solved!   😎

For an “extended weekend “ - 3 or 4 days perhaps? I would consider Arizona if you haven’t been there. Tucson in particular is really nice. Mexico? San Diego? Las Vegas? New Orleans?

We have been to both Vancouver as well as Hawaii in March. I am just overall not a fan of Hawaii as I am a heat wimp;) We spent a week in Vancouver one March for my birthday and absolutely loved it. We have been several times over the years. The March time frame is nice as you avoid the crowds and there is still so much to see and do. Rain doesn't bother me at all, but only you know if it would dampen (haha) your trip.

Are you a baseball fan? It will be spring training time in the Phoenix area. It's beautiful down there at that time of year.

Thank you, everyone.

I am a beach person. However, my SO claims that he grew up near the beaches in Orange County, and hence a beach vacation is not "that appealing" to him. (To me, OC beaches don't count, because it's almost too dangerous and cold to swim in!) I would really want to visit Belize or the Bahamas, but Alaska flies to these destinations from LAX, not SFO. I have checked that all transfer options are quite undesirable.

For an extended weekend, I am ok with 4-5 days but no more, because we have three Europe trips booked in the rest of 2024. I don't want to risk my job for taking too many days off.

Hawaii and Cabos are good options, but I have to persuade my SO. How expensive is Cabos? I heard that it's so popular with Americans that prices have "caught up to the US levels." Austin is an alternative. Don't fancy AZ that much--went there for weddings and did not like it for some reason.

A last resort is to fly to ID (via Spokane) to visit my in-law. Not a vacation per se, but it's a use of the Companion ticket.

A last resort is to fly to ID (via Spokane) to visit my in-law. Not a vacation per se, but it's a use of the Companion ticket.

Hey, Barkinpark, come join us the first Saturday in March - March 2 at 10am at Woops French Bakery in Coeur d’Alene for our monthly Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area RS local travel group meet up!

@Jean: thank you for the lovely invite. Yet, I will most likely be on a business trip in the first few days of March. Let me try to make it in ID!

New Zealand is nice in March. Although maybe a little far to come just for an extended weekend.

Do you know if it has to be exclusively Alaska Airlines operated flights? Or can it be other airlines with whom they code-share?

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners

@colin: NZ is on my radar screen. However, this offer must be used on Alaska flights.

What about New Orleans? Warm weather and a wonderfully vibrant and fun-filled culture. It's one of my favorite cities in the world and you will never run out of things to do there. Mardi Gras will be finished by March, too, so no worries about crowds.

Oh yes, vote #2 to come to Idaho and visit our meet-up in March, lol!! Weather...well, not beach weather, nor hiking weather. It could be nice, or not. By March we don't usually have to worry about a storm keeping the Spokane folks from driving over to CdA, lol.

Hello again: thank you for your suggestions.

New Orleans sounds fun and let me check if Alaska flies there without extensive transfers.

ID is scenic, but not where my family lives.

No Alaska flights to New Orleans. But you can fly to Boston, directly from SFO (7:40 am flight).

If that is possibly too rainy, how about Palm Springs? Visit Borrego Springs, Joshua Tree NP, hike from the tram, or maybe attend the big BNP Parabas tournament in early March. If you have any interest in tennis, that is lots of fun—-if you can get grounds passes at this late date.

Agree with Lola 100% - Palm Springs offers a warm, sunny getaway with a 1950-60’s vibe, Joshua Tree NP, hiking at any one of the trails at Indian Canyons (link below) and also the tennis was fantastic. My daughter and I just on the spur of the moment, not even knowing about the tournament, checked the website while we were there and landed tickets to see the Williams sisters play each other. It was the first tennis match Serena played after giving birth to her first child. It was a lot of fun, AND, I received a senior discount.

https://www.indian-canyons.com/indian_canyons