Plan your vacation in March 2014

The mad March begun; now it’s your turn to choose the destination for your holidays.

Mathura and Vrindavan, India

March is really mad month in India, why! Because, this is the month of colours – Holi. It is one of the most waited festivals and being celebrated with love and warmth. If you are planning for an enjoyable tour in this month, then you can choose any location in the north India and the best places are Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. This is the birth place of Lord Krishna and who also known as Rangrasiya.

Getting there

By air – Nearest airport is Agra (Kheria Airport). It is 50 km from Mathura. Perhaps most of the international and domestic flights are landing into IGI Airport, Delhi. IGI Airport is 150 km from Mathura. Upcoming new international airport will also be accessible via Taj expressway, 1½ hours from Mathura.

By train – Mathura is an important railway junction. Most trains between Delhi and Agra stop in Mathura. The journey from Delhi takes 2-3 hours depending on the train type, while from Agra the trip takes about one hour. Most of the south bound and west bound trains stop at Mathura. August Kranti Rajdhani Express 12950/12951 (for Mumbai) for Delhi stops at Mathura. Other than that almost all major trains from Delhi and Agra stop at Mathura. It is well connected to national capital Delhi, state capital Lucknow and all major cities by rail.

By road – Mathura is now connected with New Delhi via Noida-Agra world class express ways(6 lane). This will be a lovely exprience travling by Noida-Agra express ways. Awesome drive....Best express ways in India. Distance of Noida-Mathura is 135 KM only....

Mathura is situated between Delhi and Agra on National Highway 2, about 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km north of Agra. NH-2 is one of the best highways of country. Upcoming Taj expressway is in east of the city. Mathura is well connected to national capital Delhi, state capital Lucknow and all major cities by road. Many state transport departments busses are running through Mathura. There are also ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) services from Delhi Sarai Kale Khan with frequency of 25 minutes.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Travelling to Ho Chi Minh City in March means you’ll catch hot days with relatively low humidity and be there before the wet season hits. Ho Chi Minh City commonly known as Saigon or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

March is also when the Saigon Cyclo Challenge comes to town. In this annual race, now in its 14th year, sponsored teams of bicycle-rickshaw riders compete to see who is the fastest, with proceeds going to a local children’s charity.

Getting there

By plane- Tan Son Nhat is Vietnam's largest international airport. There are two terminals: the shiny, pleasant international terminal which took over all international flights from 2007, and the old but functional domestic terminal 200 metres away. The airport is conveniently located about eight kilometres from the heart of the city. The international terminal used to offer duty free shopping after you landed, but that ended in early 2010 – purchase such items at the airport from which you are departing to visit Vietnam. Both terminals have limited food offerings at high prices once you pass immigration on your outbound journey.

By bus – If you take a bus into Ho Chi Minh City, you will end up at one of the following bus stations:

Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station: This is right in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, within walking distance of accommodation options and tourist sights.

Mien Dong Bus Station: Buses heading north arrive and leave from here. You can take bus No. 19 from Cho Ben Thanh Bus station to this station.

Mien Tay Bus Station: Take bus No. 139 from Tran Hung Dao Street to get here.

Dinh Bo Linh station: MaiLinh buses from Da Nang arrive here. The driver of the first cab (Vinasun) hailed outside the bus station quoted VND 150k (Sep 2013) for three people with two large backpacks and a large case to go to Bui Vien, District 1. No haggling was required. At the drop-off point, the meter (which appears to come on automatically once a passenger seat is occupied) showed VND 142k!

By train – Ga Sài Gòn is on Cach Mang Thang Tam northwest of the city centre, and is a short taxi or public bus ride away from the main hotel districts. An official train ticket office is located in the backpackers district at 275C Pham Ngu Lao.

Budapest, Hungary

Spirits soar and music fills the air in Budapest as city’s most prestigious annual cultural event, the Spring Festival (btf.hu/btf2014), occupies various venues during the last two weeks of March. Over 50 performances include opera, concerts, ballet, dance and theatre, exhibitions – and, introduced this year, events for children – featuring Hungarian and international artists.

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. With a unique, youthful atmosphere, world-class classical music scene as well as a pulsating nightlife increasingly appreciated among European youth, and last but not least, an exceptionally rich offer of natural thermal baths, Budapest is one of Europe's most delightful and enjoyable cities.

Getting there

By plane – Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport, Budapest Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér, formerly referred to as Ferihegy; is the country's largest airport, located about 16 km southeast of the city centre. Outside Budapest, there are alternative international airports in Debrecen, Sármellék, Győr-Pér and Pécs-Pogány.

By train – Trains connect Budapest with almost all countries in central and eastern Europe. All trains arrive at Budapest Keleti station, unless stated otherwise.

By bus – Hungary’s national bus network is operated by Volán Association [19]. If you arrive to Budapest from another Hungarian city, bus is often the best option. For services, discounts, schedules and on-line booking possibilities check Hungary#Get_around.

International bus routes are operated by Eurolines +36-1 318-2122 [20]. Most connections run two or three times a week; connections to/from Austria and Slovakia run daily. Orangeways [21] 36-30 830-9696, offers cheap tickets to and from Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

As the capital of the Land of Flowers, no place better signifies the coming of spring than Amsterdam. With more than one million inhabitants in its urban area, it is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative centre. Tiptoe through the tulips at Keukenhof, the world’s largest bulb-flower garden, a 40-minute bus ride from Amsterdam. The event attracts around 800,000 visitors and opens to the public on 20 March, so get a head start on those April crowds.

Amsterdam is colloquially known as Venice of the North, because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges.

Representing the best in electronic music and media art, 5 Days Off (5daysoff.nl) is a huge indoor dance festival inspired by Belgium’s 10 Days Off. It’s held over five days from 5-9 March and this year’s line-up features Darkside, Nils Frahm and Noisia.

Getting there

By plane – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world, situated 15 km south-west of the city.

The national carrier for the Netherlands is KLM, now merged with Air France. With partner Delta Air Lines they offer worldwide connections. The US, Asia and Europe are particularly well served at Schiphol. British Airways offer up to 15 flights per day to 3 London Airports; Heathrow, Gatwick and London City.

By train – Most trains arrive and depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station (with one extra 'a' in Dutch), located on an island between the Amsterdam/Old Centre and the IJ waterfront. Other important train stations are Duivendrecht and Bijlmer-ArenA in the southeast, Amstel and Muiderpoort in the East, RAI and Zuid-WTC in the South, and Lelylaan and Sloterdijk in the West. Schiphol Airport also has its own train station, which functions as a major interchange station. It has at least seven trains an hour to Amsterdam Centraal, with additional trains going to other stations in Amsterdam.

By bus – Most international bus services are affiliated to Eurolines, which has a terminal at Amstel Station. One bus per day is usually the maximum frequency on these routes.

The British low-budget bus company Megabus operates bus services twice-daily from both London and Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels, terminating at the Zeeburg Park and Ride Coach Park/Zuiderzeeweg tram stop in the east of the city. From there, there are frequent tram and bus services into the city, although the driver will usually advise you to take a tram.

There are other international bus services, but they are often aimed at very specific markets, e.g. Polish migrant workers. There are almost no long-distance internal bus services in the Netherlands, and none to Amsterdam.

By sea – The maritime Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is close to the city centre but is only for cruise ships. The nearest ferry port is IJmuiden which is served by DFDS Seaways, who offer a daily overnight ferry services from Newcastle-upon-Tyne (North Shields) in the United Kingdom see. 125 km away by car there is a ferry terminal at Rotterdam Europoort (ferry from Kingston Upon Hull), and Hook of Holland (ferry from Harwich). Hook of Holland has a train station. Take the train to Schiedam Centrum or Rotterdam Centraal and from there a train to Amsterdam.

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Chichén Itzá is the largest of the archaeological cities of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is one of Mexico's most visited tourist destinations. You can find quieter, more secluded ancient sites in Mexico, but for a dramatic setting, architectural splendour and - during the spring equinox (20-21 March) - a spectacular illusion, you can’t beat Chichén Itzá on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Getting there

By road – Chichen Itza is on the main highway between the capital city of Mérida and the resort city of Cancun. If you have time and are looking for a more adventurist route, the "libre' road that runs parallel to the toll highway goes through and by many villages and gives a better feel for the area. If you take the "libre" route, you will need to be more alert for pedestrians and animals on the road, as well as the numerous "speed bumps" you will encounter. If after dark, stick to the toll road. Come by automobile or take the very regular bus service.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km to the east of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi in Jordan. With its deep red sands, colossal rock formations and pervading silence, Jordan’s Wadi Rum feels more like the epic landscape of Mars than a place on Earth. The name Rum most likely comes from an Aramaic root meaning 'high' or 'elevated'. To reflect its proper Arabic pronunciation, archaeologists transcribe it as Wadi Ramm.

The temperature in the desert drops dramatically at night, but if you’re a hardy type, combine your excursions with an overnight stay in a Bedouin camp and you’ll get the chance to cook regional dishes, drink tea and smoke shisha with tribes people who have lived in Wadi Rum for generations.

Getting there

Wadi Rum is a short detour from the Desert Highway between Amman and Aqaba. A side road leads to the entrance where you will find the Wadi Rum Visitors Centre, a police office and a lot of potential guides offering camel and 4x4 treks. The cost to enter into Wadi Rum Protected Area is 5 Jordanian dinars (JOD) per person as of Feb 2014.

Most buses that travel the highway between Aqaba and Petra should be able to drop you at the intersection to Wadi Rum (Not the buses from Jett company). Once at the intersection, you can hitch hike (common in this part of Jordan, no problem for women alone even) or take another minibus (JOD1 or 2, they seem to turn up quite regularly) to the Visitor's Centre where you can meet your guide. This final leg of the trip shouldn't cost more than JOD5 per person.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are noteworthy, and it is the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland. The tin whistles and traditional songs which herald St Patrick’s Day have gone galactic (they’ve even celebrated it on the International Space Station), but the party reaches its riotous peak in Dublin. Live music, food markets, boat races, walking tours, fun fairs and parades are all part of the official entertainment, which also sees the city centre lit bright green every night from 14-17 March.

Getting there

By plane – Dublin is served by a two terminal airport approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of the city centre. A full list of airlines flying to Dublin, along with timetables.

Ireland's flag carrier airline, Aer Lingus, flies to Dublin from a large number of European cities. Aer Lingus fares are often lower than other flag carriers, but in part this has been achieved by matching the service levels of low-fare competitors. As a result, they now charge for checked-in bags and seat reservation at time of booking. Aer Lingus staff is always very friendly and helpful. The planes and flight attendants are decorated in bright green to get passengers ready to see all of the green in Ireland.

By train – Dublin has two main railway stations. Heuston, in the west of the city centre, serves much of the west and south of the country including an hourly service to Cork which also services Limerick. Connolly, in the north-east centre of the city, serves the south east and east coast, Belfast, Sligo in the north-west and suburban commuter services including the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The two main stations are connected by bus and Luas routes. Visit the website for all train services local and intercity.

By bus – A single bus station, Busáras, is the terminus for Bus Eireann services to almost all towns and cities in Ireland (except for a few services to County Meath and County Dublin, which leave from the surrounding streets). It is next to Connolly train station, 10 min by foot from O'Connell Street. There are also services to Northern Ireland and Eurolines services to Continental Europe. Luggage lockers are in the basement, along with the pay-to-enter public toilets.

Adelaide, Australia

If you’re heading down under this month make a quick detour to South Australia to join the party at WOMADelaide. Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia. In Adelaide, you can enjoy stylish architecture, boutique shopping, sandy swimming beaches, fabulous arts events, nightlife, fine dining, and some of Australia's best café strips.

The annual festival of world music, dance and arts, held over the 7-10 March holiday weekend in Adelaide’s Botanic Park, has an enviable line-up this year. The festival programme unfolds from morning to twilight on colourful stages amid shaded parklands interspersed with world food stalls. You’ll find plenty of green spaces to throw down a rug for a glass of local beer or wine between sets, as well as a sprawling kids’ activity zone.

Getting there

By plane – Adelaide International Airport is around 7km to the west of the city centre. West Beach, an excellent swimming beach with plenty of accommodation is located only 4km away.

Adelaide's airport has scheduled international services. Air New Zealand via Auckland is particularly useful for flights to and from the Americas and the Pacific Islands. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is generally useful for flights to and from both East Asia and Europe and both Malaysia Airlines and Singapore airlines via Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are useful for flights to and from South East Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe. In addition, domestic flights to Sydney and Melbourne are useful for connections to the Americas, while domestic flights to Perth are useful for connections to Africa.

By train – Great Southern Railway runs long distance tourist train services, The Ghan runs to Alice Springs and Darwin, The Overland, runs to Melbourne, and the Indian Pacific runs to Perth, Broken Hill and Sydney. These journeys are train experiences, and offer sleepers, and the opportunity to take your car with you on the train. However, they take considerably longer and invariably cost more than the journey by bus or plane, with the exception of the Melbourne-to-Adelaide route, which can be cheaper than or of comparable price with air fares. Further, the trains stop at intermediate stops which may not be serviced by air connections, particularly on the Melbourne-to-Adelaide route.

VLine runs a daily combined bus/train journey to Adelaide from Melbourne. You can connect from NSW Countrylink trains to Vline buses at Albury or Benalla.

By bus – Greyhound Australia run services to Adelaide from Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs.

Plan for your holiday and book your flight ticket today to attend these celebrations and enjoy your holiday.