A major reason to visit Paris in September would be Fashion Week! While the event itself is invitation-only, there are other related things to do such as visiting the fashion museums or enjoy fashion-themed events at places such as the Eiffel Tower, Tuileries Garden, and Louvre Museum. Besides fashion, the European Heritage Days is hosted in Paris. This is an annual event in which historic sites and monuments open doors to the public, usually free of charge, including Palace of Versailles and Arc de Triomphe.
Sydney, Australia
Photo by Bernard Spragg
Sydney is an excellent location to travel to in September, since it is the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. This brings lovely weather, yet smaller crowds as opposed to the popular summer months. Spring events are held at this time as well, including the Floriade in Canberra, with a large display of tulips and the Royal Adelaide Show, a 9 day long carnival celebrating and connecting communities by showcasing excellence in agriculture and horticulture.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Photo by Philip McErlean
This destination is appealing at this time of year due to milder weather and lower prices. It is a great time to explore the Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Mile, where you can find unique shops/architecture as well as the Scotch Whiskey Experience. It is also a convenient time to stroll through the Princes Street Gardens, Arthur’s Seat, or Dean Village.
Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Chris Yunker
In September, the weather is enjoyable for parks and beaches. and the crowds are dying down in Barcelona. However, it still has plenty of cultural events for visitors to attend, such as the National Day of Catalonia and the Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Other choices could be taking a train to Montserrat, sitting on a mountain, offering scenic views, or attending a wine tasting in Penedes.
Aruba
Photo by Vlad Podvorny
Lower prices and crowds is an advantage of visiting Aruba in September. The weather is still perfect for visiting Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. The island’s heritage can also be celebrated at Fiesta di Cunucu at this time of year. Attractions such as Arikok National Park, Guadirikiri Cave, and Natural Pool are enticing too. Snorkeling and scuba diving are also available for those who are adventurous!
Visiting somewhere international in September? I’d love to hear where!
Lower risk of rain mixed with warmer weather draws people to the Caribbean during May. Bimini is a laidback island with less tourists than other locations in the Bahamas, such as Nassau. It is fitting for someone looking to snorkel on the gorgeous beach of Honeymoon Harbour during the day and clubbing at night! Tourists typically rent golf carts or bikes for traveling around the island, and jet skis and small private boats for recreation. You could get a glass-bottom kayak as well, to ride along the mangrove creeks or book an excursion to swim with the dolphins, which I highly recommend doing in the Bahamas!
Vienna, Austria
Photo by Luca Sartoni
The climate in Vienna in May is milder than the summertime and less rainy than April. Each year, during Mother’s Day weekend, this place hosts the Genuss-Festival Food Fair, which has gourmet Austrian food and wine. Or, you could just grab your wine from Cobenzl Winery, which provides visitors with pretty views of the city. At the end of the month is the Steffl Kirtagthe Fair with 50+ food, drink, and craft vendors, and the International Music Festival too!
Venice, Italy
Photo by Luca Sartoni
The fifth month of the year is reportedly one of the greatest to visit Venice, because of the ample sunshine and a good opportunity for sight-seeing or riding in a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs. Those interested in architecture may want to attend the International Architecture Exhibition, which takes place at this time. The most popular attractions in the city are the St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Riva delgi Schiavoni promenade, or the Venetian Lagoon.
Provence, France
Photo by Julian Fong
Spring is a wonderful season to explore Provence, either walking or cycling. In late May, you can encounter the bright lavender fields as they start flourishing. Or, being the historic center for soap-making in France, L’Occitane de Provence allows visitors to book a tour of their factory and gardens. Other than that, visitors may go paragliding atLa Roque-Esclapon, white water rafting in the Gorges du Verdon or hiking at Parc National des Calanques.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Photo by Luca Sartoni
Again, a pleasant climate along with less visitors is why Copenhagen is an attractive choice for May. For those who love the sight of beautiful, blooming flowers, Tivoli Gardens and Bakken, as well as, the Tulip Festival are available for tourists to visit. At the beginning of the month, the Copenhagen Salsa Festival is celebrated, and at the end of the month, the Copenhagen Carnival is an end-of-the-month event with 120 bands and 2,000 dancers!
Are you considering one of these destinations for your May vacation? Let me know in the comments below.
Whether you choose Grand Cayman, the largest of the islands, or Little Cayman, March will be a wonderful time to visit. The daily temperature averages around 82 degrees, and the rates for accommodations are dropping. This is ideal for taking a dip in the ocean, due to the lack of rain and loads of sunshine. The coral reefs and crystal clear water draw in people who are looking to scuba dive and the Bioluminescent Bay is good for kayaking.
Dublin, Ireland
Photo by Guiseppe Milo
Of course, March would be the best time to travel to Ireland, due to the massive St. Patrick’s Day festivities that take place! Go to Dublin for the five-day carnival with a parade, music performances, food/drinks, art installations, and pubs such as The Lark Inn or The Yacht. If celebrating this holiday does not intrigue you, however, you may want to go to the Marsh Library, and in front of that, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, plus the Howth Cliff Walk, and Malahide Castle & Gardens. Yet, keep in mind that during this month, intense rainfall may take place, with the temperature staying around 50 degrees.
Galapagos Islands
Tortuga Bay – Photo by Kuhnmi
March is the perfect time to spend in the Galapagos Islands, because of the warm weather, the end of rainy season, the opportunity to go snorkeling, and the colorful sunsets! The marine wildlife is abundant near these islands, especially near Gordon Rocks, a submerged volcano crater on top of a tuff cone. Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz is a popular nesting sight amongst the sea turtles.
Tokyo, Japan
Photo by Michael Stout
Tokyo is typically warming up to an average of 55 degrees during this month. In late March and early April, you will definitely want to catch the beautiful blooming of the cherry blossoms and attend Ueno Sakura Matsuri at Ueno Park. At the time of year, the Hina Matsuri (Japanese Doll Festival), Mt. Takao Fire-Walking Festival, and Golden Dragon Dance all occur too!
Sicily, Italy
Photo by Giuseppe Milo
March marks the end of the winter season in Sicily, with it being the warmest city at this time of year at approximately 55 degrees. Fewer crowds, lower prices for travel, and the abundance of festivals including the Carnival of Acireale, make this month appealing as well. With less tourists, it is fantastic for exploring the city and visiting the cultural landmarks of Piazza Duomo and Villa Bellini and hiking at La Rocca Hill in Cefalù to view the ruins of an ancient castle and Mediterranean Sea.
Which of these interests you the most? Let me know in the comments!
In September 2018, I went on a Carnival cruise, which was my first cruise ever. I can honestly say that it was my favorite vacation I have ever taken because there was never a dull moment. The trip lasted for 8 days and 7 nights, sailing from Baltimore, MD to the eastern Caribbean, and back.
Costs
This being a Sunday to Sunday cruise, at the end of September, the cost per person was $599. This did not include taxes and fees, which can be around $250 on average. There is also the option to pre-pay gratuities and/or add travel insurance. An abundance of other options are available for cruising as well, including shorter trips with ports that are closer to its destination. For instance, a 4-day, 3 night cruise from Miami, FL to the Bahamas would be nearly $1,000 cheaper than the one I took for the same room, dates, and number of people!
Room
Oceanview Stateroom
The least expensive room type is interior, which is a basic room with a bed, but without windows. Because I wanted to have a window to look out, we chose the Oceanview room. For slightly more money, you could add a balcony onto it. The largest and most costly room would be the suite, which is much more spacious than all of the others. Each room typically has a queen-size bed (or sometimes two twin beds), a small flatscreen television, and a private bathroom. Mine had a couch, coffee table, and desk as a well, so it was somewhat spacious.
At Sea Activities
Pool on Lido Deck
When at sea for a few days, there were plenty of onboard activities to keep me entertained.
While most activities are free, some are an additional cost. I participated in scavenger hunts, games, and went to the comedy club every night because the performers were hilarious. The first day of the cruise, I actually went to a prize giveaway that the cruise line was hosting, and I won three free rounds of bingo. Besides prize giveaways, the Carnival Pride provides passengers with:
Punchline Comedy Club
Mini golf
Basketball hoops
Pools, water slides, hot tubs
Cornhole
Deck parties
Karaoke
Competitions, scavenger hunts, games, trivia
Night club (18+), with DJ
Arcade
Jogging track
Dive-in movies
Adult only deck (21+) with hot tub, lounge chairs, hammocks, bar, and pool
Shops for essentials, souvenirs, and candy
Art & crafts
Fitness center (treadmills, dumbbells, benches, machines)
Camp for kids
Additional cost:
Spa (hot stone massages, body wraps, aromatherapy)
Bars/pubs
Casino (slots, blackjack, poker)
Bingo
Fitness classes
Food
All of my meals were already included in our total price! However, people sometimes chose to go to restaurants on the ship that cost extra, such as Bonsai Sushi and David’s Steakhouse. Or, they could order room service and have it charged to their card. The included breakfast was a large buffet, where you could order eggs anyway that you want them. Lunch options were burgers from Guy Fieri’s onboard joint, tacos from Blue Iguana Cantina, a slice of Pizza Pirate, Asian dishes from Mongolian Wok, and more. For dinner, I always went to the dining room, where they served me my meals. The menus were varying each night. They offered steak, seafood, vegetables, pasta, and even dessert. Other desserts like cake, brownies, and a soft serve ice cream station were available each night on the Lido deck, too.
After two days at sea, we docked at Grand Turk, which is a part of Turks and Caicos. When we got off the port, we were surrounded by palm trees on the gold sand and sailboats in the blue water. On Grand Turk was a small shopping center and one of the seven Margaritaville locations. It provides a bar and an enormous pool that is free for cruise passengers to take a dip in.
The next destination that the ship stopped at was Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. It is a private island owned by Carnival. In my opinion, it was the most beautiful location of the three that we visited on the cruise. The sand was so white and soft, while the water was so clear that you could see all of the fish and shells in the water. The temperature of the ocean had me floating in there for over an hour. Although I did get slightly sunburnt from that, I had never felt more relaxed in my life.
The last island was Freeport, Bahamas. As soon as I stepped off the ship, there was a cluster of tiny shops, but no beach in sight. I chose to purchase a dolphin excursion there. All of the people participating in the excursion took a 20 minute shuttle, then a 15 minute boat ride through the canals and past the beach. Finally, we had arrived at where the dolphins were. Everyone got to interact with them and see how smart the dolphins are. They were all very well-trained and performed a few different tricks. With dolphins being my favorite animal, it was amazing! Plenty of other excursions are offered as well, like ATV riding, horseback riding, or water sports.
That being said, if you are wondering if you should book a cruise, I highly recommend it!
A Sweet Paradise 
You must be logged in to post a comment.