For those with kids, spring break can feel like one of the most important — read: high-stress — weeks of the year. The pressure is on to match the magic of your childhood trips for your own offspring.

Either way, there’s a lot to consider — a hot or cold climate, culture or adventure — and plan. For college students or child-free adults whose jobs come with a spring break, there’s even more flexibility to make it something extraordinary.

Sure, some folks have a favorite destination locked in that takes zero effort to replicate year after year. But for many, this annual spring holiday is the opportunity to make core memories that will last a lifetime and hopefully feel very worth your dollars or points. Here are 11 spring break destinations guaranteed to make a spectacular, lasting impression.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

For a classic beach break

If you desire sun and sand and want to avoid a lot of planning, Riviera Maya calls. This tropical stretch of coastline on the Caribbean Sea between Cancun and Tulum is stacked with luxury resort after luxury resort that caters to your every need. The only reason to leave is a curiosity about cenotes or Mayan ruins.

TPG tip: Safe and sustainable Mayakoba, occupying 595 acres of verdant mangrove lagoons and a one-mile beach, is a true playground for families who can easily move between four resorts and their two dozen-plus eateries.

Rosewood Mayakoba has two- to three-bedroom Lagoon Villas that make adults and little ones — pampered with toys, treats, movie nights and a Rosewood Explorers kids club — very happy. Book an engaging and delicious family cooking class at Mayakoba’s El Pueblito. Rates in March and April begin at $1,145 per night. Book your stay through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts for a $100 property credit, plus other perks upon availability, including early check-in and a room upgrade.

Osaka, Japan

For a part of Japan with something for everyone

Tokyo is great, but Osaka — and Japan’s entire Kansai region — made TPG’s list of the best places to travel in 2025 for many reasons. Osaka has Universal Studios Japan plus a 16th-century castle, cruises down its Venice-like waterways and sumo wrestling showdowns (Japan’s annual grand tournament takes place each March), a Legoland Discovery Center and a massive Ferris wheel.

If Japow is in your lexicon, jet off to get some late-season snowboarding or skiing in Hakuba. For those with later spring breaks, the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 — think our grandparents’ World Fair — begins April 13 and promises a fascinating display of entertainment, innovative exhibits, interactive programs and more.

TPG tip: Opening April 3, Waldorf Astoria Osaka will bring a premiere Hilton property to this charming foodie city — specifically in the mixed-use Grand Green Osaka development right by Osaka Station — complete with a spa and three restaurants. Rates in April start at $1,141 or 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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Related: The most exciting hotel openings of 2025

Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

For when adventure calls

One of those easy yet uber-exciting destinations, Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula has so much for active people of all ages. Yet it’s a fairly easy flight into Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) and English is spoken prolifically. Flying past monkeys while zip-lining through tree canopies, deep sea fishing for your dinner, wildlife hiking, windsurfing, scuba diving and learning to surf are all on offer. And the laid-back “pura vida” lifestyle ensures there’s plenty of chill time between activities.

TPG tip: Just the sixth Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Nekajui is one of the area’s newest resorts, and it promises quite a special experience, thanks in part to its lush clifftop perch, suspended treetop bar and spa cabanas, beach club with funicular and hidden speakeasy. March rates start at $2,565 or 143,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Northern Italy

For culture, cuisine and chic stays

If mild weather and few people sound extremely appealing, consider Northern Italy in the early spring. Pack layers and an explorer’s attitude and get ready to traipse around quaint towns and larger cities devoid of the human onslaught of summertime. Gondola rides, walking tours and classical music concerts at Teatro La Fenice in Venice appeal to families with older kids, while skiing — or tubing and sledding — in the Dolomites can capture the spirits of even the youngest travelers. Other spring highlights include Milan Design Week, the Giardini d’Agrumi Festival (Lemon Festival) on Lake Garda, and blooming hydrangeas and wisteria across Lake Como.

TPG tip: JW Marriott Venice‘s 40-acre island resort makes the city extra friendly to kids with its open-air cinema nights, kids club in partnership with the LEGO STEM–designed Bricks 4 Kidz, padel courts and soccer field, cooking academy and Chic-Nic garden picnic setups. Rates begin at $307 or 56,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

The historic Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni makes a case for a restorative spring escape on Lake Como courtesy of its elegant new Luce del Lago wellness center, complete with a hammam and beach club. Rates start at $890 per night.

Koh Samui, Thailand

For ‘White Lotus’ obsessives

Shot beautifully primarily at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, “The White Lotus” Season 3 may not influence your kids, but it’s probably sparking a little travel envy in anyone old enough to watch. It speaks for itself as a destination: monkey-strewn, Buddhist temple–dotted, white sand–studded islands and the dreamiest water around. Plus, spring is a perfect time to visit weather-wise.

TPG tip: As seen on the small screen, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is epic, and there are plenty of beach sports with complimentary equipment, a treehouse kids club and Four Seasons’ signature comprehensive and complimentary baby and kid gear for rates starting at $2,014 per night in March.

For a more approachable price — beginning at $240 per night in March — there’s Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, a former coconut plantation with gardens designed by Bill Bentley, which also got “White Lotus” screen time.

Mexico City

For exposure to world-class food and festivities

Drenched in purple from its many jacaranda trees, Mexico City is particularly pretty in springtime, with warm weather during the day and cooler temps at night that invite long walks through verdant parks and down broad avenues. A surprisingly great destination with kids, even small ones, the city is an excellent place for all ages to immerse themselves in art, architecture and cuisine. And with frequent festivals — including March’s Vive Latino Music Festival — there’s always something novel to do.

TPG tip: Not far from the hands-on Papalote Museo del Nino in Bosques de Chapultepec, Andaz Mexico City Condesa, is a fun choice for families for its walkability to green spaces, fantastic restaurants, bakeries and even ice cream shops. Corner rooms with record players and a selection of vinyl plus pull-out beds and two toilets are great for those with little ones, who are sure to be entertained by the arcade and board games at the Rooftop Beer Garden & Canine Club. At this Category 4 Hyatt, rates begin at $275 or 12,00 World of Hyatt points per night in March and April.

South Africa

For a wildlife bonanza

Besides lower rates, the perks of low season in South Africa include smaller crowds, more private wildlife sightings and baby animals, and the wine harvest. It’s quite the haul, but with U.S. nonstop options from Delta and United Airlines to Johannesburg and Cape Town, it’s possible to make the most of a spring break in one of the most extraordinary countries on Earth. A safari is a surefire way to engage every family member and make a serious deposit into everyone’s memory banks.

TPG tip: Saxon Hotel, Villas, and Spa in Johannesburg is a glorious place to rest your head upon arrival. It has luscious gardens, divine dining and artifacts everywhere, all endorsed by the likes of Oprah and Beyonce. It’ll get you in the South African spirit in the most sophisticated way possible. Rates begin at $763 per night.

For a safari that could be a bit wet but promises to teem with both predators and prey — plus a Mini Ranger Course for children and exquisite and abundant food and drink for all — there’s Singita Ebony Lodge, starting at $2,680 per night per adult, all-inclusive.

Vietnam

For a Far East beach fantasy

There are closer beaches, but Vietnam offers something many others don’t: a deep connection to a fascinating culture alongside mouthwatering food and postcard-perfect stretches of sand and sea. The weather is, for the most part, flawless in March and April, and while it would be a shame not to stop in a city such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, an easy spring break agenda would focus greatly on a coastal destination up or down the long, skinny country.

TPG tip: Opt for way-off-the-beaten-path at sustainable Zannier Bai San Ho, a 245-acre Eden in Phu Yen where adults can zen out at the bucket list spa while kids are snorkeling, surfing, water skiing or playing in the kids club. Rates start at $322 in March and April.

Alternately, the glamorous Regent Phu Quoc on a popular holiday island is a fabulous fly-and-flop spot with perks for everyone in the family. Rates begin at $372 or 69,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Los Angeles

For a spring break you can feel good about

After January’s Palisades and Altadena fires, the best domestic spring break destination is Los Angeles, where morale could use a boost from tourists thrilled to be experiencing an iconic city that still has so much to love. From Santa Monica’s famous pier and Venice’s legendary boardwalk to Hollywood studios (and Universal Studios), artsy downtown, inclusive WeHo and ritzy Beverly Hills, there are so many stops to string together during a family trip that can also include mini road trips to nearby destinations like Disneyland or Santa Barbara.

TPG tip: With Santa Monica celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025, there’s never been a more dynamic time to make the city home base. Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is as storied as it gets with its Old Hollywood pedigree, prime perch above the Pacific Ocean and 1930s beach bungalows that happily accommodate a family — and put them mere steps from the free-form swimming pool (a kid magnet). Rates start at $516 per night in March.

Related: The 27 best hotels in Los Angeles for your next visit

Hamburg, Germany

For a dose of European charm

It’s not the most obvious destination, but Hamburg has a lot going for it that makes it very charming for families. First, it’s the greenest city in Germany, with parks and woodland areas making up almost half of it. In April, an immersive LEGO Discovery Centre will open, and there’s also a fantastic zoo, planetarium, chocolate museum (yes, you heard that right) and a lake for sailing. The Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg even has a new exhibit dedicated to glitter.

TPG tip: Right on Lake Alster, The Fontenay is a well-located 130-room luxury hotel — with a spa for stressed-out parents — doling out arrival gifts to kids and offering them creative dishes in its Parkview restaurant. Rates begin at $354 in March and April.

Puerto Rico

For a passport-free escape that feels like you’re really away

Puerto Rico is the best of both worlds when you want to feel far away without a long flight — or passport. The Spanish-speaking island that’s part of the United States offers visitors some sublime natural beauty in the form of El Yunque National Forest, magical bioluminescence in Vieques and vibrant beaches such as Flamenco, not to mention migrating humpback whales, usually into March. The inaugural four-day Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival starts on April 3.

TPG tip: La Concha Resort — reflagging from a Renaissance Hotel to Marriott International’s Autograph Collection later this year — reveals a stylish transformation of its 238 rooms and suites in April, while March brings two new restaurants, both oceanfront, with one by renowned chef Michael White occupying the notable shell structure just off the sand. Rates start at $474 or 121,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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