When it comes to hotel stays in Charlottesville, the iconic Keswick Hall is pretty hard to beat. Set just outside the city in the green foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the historic 80-room property was originally built in 1912 to resemble an Italian palace. It’s gone through many owners and iterations since then, and today, it’s the area’s top luxury resort, with two outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a soothing spa, among other amenities.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Sometimes you just need some guaranteed beachy sunshine, and for that, Costa Rica’s northwestern province of Guanacaste is one of your safest bets this time of year. Known as the country’s “Gold Coast” for its gorgeous golden light, the region stretches along the Pacific and includes popular surf towns like Tamarindo and Nosara, as well as the ultra-luxe Peninsula Papagayo, an exclusive community home to three luxury resorts.
Although each area has something different to offer—Nosara, for example, is known for its laid-back jungle and drum circle feel, while Tamarindo has a bit more of a party vibe—they have one very important thing in common: sun. December through April is Guanacaste’s dry season before the rains begin in mid-May, making spring break prime time for perfect beach weather (80s and sunny). If you can pry yourself away from your towel, there’s also plenty to do in the area beyond the sand, from morning yoga in open-air palapas to surf lessons to ATV coffee tours of one of Costa Rica’s many rural coffee farms. One last word of advice: Don’t miss the sunsets. They’re a nightly event throughout Guanacaste, and they are truly spectacular (both locals and travelers alike bring drinks to the beach to watch the show).
The Hotel to Book
Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Reserve
As the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Central America, the new Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve—which means “lush garden” in the language of the Chorotega, Guanacaste’s original inhabitants—is a guaranteed hit. Set on 1,400 acres of jungle in the Papagayo Peninsula, the 108-room property opened in February 2025 and has no shortage of luxe amenities, including six beautiful spots to eat and drink, tennis and pickleball courts, an outdoor jungle gym, and a serene cliffside spa with the largest hydrotherapy pool in Latin America. Don’t leave without taking a photo on the property’s already-iconic hanging bridge, which floats above the lush treetops and connects both sides of the resort.
Sedona, Arizona
It’s hard not to feel the pull of Sedona when you visit. The Arizona desert town is famously surreal, with red rocks that look like Mars and four major “vortex sites” believed to help visitors tap into the energy of another realm. Given this description, it should come as no surprise that the town has attracted spiritual seekers for decades—a fact that’s especially apparent along the main drag filled with crystal shops and local businesses offering UFO tours (yes, those are a big thing there). But all New Age tourism aside, Sedona really comes alive in spring, when the desert wildflowers pop. From March to May, the hiking trails are sprinkled with vibrant yellow desert marigolds, deep purple lupines, and bright red and orange Indian paintbrush blooms, among other varieties. Best of all? These wildflower-lined trails coincide with perfect hiking weather, when temperatures are still in the 60s and 70s before summer’s high desert heat takes over. Try the West Fork of Oak Creek hike for a daylong adventure (with 11 rivers to cross), Broken Arrow Trail for an easier (yet no less scenic) stroll, or Boynton Vista Trail, which takes you to the Kachina Woman rock formation, one of the town’s four vortexes.
The Hotels to Book
Courtesy of Mii Amo
