The Best Spring Travel Destinations
Written by Curator Lindsey Gottschling, Author of The Life Edit
Whether it’s a bachelor or bachelorette getaway with friends, a mini-moon that feels a little more intentional, or the honeymoon itself, the best trips aren’t always the most obvious ones.
Wedding planning has a funny way of turning travel into another item on the checklist. Group chats fill up with outfit ideas, itinerary spreadsheets start forming, and suddenly everyone’s trying to reinvent the wheel.
But when all is said and done and the cake is cut, the memories from these trips are what last. The belly-laughs over breakfast. The late-night heart-to-hearts. The kind of quality time that only comes around once in a lifetime.
So if you find yourself second-guessing your plans, let me hold your hand when I say this: “life is short—take the trip.”
Your destination doesn’t have to be the most far-flung or extravagant, or even a week-long adventure. Just something that feels a little less basic than a bachelorette in Nashville and a little less predictable than the Amalfi Coast honeymoon.
These are the kinds of places where the accommodations are just as good as the destination itself—beautiful hotels, fantastic food, and the kind of setting that can make even a long weekend feel like an occasion.
The destinations below are some of my favorite spring escapes, with ideal weather, accessible flights from Chicago, and hotels that make the trip feel special from the moment you check in.
Because the right setting can turn a simple getaway into something a little more cinematic.
Paris in the springtime? A dream.
Le Petit Bazar, the basement bar in Le Grand Mazarin
Credit: Le Grand Mazarin
Skip the peak-season Euro summer crowds and lean into shoulder season magic instead. Spring in Paris is softer, more affordable, and still as endlessly chic as it gets. Think Emily in Paris energy—polka dots, kitten heels, silk scarves tied just so. Champagne at sidewalk cafés. Golden hour that lingers forever.
Spend your days:
Touring the gilded halls of Palace of Versailles with a private guide
Creating custom bag charms at Timeless Pearly
Cruising the city in a vintage Citroën, stopping for photo ops in brightly colored cars that pop against limestone buildings
Taking a croissant-making class (because obviously)
Vintage shopping in Le Marais
Stocking up on skincare at the French pharmacy
You’ll only be engaged or newlyweds in Paris once in a lifetime. Why not make it cinematic?
Perfect For:
The chic bride plotting her ultimate wardrobe. Foodies. History buffs. The group that believes champagne counts as hydration.
Where to Stay:
Splurge on Le Grand Mazarin or save your budget for shopping at Hotel Florida Paris
What to Wear:
🌊 The Bahamas for a Sun-Soaked Reset
Coral Sands Harbour Island
The Bahamas is one of the ultimate R&R destinations. Think ocean blues, breezy linens, and dopamine dressing at its finest with bright caftans, oversized sunnies, and pineapple-filled cocktails in hand.
No pressure to over-plan. No need to leave the resort.
Just:
Reapplying SPF between chapters of the book you’re finally finishing
Seafood for three glorious meals a day
Poolside lounging that turns into sunset-toasting
Morning beach walks with coffee in hand
It’s simple. It’s sun-soaked. It’s exactly what you might need before the whirlwind of the wedding or to recover after.
Perfect For:
The group trying to hit their reading goal. The dopamine dressers. The water sport enthusiasts.
Where to Stay:
Baha Mar for endless entertainment or Coral Sands Inn where the interior rivals the view
What to Wear:
☀️ Palm Springs is the sweet spot between leisure and activity.
Mini Bar at Parker Palm Springs.
Credit: Parker Palm Springs
Kaftans. Mid-century modern. Pool floats that double as décor.
You can spend the morning lounging poolside at a chic boutique hotel and the afternoon thrifting, gallery hopping, or biking through palm-lined neighborhoods.
Expect:
Colorful retro architecture
Frozen cocktails under striped umbrellas
Spa appointments and sound baths
A rental house moment with interiors worthy of a coffee table book
Sunshine 350 days a year
It’s relaxed but intentional. Styled but never stuffy.
Perfect For:
The interior enthusiast. The bride who appreciates a well-designed tablescape. Th LGBTQIA couple. The group that wants equal parts activity and afternoon nap.
Where to Stay:
The Parker to soak up Jonathan Adler’s best interior design work to date or the historic tennis club, Casa Cody
What to Wear:
⚜️ New Orleans for a Weekend Full of Soul.
The pool situation at Hotel Saint Vincent
New Orleans in the spring is electric. It’s warm but not sweltering, with jasmine in the air and music spilling out onto the sidewalks. It’s a city that celebrates life, love, and a little bit of the other side, too.
Spend your days lounging poolside or eating your way through the city. Beignets and chicory coffee in the morning, po’boys and oysters by afternoon, and a Michelin rated restaurant of your choice by night. Wander beneath wrought-iron balconies and past candy-colored Creole cottages, soaking in layers of history at every turn.
You’ll find yourself listening to live jazz on Frenchmen Street, dancing between intimate clubs and candlelit bars. Book a voodoo or ghost tour through the French Quarter. Swap stories as you explore centuries-old streets that feel equal parts romantic and mysterious.
It’s spirited. It’s soulful. It’s a destination that’s severely underrated.
Perfect For:
Foodies. Music lovers. Architecture enthusiasts. Travelers who want a quick trip packed with personality.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Saint Vincent for the pool or Hotel Peter & Paul for the cocktail bar
What to Wear:
Because at the end of the day, the destination is just the backdrop. What makes it unforgettable is the time spent together. Your people, in one place, celebrating a season that only happens once. Make it count!