Think Spring! Booking.com Presents Six of the World’s Top Flower Destinations
The arrival of spring is a blissful feeling and there’s no better way to savor the season than enjoying nature's bloom as 73% of US travelers said they would appreciate more simple experiences such as spending time outdoors when travel restrictions have lifted*. Whether immersing in a sea of color in the famous Dutch tulip fields, learning about plant species in beautiful botanical gardens, or wandering through a flower production greenhouse in Brazil, Booking.com presents six destinations around the world that are highly endorsed by Booking.com’s global travelers for flowers to ensure the best views of nature’s dazzling palette, along with tips for places to stay*
Often known as the city of thousands of flowers, Dalat is home to various flower parks, farms and festivals, each decorating the city with colorful blooms and rich green landscapes. Spend your days exploring the Da Lat Flower Gardens and wandering the grounds, taking in fragrant lilies, chrysanthemums and diverse orchids that this city is famous for.
Where to Stay: Experience world-class service at Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa, a five-star resort that features seven original French colonial villas nestled on the slopes of Dalat city’s rural highlands. The resort is located a short distance away from Da Lat Flower Gardens and offers guests extensive spa facilities and a variety of dining options.
According to Booking.com travelers, Amsterdam is one of the top endorsed cities for flowers. And that’s not surprising, given that travelers can find multiple flower stalls filled with colorful tulips and bulbs across the city. For the ultimate tulip experience, just a short drive away from Amsterdam, travelers can explore over seven million tulips and other flora fill the beautifully-sculpted flower beds at the world-famous Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. Winding around the trees, immaculate, lime green lawns, and water, these resplendent flowers will stop you in your tracks. In the nearby area, you’ll find the Dutch tulip fields; row upon row of vivid colors stretching right into the horizon. Take a visit to explore the wonders of this garden between March 24th until May 15th , before heading back to Amsterdam and hopping on a canal boat tour to discover the other wonders that this vibrant city offers.
Where to stay: Stay in the heart of Amsterdam at the family run Hotel Estheréa. Situated along the Singel canal and just a short walk away from the famous Amsterdam flower market, bask in the spring views from the comfort of your room or the hotel lounge. This property is also beautifully decorated with luxurious floral décor throughout, and features a library, 24/7 bar and a gym. The building itself has a rich history and is included on UNESCO’s world heritage list.
The Butchart Gardens located near Victoria on Vancouver Island is a designated National Historic Site, featuring an impressive 900 bedding plant varieties across 55 acres of gardens. Open all year round, and beaming with gardens inspired from around the globe including exotic plants from the Mediterranean and Cherry trees from Yokohama Nurseries in Japan. Explore the rest of this urban city with a self guided audio tour of Downtown Victoria where you’ll see the famous sights of Inner Harbour and Chinatown.
Where to stay: The Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites is perfectly located overlooking the city’s inner harbour and parliament buildings and surrounded by an endless choice of boutiques and restaurants. A short drive from the Butchart Gardens, and also a five minute walk to a whale watching company, this stay is perfect for guests who want to enjoy all the natural beauty of Victoria.
Take a trip to the exuberant surroundings of Le Jardin Parque de Lavanda in Gramado, one of the emerging destinations in our 2022 Travel Predictions, and wander through the blooming gardens and flower production greenhouse. You’ll discover several exotic plants and a variety of lavender plant species as you walk through the garden. Set amongst the picturesque mountains and featuring an on-site bistro and plants available to purchase it’s the perfect destination for flora fans.
Where to stay: Petit Casa da Montanha is a charming and pet friendly guest house in the center of the city. Featuring modern amenities and an onsite café, the Café da Manhã do Petit which serves homemade, fresh delights for its buffet breakfast. The property is aptly located a short drive away from Le Jardin Parque de Lavanda and near popular pedestrian street Rua Coberta and the popular movie theater and film festival venue Palácio dos Festivais.
Toowoomba is home to a plethora of flower gardens, from Queen’s Park to the Toowoomba Exhibition Gardens, all of which provide a majestic oasis of horticulture to celebrate all things flora and fauna. For Spring, head to Laurel Bank Park, a stunning 4.5 parkland featuring spectacular manicured gardens, a scented garden, a collection of exotic trees, a playground, picnic area and gazebo.
Where to stay: The Frangipani House is a short distance from Laurel Bank and feels like a sumptuous home away from home. Boasting a terrace and patio overlooking the garden, where guests can relax and unwind in the evening following a day of garden exploring.
Funchal is known for its variety of gardens and wine cellars. The Madeira Botanical Garden is worth visiting all year round. In addition to panoramic views over the city, the garden is home to over 2,000 varieties of plants and has an area dedicated to research and conservation in addition to the Museum of Natural History for those wanting more scientific information on plants.
Where to stay: A short drive or bike ride away from Madeira Botanical Garden, stay at the luxurious Reid's Palace. The hotel boasts sumptuous ocean views and a choice of four restaurants. Relax in the subtropical gardens, unwind with a massage at the spa or take a walk though the mountains.
Booking.com is sharing Early 2022 Deals for travelers to use when booking their next Spring trip. Discounts start at 15 percent and are valid for stays until March 31 2022. In addition, Booking.com is bringing the great value of its Genius program to even more customers by giving all account holders access to the program’s Level 1 benefits, with no minimum number of previous bookings to qualify, including access to exclusive 10% discounts at hundreds of thousands of participating properties around the world. All travelers have to do is download the Booking.com app, log in and look for the Genius logo to identify associated benefits, discounts and perks.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries and territories were polled (including from 999 USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam and 995 from Japan). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2020.
**Endorsement data from Booking.com based on the most recommended and relevant destinations by global travelers for flowers