As the Northern Hemisphere moves from winter’s quiet into spring’s delight, March through May brings with it a magical shoulder season. The days stretch longer, the air feels lighter, and the destinations bloom with a renewed energy. It’s the perfect time for travellers who seek calm, connection, and colour.

For LGBTQIA+ travellers, these months invite exploration at an easier pace. The crowds are fewer, the light is softer, and experiences feel more personal. Whether you’re drawn to city rhythm or countryside stillness, this is the season to travel.

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Portugal & Palácio da Anunciada

Lisbon in spring hits the senses in a totally different way. The hills glow in pastel shades, jasmine fills the air, and the sound of conversation drifts from open windows. In the heart of the city, Palácio da Anunciada captures this spirit with quiet sophistication as the city comes alive again after the winter months.

Set within an eighteenth-century palace, the hotel combines heritage and modern comfort with effortless elegance. High ceilings, polished marble, and soft light create a calm contrast to the city’s spring rhythm outside. The garden terrace, hidden behind stone walls, offers a sanctuary where guests can unwind beneath citrus trees and blue skies.

Rooms are refined and spacious, blending contemporary design with traces of history. The restaurant and bar overlook the gardens, serving seasonal Portuguese cuisine. Evenings are made for slow dining and conversation, followed by a walk through the nearby streets of Chiado and Avenida da Liberdade.

For LGBTQIA+ travellers, Lisbon continues to be one of Europe’s most inclusive cities. The Palácio’s discreet yet attentive service reflects that same warmth and openness. Whether you are exploring the city’s art and architecture or simply enjoying a quiet morning coffee on the terrace, there are few places that make you feel as welcome and understood.

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Argentina & The Vines Resort & Spa

If Lisbon is a symphony of sound and colour, Mendoza is a celebration of silence and space.

At the foot of the Andes, vineyards stretch toward snow-dusted peaks, and life slows to match the harvest. The Vines Resort & Spa embodies this natural harmony, offering an immersive retreat that allows you to truly slip into a slow, steady way of life.

March to May is harvest season in Argentina’s wine country. Days are warm, evenings are cool, and the valley is alive with the scent of ripe grapes and open fires. Villas at The Vines are surrounded by vineyards, each one designed for privacy and peace, with outdoor decks and plunge pools framing the vast landscape beyond.

Mornings in the mountains start slowly and peacefully, followed by yoga, fly-fishing, or horseback rides through the fields. Afternoons are for tasting world-class Malbecs and lingering over long lunches at Siete Fuegos, the open-flame restaurant by Francis Mallmann. Evenings bring with them a light show, as the sun dips behind the Andes and the entire valley glows in shades of gold and rose, heralding the starscape that follows.

The Vines offers LGBTQIA+ travellers space and sincerity, with welcoming, intuitive service. It’s a place to unwind and reconnect, surrounded by beauty that feels both wild and deeply personal.

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City Escape or Mountain Retreat

Between Lisbon’s golden light and Mendoza’s mountain air lies the essence of spring travel in the Northern Hemisphere.

Whether you long for cobbled streets, creative energy, and café culture, or crave open skies, the scent of wine, and evenings wrapped in quiet, this special shoulder season offers renewal in many forms.

One inspires through motion, the other through stillness. Together, they remind you that travel is not only about where you go but also how you feel while you are there. Plan your dream shoulder season escape with Global Travel Moments.

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