Whether you’re religious or not, Easter is the perfect time to discover a new city with friends and loved ones. These 2019 hotspots will have you ready for some Easter travel.
If you’re not into waiting until the last minute (where you can potentially find some amazing, last-minute travel savings), Skyscanner recommends booking Easter travel in February for the best deals.
Below are the top Easter travel recommendations to scope out while you’re searching for your upcoming Easter getaway.
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New Orleans
If you love parades, NOLA is the place to be on Easter Sunday.
The day starts off with the Historic French Quarter Parade, which runs from Antoine’s Restaurant to Jackson Square and back. There’s even a stop at the St. Louis Cathedral for mass.
During the afternoon, the Chris Owens Easter Parade starts, which is typically led by a French Quarter artist. If you’re one to roll out of bed a little late, the Gay Easter Parade starts at 4:30 p.m where you can expect to see horse-drawn carriages, beads, floats and trolleys. Prices for the Big Easy tend to rise around this time because spring is peak season, so try to book your airfare and accommodations six months to a year in advance.
Panama
If you want to spend the holiday somewhere warm, Panama is the place to be, and April is the perfect month to visit the Isthmus.
Besides sunbathing, you can snorkel on colorful reefs, check out the coffee plantations, explore the rain forests and eat scrumptious cultural food at the local stands. And you can do all of it for about an average of $60 USD a day.
Washington, D.C.
Annually, the White House hosts its Easter Egg Roll, which dates back to 1878.
The event, which takes place on Easter Monday, includes an Easter egg hunt, an egg-rolling race and a cameo from the Easter Bunny. The event is free, but participants are chosen by a lottery. Typically, over 35,000 people attend. Perusing the nation’s capital may get a little hectic when it comes to parking, so it’s best to walk or take public transportation.
Centrally located budget hotels will run between $100–$150 per night with double occupancy.
San Francisco
The Golden City hosts its annual Union Street Easter Parade & Spring Celebration, which includes an Easter bonnet contest, music and a myriad of games. The celebration takes place between Gough and Fillmore Streets on Union. It costs approximately $173 a day to enjoy SF. That includes accommodations and food.
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Israel
The Holy Land is the ultimate place to be during Easter.
There’s an iconic Good Friday procession that thousands of Christian pilgrims march in along the Via Dolorosa in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, and thousands of Orthodox Christians flock to the Ceremony of the Holy Fire on Saturday.
On Palm Sunday, pilgrims descend upon the Mount of Olives where they sing hymns and reenact Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.
On Easter Sunday, Protestant Christians convene during the Sunrise Service at the Garden Tomb, and there’s an Easter vigil at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre followed by a solemn procession and Solemn Vespers at the Holy Tomb.
Accommodations in Israel will run you approximately $500 for about a week if you stay in a mixture of hostels, Airbnbs and hotels. Transportation will cost almost $400 for about a week if you rent a car and use taxis. If you take into account activities, food, your flights and other miscellaneous expenses, a trip to the Holy Land will run you about $2,000 USD.