María Delacruz

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s 150 cherry-blossom trees get their moment during “Dallas Blooms,” a six-week celebration from late February through early April. This year’s theme of “The Great Contributors” will have this Dallas attraction adorned with sculptures of such luminaries as Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart and Joan of Arc. The programming also incorporates tastings and cooking classes, book signings, speakers and Easter-related events.

This renowned seafood restaurant is just as good for a quick couple of fat oysters during £1 happy hour (Monday to Thursday 3-6pm) as it is for an extravagant sit-down seafood platter. Nab one of the outdoor seats with a giant barrel for a table and watch the comings and goings of market life.

Picky bits are the order of the day in this casual eastern Mediterranean independent mini-chain. Go for a selection from the rips and dips – black garlic and lemon hummus, fennel tzatziki and smoky baba ganoush with fluffy pitta – and plenty of mezze dishes including the kefir fried chicken, grilled sardines with whipped feta and a pomegranate spritz or two.

Parrillan’s older sister Barrafina is known for its exemplary tapas and this latest outpost offers an impressively reliable selection of superior bites. Take a seat at the marble bar and order a classic oozy tortilla, bright garlicky gambas rojas, ham croquetas and crisp fried baby squid for round one, and then just keep going. There’s also a lengthy sherry selection to wash it all down.

More of a café than a full-blown restaurant, La Palette is a Paris institution that’s been part of the fabric of upscale St Germain for more than a century – so much so that it’s Art Deco back room is a listed historical monument. Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne and Ernest Hemingway were all regulars; today, the pretty, flower-fringed terrace is filled with chic art students and local gallery owners. The menu is simple: huge charcuterie platters, steak tartare and croque monsieurs (the bite-size versions are great for grazing over a drink).

A nod to the new King and legacy of Her Late Majesty, this year's Christmas tree is outfitted in deeply rich maroon hues and illuminated by candles. The design, concocted by The London Flower School, took inspiration from the flower garlands displayed at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.

London's swankiest hotel and members' club did not skimp on luxury this year, especially when it came to the tree curated by atelier Grandirosa; 21 feet of opulence dressed in burgundy and champagne with over 4,000 fairy lights and 1,000 decorations. Celebrate the season with gingerbread galore, mince pies and fluffy scones over their festive afternoon tea or recuperate from the Christmas stress and book a spa day.

Fast, friendly and fairly affordable, taxis are hands down the most comfortable way to get around in Barbados. They’re identifiable by blue license plates that begin with Z and usually have a taxi light on the roof; there are also minivan taxis with ZM plates that are a good option for bigger groups. Larger hotels and resorts usually have a couple of house drivers who hang out near reception.