Best April weather? Where to go??

How about Madrid-Barcelona-Provence, flying into Madrid and out of Nice or vice versa? Or Provence-Dordogne, between Nice and Bordeaux? Don't know the kids' ages or interests but Carcassonne and Dordogne have great castles. Or Barcelona-Dordogne-Loire-Paris? Best to stay south, I'd think. We were in the Dordogne in mid-April a few years back and weather was just fine, but you never know. Paris was cold in early April but delightful in late April, with the chestnut trees in bloom. Definitely open jaw flights to save time. But watch out for big dropoff charge if you rent a car in one country and drop it in another. Not so much in the same country. With ten days I'd go for three stops maximum so you're not spending too much time driving or training around. Have fun planning.

OK, so I am loving these ideas! I am going to look into every one of them...so keep them coming:) Thanks!

Since you say you are now considering Italy, I'll underline that the weather is very unpredictable there, too. One year we landed in Rome on April 12 to 32 F temps. The week before Easter is very busy, not just with religious events. It's a very common time for schools to have breaks, and it seemed to me that half of the secondary schools in the EU had sent their kids to Rome on a field trip. The Sistine Chapel was almost comically awful. Hundreds and hundreds of tourists, with a guard ineffectually pounding his staff and shouting, "silencio" every few minutes. I'd opt for one of the other choices.

Rosalyn- that's what I had heard too about Rome. I hadn't been considering it because of that. I am potentially interested in Venice (never been there) or the Spain ideas as well. I know that weather is totally unpredictable in many places (including here in Philly!), so that is partly making it tough to decide. I had originally thought of going to Aruba, but we will be in FL at Christmas & Hawaii in the summer...wanted to do something totally different! Thanks for any advice...I appreciate it!

The 'Silencio' guard thing happens at other times also. I experienced it last December, and what was really astonishing was to see a local (Italian-speaking) tour guide completely ignoring the guard's repeated admonitions and carrying on with her talk to a group of about 9 people standing around her, as if she had been granted a special dispensation from the rules of respectful silence everyone else was asked to obey. My tour guide got furious about it and had some heated words with her outside in the corridor afterwards.

April weather in both France and the UK (including Ireland and Scotland) could be very unpredictable. It was exceptionally cold and rainy, for example, last year in the UK throughout the Spring, and this year my friends there were wondering into June if Summer would ever happen this year. Have you thought about a more Mediterranean destination - Greece, perhaps, since it seems you haven't been there? Or maybe southern Italy or Sicily?

Thanks for the reply Rose! I have been thinking...since we are going to be there for all days surrounding Easter, I was wondering if Italy would be effected by closures and things. I had read that it is a very busy time. I am open to considering anything though! I would LOVE to go to Greece, just not sure what the ff mile/flight situation would be getting there. I will look into it though.

I imagine there would be Easter-related closures in Ireland, which is also predominantly Catholic, as well as elsewhere in the UK and France. I often travel around Christmastime, and though some things are a bit slower, my enjoyment factor has not been impacted at all - in fact it's been enhanced by seeing the holiday lights and shop windows beautifully decorated. Around Easter, too, there might be special things you could enjoy with your family that wouldn't be available at other times of the year. For just one example, you might find theatre tickets and other family-focused events happening in London at special reduced prices, catering to families whose children are on Easter break. Plan carefully by checking the websites of places you want to go for specified closure dates, and you should do fine. Unless you plan to be in remote villages, I think you will always find adequate dining choices or ways to buy food for picnics, etc.

I wasin Italy during Easter week 2010 and encounterd no difficulties. I went to the Pitti Palace in Florence on Easter itself and then took a train to Rome. There were a lot of school groups in Rome the next few days, though, so if you've ever wanted to see bored teenagers texting at the Colisseum, it's a good time to go!

Sorrento in April is magical. We L>O>V>E>S< it...

I'd pick southern Spain or Greece for the weather. Be sure to make a special effort to research the Easter traditions and holy week in both places. That could influence your choice of destination beyond the weather. Both countries have unique ways of celebrating. Here's just a taste for Spain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Spain. And for Greece http://www.greecetravel.com/easter/.

I've made 3 trips to Scotland/England for the 3rd week of April. Total time with umbrella: 15 minutes (but I was sure glad to have the umbrella for those minutes!). I know that I've been extremely fortunate with the weather for my trips: lots of sunny days, wind not too bad, a few days of overcast and occasional sprinkle, and the downpour just that once. Fingers crossed that it works again b/c I'll be going again same time next year--3rd week of April--and as you've noted, it's Easter this time. A couple of sites that I've seen recently for activity ideas with kids in the UK: http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/Edinburgh
http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo Cheers.