My wife and I are trying to plan a trip where we take our kids (age 11, 9) out of school and spend some time travelling (depending on COVID-19). We are looking to spend anywhere from 4-6 weeks in 1-2 different places as a base. Our trip would be sometime in January, February, or March. We are looking to enjoy sun, some warmth, sightseeing, eating delicious foods, and experiencing new cultures. We would like to be in a city and not in small towns because we will more than likely not have a vehicle (use public transport). We appreciate any and all recommendations.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34010 posts
do you mean 2021 or 2022?
As this is your first post - welcome to the Forums - and you didn't put anything in your profile, we don't know where you are from so "enjoy sun, some warmth" is difficult to gauge compared to what you are used to.
Europe is a very large place - from Africa to the Middle East to Russia (some of Russia is in Europe) to the Arctic, so we have plenty of space to throw the darts.
Have you been to Europe before? Where?
Posted by
OP
Michigan, USA
2 posts
Sorry, I should have clarified. We are looking at 2021 if travel restrictions allow because I will be transitioning from one job to another and have plenty of vacation time to use in between. We live in the upper midwest USA (think freezing cold, windy, cloudy, lots of snow). I have been to Europe before. Last year my wife and I were in Frankfurt and Munich Germany, Rome and Sicily. I have also been to Ireland. My wife has travelled around a lot more than I have before we met. When I think of warm places, I'm thinking of somewhere near the Mediterranean where its probably 8-12C during the day and hopefully sunny.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5555 posts
When I think of warm places, I'm thinking of somewhere near the Mediterranean where its probably 8-12C during the day and hopefully sunny.
Well that's not quite warm in my book and I'm a shorts in February guy however those temperatures can easily be found around the Mediterranean coast particularly in March. I've been to southern Spain, Barcelona, the Balearics and southern Italy during the winter months and often found the temperatures to be in the late teens to early twenties however, I've also known it to be cold and snowy (most notably Rome in February).
The Canary Islands would be your best bet for almost guaranteed warmth and sunshine however it is an outlier in terms of European travel but there are plenty of reasonably priced flights between other European countries particularly as it's a popular winter destination.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
The only reliably warm and dry place in January and February is the Canary Islands as they are much further south. I have been to southern Spain in February and it was 8 degrees daytime temperatures and we wore numerous layers to keep the circulation going. I have a month in the Canaries planned from mid January but it doesn’t look as though it’s going to be happening, as Covid cases are rising rapidly after the summer influx of Spaniards from the mainland. Spain and its islands are still on the “do not travel“ list for us Brits.
Cyprus is also quite far south and should be ok from mid February onwards.
March is ok for southern Spain and you may get luckier earlier in the year.
Hiring a car off season is a bargain, so don’t discount it.
If there is a winter Covid spike as most experts are predicting, then your question for 2021 is likely to be a hypothetical one, unfortunately.
Posted by
8330 posts
We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years and while we loved Germany, the long winters really were a drag. If you want sun and warmth, your options are in the southern tier of countries, Spain, Italy, Greece or Morocco, Israel, Egypt.
Southern Spain, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Marbella and Malaga would expect daily highs during this period from the low 50s to the low 60s.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
99 posts
I’ve spent both January and February in Malta where it was 60s during the day, 40s-50s at night. I consider that moderate temps and really enjoyed my time there. From Malta, we either flew or took the ferry to the continent or Africa. I’ve been back to Malta in Mar and while temps were still moderate, the tourists were arriving and it wasn’t as relaxed for me as spending Jan and Feb there.
Posted by
Northeast Ohio, USA
707 posts
Consider Crete:
Heraklion, Greece
Month High/Low Fahrenheit (Rain)
January 59° / 48° (9 days)
February 60° / 48° (8 days)
March 63° / 49° (6 days)
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4185 posts
Hello, I think your kids will love the Canary Islands! From the American perspective, think of them as the "Hawaii of Europe". The Canary Islands (Las Canarias) are Spain's most southerly archipelago and have much to offer, for example the island of Gran Canaria is nicknamed the "Miniature Continent" because of the diversity of landscapes, from sand dunes to green ravines to volcanic beaches. It's a paradise if you are into fun outdoor activities like surfing or ziplining. Gran Canaria also has quite a few picturesque old historic towns like Arucas or Firgas that are worth checking out.
From a cultural standpoint, the next door island of Tenerife should do the trick, its home to the second largest carnival in the world, after the one in Rio de Janeiro, so it's always in a festive mood. The charming town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes for a nice day trip too. And one can also check out Teide National Park, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is home to Mount Teide, the third highest volcano in the world. Not to mention all the unique and fascinating history and culture of the local Guanche indigenous people.
With 4-6 weeks, you can even "island hop" around the Canary Islands, as each island has their own flavour. You can read more here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/canary-islands/narratives/practical-information/directory/travel-with-children