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Input requested re: order of travel London to Madrid or Madrid to London?

Posted by (Chicago, IL, USA) on

Hi, I'm interested in any input you may have for this planned trip in April 2011 using a 21-day Eurailpass. Most of all, should I be planning the trip in reverse order (i.e. starting in Madrid and ending in London) or leave it as is starting in London and ending in Madrid? Weather considerations are making me think twice about this (will I be cold during April in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and then hot in Italy and Spain?). Thanks for any input you may have!

London March 29-April 2, train April 2 London to Paris;
Paris April 2-7, train April 7 Paris to Amsterdam;
Amsterdam April 7-10, train April 10 Amsterdam to Rhine Vly;
Rhine Vly April 10-12, overnight train April 12 to Venice;
Venice April 13-15, train April 15 Venice to Rome;
Rome April 15-20, train April 20 Rome to Cinque Terre;
Cinque Terre April 20-22, train + flight CT to Barcelona;
Barcelona April 22-26, train April 26 to Madrid;
Madrid April 26-29, flight April 29 to HOME

Posted by
1022 posts

English Spring weather is as unpredictable as it is anyplace in the northern latitudes. We've been in early April when the weather was glorious - sunny and mild temperatures, cherry trees abloom - and also when it was cold and rainy. You'll have to plan for the latter and hope for better.

I don't think you'll be hot anyplace, but you'll need to pack something for warm temps. If it were my trip, I'd start in the South, then finish in the North to follow expected Spring warming. But you never know what it's going to do.

Posted by
676 posts

If it's your 1st trip to Europe, start with the more familiar (London, where they speak English) and work toward the more unfamiliar. As previously stated, the weather is unpredictable in London/northern Europe that time of year, and you won't be hot in Spain/Italy either.

Posted by
12313 posts

In the Spring, I like to start south and work north.

In the fall, I start north and work south.

That normally gives you the best chance for good weather during your trip.

London is likely to be wet at either time but it should be a little warmer in late April than late March. Length of daylight hours matters too in the North, April will have longer daylight hours than March.

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