We’re considering renting out our home during the winter season (Jan, Feb & March) and traveling to Italy, Spain & Portugal during the off season. We’ve traveled to Italy, southern France and Spain previously during the summer months but wondering if most everything will be closed during those months? Also considering Morocco for part of the time. Thoughts?
Look at what you are asking. Do you really think that entire countries essentially close for the "off season"?
Sure, if you go to someplace that is primarily a tourist magnet with one attraction - say, a beach - in January, that place is going to be pretty quiet. But people probably still live there (the people who serve drinks and rent beach chairs to all the tourists in August). Exactly how "quiet" things get depends on the details.
Haven't been to those places (yet) in those 3 months, although visiting Spain and Italy in November and December, outside of the crowds of summer, were enjoyable. Some sights might have reduced hours, closing earlier or on certain days, but we found most eerything open and accessible, without having to adjust our schedules. January thru March might be different, but I suspect you'll find most everything open - just check the hours. Are you planing on going out-of-the-way places, though? Big cities will have the major museums and sights open, but again, with fewer crowds.
We're planning on visiting Morocco for 3 weeks in January right now - cooler in the desert then, and airfare prices that can't be beat!
Check weather stats for your specific Moroccan destinations so you pack an appropriate wardrobe. There is some variation as you move around the country, and it may actually be sort of wintry in some places. I don't remember the details.
Barcelona will be warmer than Madrid and environs.
I think this is a great idea, but I suspect you could find enough places to go in Spain alone, or Italy alone, to fill all your time. Says the person who spent 89 days in Spain two summers ago without going to Andalucia, Valencia, or the Balearic Islands. On a long trip you won't be able to maintain a brisk pace for the duration, and you may lose some time to inclement weather.
If you want to drive, check out leasing.
The only area in Portugal that might see things closed is the Algarve. As the previous poster mentioned, 10 million people live in Portugal so it doesn’t close down in the winter... But some of the smaller towns in the Algarve will see restaurants and shops closed. I spent two weeks in February/March in Lagos and found everything open. There were rainy days but also nice days when I ate at outside restaurants.
Here in the central portion of the country, virtually nothing is closed other than an occasional restaurant that might take a break in December or January. There are a number of people I know who spend every winter in the Cascais área to escape hard winters in North America. It does rain, but it never freezes and the clear days are wonderful! It is not uncommon to eat lunch at outside restaurants in the winter on clear days.
I've been to Spain and Italy in February and March - great time to be there, not many tourists, low season prices except for festivals. Speaking of festivals, there's a really odd one in Valencia in mid-March, 15-19th, called Las Fallas and great to see. Of course Venice goes all out for Carnevale Feb 16 - Mar 5. I'd stick to the Costa Brava, Madrid and Andalucia in winter. The Costa del Sol is pretty dull and the north is cold. Everywhere in Italy would be great.