A friend and I are planning a trip to Spain to visit my granddaughter (student in Barcelona) and travel in Spain with her and then without her. She has a semester break in February and an Easter break in April. It will be colder in February but possibly more crowded with locals traveling during Easter week. Any suggestions as to which time would be better?
If you want to travel during Easter in Spain, make sure you can accept the Easter hotel prices. In Seville, hotels have low season, high season, and bonus season; Holy Week and April Fair are bonus season, and are substantially more expensive than regular high season. I'm not sure which other Spanish cities have this premium.
Easter by far! The weather in Spain isn't always nice. February in the north is cold. By April it should thaw out, temperatures would be in the 60's or better.
We spent most of Holy Week in Barcelona (disappointing as really nothing but added masses at the Cathedral happening), Holy Thursday in Zaragosa (the most amazing experience ever!), Good Friday in Pamplona (much more low key procession than Zaragosa), then Saturday and Sunday in San Sebastian (also not much happening).
Being in Spain for Semana Santa is on my bucket list, so that time gets my vote. To me the crowds and the expense will be well worth the experience. Google Semana Santa Spain for more info and images. One good place to start is gospain.about.com/od/semanasantaeaster...Which cities to see Semana Santa in Spain?
Mucho gracias to all three of you! You all make very good points. Not sure I can handle the much higher hotel rates (in April) but I would definitely prefer temps in the 60s. I will check out the GoSpain website and google 'Semana Santa, Spain.'