Where would you head for. I'm not sure that I can stand another damp and cold period like this years.
The trouble is it has to be short haul due to being a previous customer of a DVT.
Getting older sucks.
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Canaries seems to be the place to go at that time of year if my workplace is anything to go by!
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Yeah, its the canaries, best % chance of a good days, Agadir is a good shot, and Marrakesh if you are feeling cultural.
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How about Cyprus, that's normally warm around March, Feb can be a bit iffy though but ok.
Or how about N Africa? Egypt, Tunisia etc?
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Madeira, temperate all year.
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>> Madeira, temperate all year.
Not temperate enough at this time of year.
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Temperate enough for what? Probably not sitting on the beach, although of course Madeira is deficient in those. Madeira is not quite as warm as the Canaries in February or March but is highly unlikely to be cold and can be very warm. I have been there seven or eight times ar that time of year and it has always been warm enough to sit ouside for lunch or coffee for example and for walking and exploring it is fine. The capital, Funchal enjoys a very sheltered South facing location
It should also be noted that the Canary Islands vary in their climate, The Western Islands of La Palma and La Gomera are wetter than the Eastern Islands. I believe Gran Canaria is the warmest Island. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote can be very windy. When I was in Lanzarote in March this year the wind speed was averaging around 25 mph for the first week. One day it was gusting to 55mph! Out of the wind it was mostly warm and sunny.
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>> Temperate enough for what? Probably not sitting on the beach, although of course Madeira is
>> deficient in those. Madeira is not quite as warm as the Canaries in February or
>> March
well there you go then, saved me a job answered your own question.
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How short is short haul, what's your time limit MD?
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And what do you like to do when on holiday?
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Sooty. Time limit probably maxed out at 3/12 - 4 hours.
Mark. I like to do very little tbh, but sightseeing and places of interest are really my bag and of course great food. I can’t do sitting around on sun beds or beach stuff.
We’ve been to Madeira perhaps 20 times and love it, but feel (well I do anyway) that a change would be nice. I don’t care much for the Canaries these days although I wouldn’t discount it.
And lastly crowds of Brits mouthing off would make me want to stay at home.
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>> Sooty. Time limit probably maxed out at 3/12 - 4 hours.
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>>
Right, thanks. I think if you want a change from madeira and you don't want crowds then perhaps one of the smaller quieter areas on the Canaries would suit. Cyprus is out of the time limit so off the list. Or perhaps the algarve or the costas closer but probably a little more risk weatherwise.
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MD, if you like to be active on holiday, especially if there for several weeks, then you might get bored in the Canaries, unless you divide your time between various islands.
I’ve limited personal experience of the Costa del Sol, preferring the Costa Blanca. Once you accept that the Canarian weather will be better, there’s far more to do on the CB. The cherry & almond blossom in early February is amazing. Plenty of bright sunny days, cool at night, expect more rain than further South.
But plenty of stuff to do...we often catch a train to Valencia and spend a few days there, staying in an Ibis motel. Alicante is worth a weekend, great walking both inland and on the coast ( good maps are available from Stanfords).
We like Moraira.... a friendly vibe, great restaurants & bars, lots of places to rent. Villajoyosa is also a decent base, as is Javea, both being working towns. Other touristy places, Calpe for instance, is very quiet in those months and like a mini Benidorm. From Denia you can sail to Ibiza for a few days or longer, spend a weekend in Madrid using the fast rail service from Alicante or even join a locals ski trip to the Pyrenees ( I’ve know people who’ve done that!)
I’m happy to provide more info, but beware I’m biased towards the CB rather than the Canaries for an extended period.
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"you might get bored in the Canaries, unless you divide your time between various islands."
That is exactly what we do. Three weeks in one hotel is not for me so we do a different hotel every week and two different islands. Rent a car in Fuerteventura, but hand it over on another island.
We're the opposite of that couple who come to the same hotel every year and tell you it's fantastic. I like to see 2 or 3 in one holiday.
Won't be happening this year, though. She's only gone and a got a damned job.
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>>
>> We're the opposite of that couple who come to the same hotel every year and
>> tell you it's fantastic. I like to see 2 or 3 in one holiday.
>>
>> Won't be happening this year, though. She's only gone and a got a damned job.
Couldn't you go with her sister?
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Island-hopping, hotel-hopping, sister-hopping...
Perfection.
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I’ve just watched the sun set over La Gomera from my balcony on SW Tenerife. There seems to be permanent cloud over that island these past several days. As mentioned, Tenerife and G Canaria are the warmest and sunniest of the Canaries, but only on their SW and southern coasts.
Due to personal circumstances, I spent a lot of time on Tenerife Last Dec, January and currently, have toured all over the island, and experienced very poor weather elsewhere on the island in December and January away from where I am currently staying.
You definitely need to choose carefully where you stay in February & March, even in the Canaries. The past 3 years I’ve spent 6/8 weeks in Feb & March on the Costa Blanca. Nowhere near as warm as the Canaries, but I’d be bored rigid spending that length of time in the Canaries. Much cooler and wetter this year on the CB according to the locals, but far more to see and do if that’s important.
It depends how long you are going for and what your boredom threshold is...an acquaintance of mine spends 3 +months on the Gambian coast each winter. One week was too long for me!
We’ve already booked our 8 weeks on the C Blanca for 2019, mid February to mid April, fingers crossed it’s better weather than this year, but definitely better than NYorks.
Last edited by: legacylad on Thu 26 Apr 18 at 21:47
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Because of its height in thecentre of the Islands La Gomera is often shrouded in mist, the Laura Silva forest that covers a lot of the island is quite magical. For sheer natural beauty, peace and quiet and great walking it is hard to beat although equalled by La Palma which is absolutely stunning.
Strangely enough the only two Islands I haven’t stayed overnight are Tenerife, the largest and most popular and El Hierro the most remote and smallest.
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CGN..
Whilst I love walking Im not keen on doing so for several consecutive rain filled days. Any recommendations for what time of year for a two centre holiday, La Gomera and La Palma to get the most out of their natural beauty ( and stay dryish)?
Gracias
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I’ve been to La Palma four times and La Gomera twice. All trips have been in either February, March or early April. I can’t recall many consecutive really wet days. Height makes a great deal of difference of course, the coastal towns tend to be sunnier and drier. La Palma in particular has a huge range of microclimates because of its height. It is extremely mountainous and the walking can be hard going. There are very few flat walks!
Of course if you go in the summer you are almost guaranteed dry warm sunny weather.
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The southern coast of Tenerife, in the lee of Teidi has certainly done us well for a late Jan early Feb sunny break.
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Friends wanted some winter warmth & decided on Cape Verde.
Flights out/back on time. Hotel was great, food was great BUT there was nothing else.
3rd world country - if all you want is some winter sun the weather was perfect.
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Warm holiday Feb' / March? - Bobby
