4bams

thanks guys for all your help!
we are planning our family holiday for xmas time, and we thought of spain. we have been to barcelona already, so this quickie (10 day trip) would be madrid/granada/seville/cordoba. we would make sure dec 25th is a driving day, as many sights will be closed.
we are a family of 4, (kids 20 and 22) and are well travelled. the question is really is it a good destination over the winter holidays, given that it is not ideal weather, and much of the "atmosphere" of spain, the cafes, the wandering around etc will be limited due to the weather. it seems that we could do the trip for the same (or less) price that a caribbean resort or cruise, neither of which appeal to us in the least. our last 4 xmas trips have been India, South Africa and Egypt and Thailand(all warmer climates!)

should we wait and hope to do this part of spain another time (but kids getting older, hard to get everyone together) or just bite the bullet and do it??? Thoughts?

Robert2533

All Spanish cities celebrate the Christmas season, which ends on Epiphany, the 6th of January, so if you are interested in celebrating the season (regardless of the weather), then Spain would be it. If you want a little warmth, then the Canary Islands would be nice, and far more interesting than the Caribbean at Christmas.

If you're into cruises, then exploring and enjoying the culture wouldn't be a big issue. You could go almost anywhere...

4bams

thanks! no, we are not into cruises at all (I just meant that europe really is not more expensive than a cruise or an all inclusive, and for us much richer an experience but is it really a great trip that time of year?), rather we love to see and do things and be busy.... so you think I should forget about the weather, and Spain will still be wonderful at that time of year?

Robert2533

We've spent several Christmas seasons in Spain (as well as Paris), but not arriving until after the 25th, which is generally time to be with the family, so most restaurants will be closed as well as most other places. You'll find live manger scenes around the country and there are a number of concerts during the season. Lights are up and people are out and about. Three Kings Days is one of the major highlights of the season, with processions going on all around the country (televised). One year we where in Vic for the Procession and it was a great experience. The entire city turned out to see the Three Kings in the snow.

Presents are exchanged on the 6th and sales begin on the 7th.

Momddtravel2

4Bams - I cannot speak to Spain at Christmas - but can share that as a family we spent Christmas/New Years in Paris in 2008/2009 and it was magical ... and busy - it was never "shut down" not even on Christmas Day for the most part... if you are open to other areas in Europe.

Travelbound44

We spent the month of January 2013 in Seville. Their holidays as stated before go through the 6th. The city is alive and puts on quite a show. It was hard to top our first week there. Beautiful decorations, parades, Pink Floyd type light shows. We had spent a X-Mas in Paris also but would prefer Seville easily.

nytraveler

I think spain would be fine that time of year - but you are trying to do too many places in too little time. i would definitely cut back to 2 cities - esp given the shorter daylight hours.

4bams

so it sounds like the weather really won't interfere with our enjoyment of the holiday. we did paris at xmas years ago, and did get a bit antsy staying in one city and doing only indoorsy stuff. (there are only so many museums the kids could handle....) they are older now, so sounds like it might work!
thanks

cathies

4bams, I hate to tell you this, but they aren't kids any more!

4bams

Too funny! You see right through me cathies!

cathies