Family holiday in April--Morocco, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands or Crete?
 

Okay, just moved to the UK (just as in two weeks ago!) and already dreaming of all the places we can go now that we're here. We'd like to get some ideas down for the kids' spring break in April. We'll have about 7-10 days, and want to head somewhere warmer. We've been all over Europe, so for this trip we have the ideas narrowed down to Morocco, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Crete. The kids will then be 9, 6 and 2. We like historical/cultural sights. We'd like to relax, but would also like to experience a new culture. Of course going to a safe destination is priority number one, but otherwise we are open. I think Morocco might have a slight edge in our minds right now. We might also consider splitting the time between the Canaries and Morocco. The Balearics and Crete are also on the short list. I would love suggestions, and specific cities/towns you would recommend in each place, even hotels! Many thanks!

hi samtraveler -- I don't have any information for you! But at least my post will bump this to the top and give you a chance to get more responses. Your short list looks a lot like ours. We ended up on Morocco and hopefully will be there in October. Now we're just trying to decide between spending all of our time in one city or splitting it between Fez, Marrakesh and Essouria. Looking at averages on weather.com in April Morocco might have better weather but only by about 5 degrees. After a gray English winter you'll probably just be happy for sun and blue skies!

You might check out whichbudget.com. It will show which budget airlines fly where -- but you will have a hard time getting super deals if you have to fly over the school holidays. Good luck. Hope everything is going well as you settle in.

Balerics & Create will be too cold in April - much better for children in the May or October half term break

Canary Islands isn't that much different from what you'd find in the UK except for the weather UNLESS you head well away from the normal tourist areas.

Which leaves Morocco - but would the kids enjoy Marrakech and the beaches aren't great & can be somewhat windswept.

Personally I'd head for Egypt - probably the Red Sea coast around Sharm-el-Sheik and have a 2 or 3 night extension into Cairo. If the children had been slightly older I would have suggested Goa.

BTW just because the Canaries & Morocco are close to each other DON'T assume that you can get between the two easily or cheaply

Dear Sam,

My daughter (13) and I had a great trip to Morocco last February. We loved the country and it was fascinating but I'm not sure how easy to do with children the ages you have. Particularly the 2 year old... it's not really stroller friendly in many of the places we visited and it is quite primitive in some places.

We were in Fes, Meknes and Rabat plus Casablanca for a minute so I can only speak to that. Perhaps a more "resort" area would be better/easier but I've no experience with those.

I did do a bit of a trip report on here (sorry! I haven't finished it) and you can search under Gruezi and Morocco to find it...

Also, by April culture shock will have hit and you may be looking for something relaxing and easy and Morocco will be very stimulating. Canary Islands is more resorty and I hear some islands are more family-oriented and others more for singles so make sure you research. Good news is you will get beach weather for certain if you desire that.

Good luck!

gruezi

It depends on the Canary island to a certain extent, and where on some islands you want to go. Much as I love the more western, smaller islands I don't think there will be enough historical/cultural things for you - La Palma, the island I know best has some fine petroglyphs, and some interesting buildings, there are a few beaches but they are black volcanic beaches. There is also an active volcano to visit, and you can take a boat trip out to see whales and dolphins, but it is mainly for the walking/scenery that people go there. The same with La Gomera.
I don't know the eastern islands so well, but some are very touristy and intended just as beach destinations. If you did opt for La Palma then choose accommodation on the west side of the island. I can suggest some sites to look for a villa if you want to go self catering.

None of them are going to be all that warm. How about The Gambia?

If I remember rightly you can get some brill all-inclusive packages from the UK. It'll be nice and tropical; plenty of people to look after the children and you guys can lounge by the pool and venture on trips.

Just offering it up for your consideration as I've never been there myself (Ghana yes, but The Gambia not yet!!).

Thanks for all the helpful replies! Just to clarify we aren't necessarily planning for a beach vacation. Just somehwere warm where we can enjoy new sights.

BKP-I would love to hear about your trip if you end up going in October. Even if we don't end up with Morocco this time, I know we will in the near future.

alan-thanks for your input. Egypt is definitely on our short list, but we're planning on doing that in a year or two.

Gruezi-your perspective is helpful. I do wonder how kid-friendly Morocco will be. The Canaries might be easier that way? We're still tempted by Morocco. We're pretty adventurous.

hetismif-thanks for the info on La Palma. Sounds like a good contender. I would love tips on places you know.

I think right now we're probably deciding between Morocco and the Canaries. I am unfamiliar with the Canaries and Balearics, so I don't have a good feeling for how they compare, just that the Canaries might have better weather in April. I agree that Crete is probably more enjoyable later on in the season. I went to Santorini in June of 2007, and it was perfect, so we'll probably save Crete for a different travel month another time.

Or what about Turkey or Cyprus? So many possibilities!