My family (my kids are in high school) would like to spend spring break (mid-April) next year in Europe. We would like to go somewhere warm, with nice beaches, and a lot of cool stuff to see. I'm thinking Spain or Greece. Which would you suggest, and will the water be warm in April?

I hate to break news to you that you do not want to hear, but I don't think that ANYwhere in Europe is a <i>warm, swim-at-the-beach</i> destination that can compare to the southern US (especially Florida), Mexico and/or other Gulf/Caribbean destinations.

I probably am too tunnel-vision, but I think you can (and should?) sell kids on a spring break trip to Europe for all the <i>other</i> cool reasons to want to go there: the culture, the art, the history, the food, the languages, the shopping - - not that natural and geographic wonders can't be part of it too - - it's just not really possible to incorporate the equivalent of a &quot;few days at Fort Lauderdale&quot; while traveling to Spain <i>or</i> Greece <i>in April</i>.

But if they (and you) have a pent-up appetite to play IN the ocean, get a tan and enjoy that beach (day and) nightlife, maybe you should go to place that scratch that itch best in 2005, and save Europe for a subsequent year.

Alternatively, you could go in summer, but the nice thing about spring (break) is that you can typically do it for half what summer costs (and school forces you to keep the trip shorter, of course, so tht controls the cost also).

Best wishes,

Rex

Sorry Gatorman but I am with Rex on this one. The Med is never very warm and few venture in until June or later.
Stick with FL or Cancun in April.

Thanks for the advice, Rex. Going to Europe is the primary focus of the trip. The idea of hitting the beach is just wishful thinking considering we will just be getting out of another winter.

I've been to Majorca in February, and while the water wasn't warm, the beaches were quite pleasant. So even if a dip in the ocean isn't in the picture, I'm at least hoping for short sleeves and sandals.

If you want Warm weather fun in april it's DUBAI,we went with our 7&amp;9year olds april 04. Jumeirah beach hotel or Burj-al arab with Wild Wadi Water park in the middle.As Rex says Europe won't fit your needs.If this is to exotic then Mexico,caribbean,or florida always work.

southern spain is quite warm in April - our hotel in Marbella had all the pools open and everyone was swimming at the end of April - the high temps were in the low 80's - and it was cool and pleasant at night. So if you don't have to swin in the sea a couple of days there combined with Seville, cordoba and Granada would make a great into to europe's culture and history.

I have been in southern spain for spring break and it was quite nice to walk on the beach and take a quick dip in the sea. (Marbella, and an area near Benidorm...don't remeber the name. But ou definitely will be escaping the cold winter.

I was in Sicily this past March,it was quite warm,sometimes up to mid 20C. quite lovely with millions of wild flowers around. As several other posts mentioned,there are many ancient monuments,impressive architecture,beautiful sceneries, delightful hiking routes,nice beaches and seaside resorts,cheap and good food.

topping

Okay, based on our level of interest, we are leaning towards going to Greece over Italy and Spain. Has anyone visited there in April? If so, how was the weather?