Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Spring Break Ideas for 2016

Search

Spring Break Ideas for 2016

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 14th, 2015 | 02:41 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Spring Break Ideas for 2016

My friend and I will be studying abroad in Barcelona for the Spring 2016 semester. We will be traveling for our Spring Break in the middle of march and we are trying to figure out where we want to travel for our break. We have about 9 days to travel. At this point, we are up for a vacation where we stay in one spot or we are also up for traveling to different spots. We would like to travel outside of Spain for this vacation, unless someone has a great idea for any vacation places in Spain. Thanks for your help in advance!
mtimmeney is offline  
Old Nov 14th, 2015 | 02:50 PM
  #2  
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Spain is full of special places, so that's not a issue. What are your interest? Holy Week runs from 20-27 March, so that my have some impact on where you stay.
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Nov 14th, 2015 | 04:15 PM
  #3  
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,886
Likes: 0
What kind of weather are you looking for?

North of the Alps can still be quite chilly and rainy. If you are looking for someplace with more moderate temps head for Italy from Rome and south.

If you want winter sports try Austria or France - unless you are trust fund babies then you want Switz.

If you tell us what your interests are it might help in making recos.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Nov 18th, 2015 | 07:25 AM
  #4  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,770
Likes: 0
HI, mtimm,

I have a similar question, since my daughter and I will be spending a week somewhere during her break from grad studies in London.

Two years ago, we did a similar thing; I researched it by looking at places easyjet flew, came up with Seville. Worked out perfectly for us. This time, I'm looking at Greece (at her request), but I don't think it's optimal time to be there.

If you have not had a chance to spend much time in London, I can tell you that it is well worth a week in early spring: late February there are daffodils blooming, and the museums are not so crowded.

You might use the easyjet/ryanair flight method of narrowing things down, as we did. Or of course look at a train map.
stokebailey is offline  
Old Nov 18th, 2015 | 02:29 PM
  #5  
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Likes: 5
stoke - why not Greece? a good time to be there I should have thought with warm weather but not too hot, and the chance of spring flowers if you get out into the countryside.

Turkey [which has wonderful tulips at that time I gather] would also be good.

in Spain I would go to Andalucia, or there is always Portugal. or Sicily. or Croatia. or my new favourite - Bulgaria! [we just had wonderful weather there, and it was November].
annhig is offline  
Old Nov 19th, 2015 | 01:23 AM
  #6  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
Likes: 0
Annhig, stokebailey's "spring break" is in February, the coldest month of the year in Greece. I'm not one to choose destinations based upon weather, rather on what one can do when you get there. Nowhere in Europe has mild weather in February, but there are many cities with excellent indoor activities such as museums, art galleries, and theatre.

Were I to choose a destination with the best weather in February it would be somewhere in the Alps where I could go skiing. Many of the ski resorts have activities for non-skiers, and excellent nightlife too.
Heimdall is offline  
Old Nov 19th, 2015 | 01:49 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 0
I've had -17c once in Waterloo in Feb.

Was caught in a snowstrom in feb in 1990 in the ardennes.
Or at least for waht passes for a snowstorm for Belgium.

We were walking with our backs towards the wind and the snow.
pariswat is offline  
Old Nov 19th, 2015 | 06:39 AM
  #8  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,770
Likes: 0
I wouldn't choose spring break based on weather, either, but with an eye towards a change from the usual. Two years ago we went to Seville so my daughter could soak up some sunshine as a change from London, and we loved that.

She really wants to go to Greece, so I'm letting that idea simmer. March would be better weather there for mtimm and friend, or just about anywhere I'd guess.

I'll revisit my thread.
stokebailey is offline  
Old Nov 19th, 2015 | 10:00 AM
  #9  
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Likes: 5
Annhig, stokebailey's "spring break" is in February, the coldest month of the year in Greece.>>

Heimdall - your idea of cold and mine are i suspect rather different but i take your point [and I didn't know that stoke's trip was in Feb for some reason I though that it was in March/April].

However I do feel that the weather has to be considered - but perhaps I was being unduly UK-centric in concentrating on the best chance of some sunshine.
annhig is offline  
Old Nov 20th, 2015 | 01:23 AM
  #10  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
Likes: 0
Annhig, I grew up in northern Wisconsin, where it drops below freezing in November or December, and stays subzero (Celsius) until March. That's my idea of cold! I consider SE England weather to be mild.

Surprisingly, London is occasionally warmer than Athens in February. Unusual to be sure, but average temperatures in Athens are only a few degrees warmer than London in February.
Heimdall is offline  
Old Nov 20th, 2015 | 01:44 PM
  #11  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 35,152
Likes: 0
The OP's trip is in March. I think the point of going to Greece ios partly the islands, beaches, etc. so while it may not be as cold as northern Europe, why do such a trip at a bad time of year when you aren't going to fully enjoy why you probably want to go there? I'd wait for a better time to invest the time/money in Greece, and go somewhere where that weather won't be an issue in what you want to do, nor in the general atmosphere (ie, I would not go to a place with an image of great countryside/flowers etc in March as you'd miss it).

If you really just want to sightsee in cities in Greece, maybe March wuold be okay.
Christina is offline  
Old Nov 21st, 2015 | 01:35 AM
  #12  
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
You could go down to Andalucia and experience Semana Santa/Holy week, fiesta and devotion hand in hand almost 24/7 for a whole week 20-27 March, the highlight of the year in Andalucia.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/se...emanasanta.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...and-guide.html

Recommend to experience Semana Santa in three thousand years old and genuine Malaga by the Med. Less tourists than in Sevilla, but just as powerful:
http://www.semana-santa-malaga.com/e...ek-malaga.html
Diana Navarro and Antonio Banderas in Malaga main street Calle Marques de Larios during Semana Santa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0OkpfhZntY

And the weather need not be that bad, statistics for Malaga in late March says average daily highs at 70F and 7 hours sun/day. (wetteronline.de)
kimhe is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
4sammy234
Europe
26
Jun 20th, 2017 01:58 PM
leverett10
Europe
9
Oct 19th, 2013 04:50 AM
Tubulus
Europe
8
Oct 20th, 2011 04:32 AM
MaidaIsabel
Europe
8
Sep 7th, 2008 04:24 AM
mentorteach
Europe
6
Feb 2nd, 2008 12:51 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -