amybizboz

I am planning a month-long trip to Spain starting around April 22. I would like to spend the first few days unwinding in a warm, preferably beachy location (if not a beach, a pool!) to decompress before embarking on my cultural emersion (from there my itinerary is Seville, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Madrid). Any suggestions for a spot to kick off my trip? I've looked into Costa del Sol, but the temps average only high-60's; the Balearics seem warmer but I'm not looking for a party scene. Would like to stay close to the continent so not so interested in the Canaries.

I'm a savvy, experienced traveler but also a woman traveling alone (at least for this portion of the trip).
Thanks in advance,
Amy

yorkshire

Where are you flying in to? If the Costa del Sol is out, then I can't think of anywhere warmer in April. (You also have winds to contend with, and the seas are not warm.) Did you check Barcelona temps for April?
I have not been to the Balearics but have done some digging around for potential trips and I get the sense that the party scene is only in summer, should be quite pleasant in off season.
You could skip beach and find a nice place with a pool in Andalucia, where you might luck out and get sun instead of rain. I was hiking near Ronda and came across a really appealing pool at a small hotel in a small town called Jimera de Libar, on the train line to Ronda. (do a google image search) There are probably 1000s of small towns like this where I would certainly like to while away a few days.

danon

April is no beach time in Barcelona.

kimhe

Take a look at Nerja (pop. 20 000). Close to Málaga with direct buses to Sevilla. You can expect highs about 70 to 75°in late April. Among nine small and large beaches in town, my favourite is tranquile El Salón: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/el-salon/

About Nerja: http://www.nerjatoday.com/

janisj

I doubt most (any ?) pools would be open in April. Be sure to double check w/ the hotel.

nytraveler

We have been in souther Spain twice in April and both times it was beach weather (highs in the upper 80s), the pools were being heavily used and a lot of people were on the beach. I'm not sure about the water but I don;t think the Med gets really cold (but them I'm used to the North Atlantic).

We stayed near Marbella - in Puerto Banus - but we wanted upscale hotels, casino, nice restaurants etc. versus more rustic.

kimhe

Late April would most likely be fine for swimming in Nerja if you think water temperature at 65-70°F is ok. Now, two months ahead, it's 59.

Indoor pool at very central Hotel Plaza Cavana.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/plaz...FYOIDgod0jtMdA

I can recommend bustling La Marina or La Puntilla to get a feel of the local flavour. Especially La Marina in Plaza la Marina is in my opinion as good as you get a seafood freiduria in all of Andalucía. http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...s/la-puntilla/

Top tapas grilled on the spot (conchas finas, mussels, clams, prawns, monkfish, whitebait, baby-squid, sausages, pinchos morunos, mini-burgers etc.) and great atmosphere at El Pulguilla in C/Cristo, just off Balcón de Europa. Free tapas to choose with every drink in the bar area (as in most bars and restaurants in Nerja).
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres.../el-pulguilla/

Cafetería Cavana, 30 meters from the Hotel Plaza Cavana, is an excellent place to relax and have a late night drink. One of the oldest bars in Nerja.

The spectacular Nerja caves are just outside town: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerja/nerja-caves/

qwovadis

Costa del Luz beaches nice or

www.pensaomarazul.com Lagos my fav or if adventurous

Maroc or Sharm/Red Sea areas good deals now with all the

unrest but www.insuremytrip.com if you do this.

Have fun,

amybizboz

Thanks so much! Am looking into Nerja now. A friend suggested Alicante also, anyone been there?

nukesafe

We used to have a time share up the coast from Alicante in Calpe. I liked Alicante, lots of beach, and if you are there in April, you will probably be there before the hoards of Brits and Germans descend upon it later in the year for their cheapo package holidays.

oopsy

We stayed at Paraiso del Mar in Nerja and loved it. It was lovely and the various terraces made it possible to hide away and relax with a lovely view. We actually considered staying put for a couple other days, giving up part of our itinerary, but they were sold out.

http://www.hotelparaisodelmar.es/

kimhe

HOTELS:
In Nerja I can also recommend seafront Hotel Carabeo. Spectacular views and in the oldest street in town: http://www.hotelcarabeo.com/

The Parador is also very high standard:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/para...-nerja.en.html

Both Plaza Cavana, Paraiso del Mar, Hotel Carabeo and the Parador are in or very close to the beautiful old part of town with lots of small bars/restaurants that are also very popular with locals. Here you get delicious free tapas to chose with every glass of beer, wine or whatever (about 1,20-1,50€).

FOOD:
Some of my favourites in the old town/casco antiguo:

Los Cuñaos (The brothers-in-law):
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...ts/los-cunaos/

Taberna del Pescador. Next door to great restaurant El Niño where they also do delicious tapas: http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...-del-pescador/
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandrestaurants/el-nino/

Los Bilbainos: http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...los-bilbainos/

El Cangrejo: http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...s/el-cangrejo/

PHOTOS:
Three of the four hotels would be just above the cliffs on this photo. Hotel Plaza Cavana is one min away from where the photo is taken:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trondjs/3735908317/

Old town street in Nerja:
http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/131879/629455

kimhe

Much better and larger version of the Nerja photo:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg

humptynumpty

I have been doing these (Spring) trip for all of my 42 years. First at the age of 3 months and the latest last Spring

The Balearics can be very, very wet in April. The Med high pressure starts to form around mid May and the weather is very stable between then and October. February can also be a settled time to go but the beach weather only appears in late May.

Andalucia is far warmer on average. Personally, I would I think much of the Costa Del Sol needs several nuclear warheads. Some like it, many don't as it is very, very anglo-saxon overdeveloped. English is the dominant language in most areas other than Malaga.

The Costa De La Luz is lovely, fairly unspoilt but can suffer cooler weather due to the Atlantic winds.

As stated above Nerja is about the most tasteful resort on the Costa De La Luz.

Marbella is the least and there are many scruffy resorts which you should avoid.