We're considering an escape from the endless northeast winter next year, perhaps in mid to late March. Where are some options for warmer weather locations? And to me, daily temps in the 60s is warm!

Anywhere in the Mediterranean will be delightful!

What would you like? Sights and weather, beaches and weather or a little bit of both?

Looking more for sights and weather. I'm not really a sitting-on-the-beach person. Too boring.

I'd love you to try Athens - you couldn't ask for more sights! The weather will be well above the mid 60s so it fits one of your requirements. Furthermore, there is a beach relatively nearby if you want some sea for whatever reason.

You could do Amalfi coast, South of France, but they're too obvious.

Go to weatherbase.com, and click on "Vacation Finder". Enter in the month you want to travel, and the minimum acceptable temperature. It will show you where you can go. Bear in mind that even if temps are in your acceptable range, in places like the Amalif coast, that is the low season and many of the better restaurants and hotels will be closed. Also, it may be difficult to get to Capri as ferry schedules are limited, and you will find a lot of Capri shut down. Also, the Vacation Finder won't show how often it may rain in that month, for that you need to go to the city listings on the weatherbase.com site.

That being said, if 60s F is OK with you, and you don't mind a little rain, I think Rome, Florence, most part of Spain and Lisbon and Greece would meet your criteria. I would personally avoid the coastal areas as the weather plays a much more important role there, IMO, than in the cities. A cool foggy day on the Amalfi coast is not nearly as enjoyable as a foggy day in Rome . . .

Also don't forget that in March it may be dark earlier than you are used to, as much of Europe is north of most of the US. Take a look at sunrisesunset.com for info on that.

I would go for Andalusia in that time of the year. If you're lucky, it's the Semana Santa (week before Easter) and there's plenty of impressive processions and other cultural and religious activities. And even if not, Andalusia is wonderful.

If you decide to go to the Andalusia region during Holy Week book your reservations NOW!

Thanks, all. Good food for thought.

We were in Seville late March last year, and it was in the low 80's with the streets lined with orange trees in blossom - heaven! However, we drove to Grenada and hit a strectch of cold rain, so you may encounter anything. I do believe that Seville is the warmest city in Europe, however.

Sicily.

We went to Hong Kong this year in March. Great weather.

Warm and lovely.
Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Buenos Aires - Argentina
Cusco,Machu Pichu - Peru
Colonial Mexico - Mexico
Key West - Florida, USA

Assuming you have EUROS, let those do the walking...and they go farrrrrrr on any of locations i just mentioned.

In March 2001 it was sunny, 80F in Rome, 70s in Tuscany.

miguelgcuadra: Thanks for reminding me of Argentina. I've been wanting to go there!

And zootsi, I was in Seville once right before Christmas and it was warm enough to have breakfast outside. Heaven.

Cicerone - weatherbase.com is a great tip. However, it doesn't seem that simple : I tried entering March & 60F minimum (having first tried 70F without success) and it didn't come up with *anywhere* in Europe !! It just seems to list places where it *never* goes below that temperature then - not just in the daytime. It has the average temperature for Seville in March down as 58F, with average high of 69F and average low of 46F. Still useful, though - thanks for pointing it out.

Yes, historically, no where in Europe in warm in March! There are abberations, but the stastics are against finding warm weather then. Look at a map, and see how far north most of Europe is compared to the lower 48 in the US. Naples is on the same latitude as New York, and NYC certainly is not warm in March, although you may have the odd warm day. . . .

Having lived in Asia for 10 years before moving here to Zurich, you will find warm to very hot temps in many places in SE Asia in May, give it a thought. . .

Sorry, it is warm to hot in MARCH ion much of SE AsSia. (and even hotter in May)

Cicerone... latitude is far from being the only factor when determining weather and temperature. It has to do with water currents, sea water temperature, winds, high-and-low pressure areas etc. etc. This makes cities around the Mediterranean (an inner sea, always pretty warm, etc.) pretty warmer in cooler times than a city on the ocean like NYC.

But yes: end of March you might have bad luck and end up with rain and about 15?C all over southern Europe, as well as it can be bright sunny and closer to 25 or even 30? for cities like Seville.

Hi

For a chance of European good weather in March, you have to look at the South and Med areas.

Europeans go to the Canary Islands, Malta, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco, etc. (If they want really warm weather they go to Asia, Africa, Carribean, Australia).

Here March is the turning point between winter & spring. Last 30 years averages are : Highest temp=27C, Average daytime temp= 16C. Maybe a bit marginal for you ?

You can check more here :

http://tlp.netfirms.com/meteo2.htm
http://tlp.netfirms.com/languedocweather.htm
http://tlp.netfirms.com/expat/link15.htm

Peter