Where to go in May?
Discussion
I've had fabulous weather in Mallorca in April though that may have been "lucky" but we had a full week of it.
Realistically, you're looking at Cyprus or the Canaries. We've done Lanzarote in May and the weather was pretty good and Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are a bit different in character to the more mountainous Tenerife and Gran Canaria and you certainly don't want to dismiss them all on the basis of having been to one.
We went to Tenerife last February and the weather was good and we're off to Lanzarote for the third time this week as it happens (as villas there are cheaper).
I should add that if it's just you and your girlfriend then to hell with travel distances because when you have kids, all these places will be denied to you and you have to do India, Sri Lanka and the like. We did Kerala in Southern India for a week back in 2004 and loved it so much we went back for 2 weeks in 2005 but it's too far for kids and requires jabs and so forth.
Realistically, you're looking at Cyprus or the Canaries. We've done Lanzarote in May and the weather was pretty good and Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are a bit different in character to the more mountainous Tenerife and Gran Canaria and you certainly don't want to dismiss them all on the basis of having been to one.
We went to Tenerife last February and the weather was good and we're off to Lanzarote for the third time this week as it happens (as villas there are cheaper).
I should add that if it's just you and your girlfriend then to hell with travel distances because when you have kids, all these places will be denied to you and you have to do India, Sri Lanka and the like. We did Kerala in Southern India for a week back in 2004 and loved it so much we went back for 2 weeks in 2005 but it's too far for kids and requires jabs and so forth.
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 14th March 11:40
Short(er) haul like others have mentioned you’re looking at Canaries, Egypt, etc. To add some other Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde and The Gambia.
My Dad lives on the Spanish mainland and I was there at the end of March last year and it was high 70’s/80’s some days and have been in May and it’s never been anything but nice weather but it’s not as sure as the above just a bit of a gamble really.
My Dad lives on the Spanish mainland and I was there at the end of March last year and it was high 70’s/80’s some days and have been in May and it’s never been anything but nice weather but it’s not as sure as the above just a bit of a gamble really.
Luxor.
Hot and culture. Job done.
Don't agree with the travelling with kids thing though. My son went with us to Jamaica when he had just turned three. He's been all over Europe with us too. Last year we went to Kenya with him, he loved it. Took the jabs in his stride, took his anti malaria tablets better than his mother. This year we're off to Aruba in July and he can't wait.
Travelling with kids is a state of mind. They have to enjoy it.
Hot and culture. Job done.
Don't agree with the travelling with kids thing though. My son went with us to Jamaica when he had just turned three. He's been all over Europe with us too. Last year we went to Kenya with him, he loved it. Took the jabs in his stride, took his anti malaria tablets better than his mother. This year we're off to Aruba in July and he can't wait.
Travelling with kids is a state of mind. They have to enjoy it.
Went to Madeira in April a couple of years ago and loved it (although we may have been lucky with the weather - chucked it down a couple of times but it was warm enough to steam off the streets within an hour or two)!... There isn't an awful lot to do, but it was pretty, the restaurants were fab and quite inexpensive, and it was a nice place to potter about for a week!
I'd suggest Canaries too mainly for the weather as the Med - especially the western end - can still be a bit unsettled in May.
Admittedly none of the Canaries are top quality European destinations - there's a lot of tacky souvenier shops and beer and chips in the sunshine about all of them - but Lanzarote and Furteventura are our two favourite islands and southern Lanzarote and northern Furteventura generally have the best Canaries climate too.
Choose Lanzarote for it's stunning volcanic landscape and good quality hotels in Playa Blanca or Corralejo in northern Furteventura for amazing beaches and good choice of restaurants. Either way hire a car and go exploring. Both resorts are relatively quiet but unfortunately not entirely free from Chavs.
Best of Lanzarote: Puerto Calero, Papagayo beaches, Timanfaya volcanic park, Marina Rubicon, Cesar Manrqie artistic influence, sculptures and foundation, Yazia village, Rubicon Palace hotel and El Golfo fishing village and seafood restaurants.
Best of Furteventura: Sand dunes at Corralejo, Stunningly pretty beaches north and south of El Cotillo, Bentancuria and Pajara villages. Good hooning roads inland, Jandia beaches in the south. El Toro Brava in Corralejo high street is the best restaurant we've found on the island.
NE trade wind usually means clear skies and sunshine wherever you are. If it drops or goes southerly or westerly chances are it'll cloud over and maybe rain a little too. Get over to the west side of both islands and you'll have the best chance of sun.
Check Travel Republic - usually the cheapest deals.
Admittedly none of the Canaries are top quality European destinations - there's a lot of tacky souvenier shops and beer and chips in the sunshine about all of them - but Lanzarote and Furteventura are our two favourite islands and southern Lanzarote and northern Furteventura generally have the best Canaries climate too.
Choose Lanzarote for it's stunning volcanic landscape and good quality hotels in Playa Blanca or Corralejo in northern Furteventura for amazing beaches and good choice of restaurants. Either way hire a car and go exploring. Both resorts are relatively quiet but unfortunately not entirely free from Chavs.
Best of Lanzarote: Puerto Calero, Papagayo beaches, Timanfaya volcanic park, Marina Rubicon, Cesar Manrqie artistic influence, sculptures and foundation, Yazia village, Rubicon Palace hotel and El Golfo fishing village and seafood restaurants.
Best of Furteventura: Sand dunes at Corralejo, Stunningly pretty beaches north and south of El Cotillo, Bentancuria and Pajara villages. Good hooning roads inland, Jandia beaches in the south. El Toro Brava in Corralejo high street is the best restaurant we've found on the island.
NE trade wind usually means clear skies and sunshine wherever you are. If it drops or goes southerly or westerly chances are it'll cloud over and maybe rain a little too. Get over to the west side of both islands and you'll have the best chance of sun.
Check Travel Republic - usually the cheapest deals.
yammyfan said:
My girlfriend and I want to go somewhere for the first week of May, we want somewhere hot but are put off going too far (Mexico etc) as we're only going for a week and don't want to spend too much of it travelling. Been looking at Madeira but I'm concerned that it may not be warm enough in May, any suggestions? We went to Gran Canaria in May last year which was nice and warm but would prefer to go somewhere new.
Thanks
I went to Madeira with my girlfriend about a fortnight ago. Weather was lovely (~21c and sunny every day) and we had a great time (albeit with a somewhat, ahem, older crowd in the general vicinity).Thanks
I'd happily go back there for some late winter sun next year.
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