Short-haul April sun

[thr32]

Afternoon all,

Him Indoors wants to get an early start on the 2026 tan. We went to Fuerteventura late in March this year, but the weather was marginal at best. There’s always going to be risk so early in the year, but what are our best ideas that avoid long-haul please?

Thanks all

TH

[towser44]

thr32 said:

Afternoon all,

Him Indoors wants to get an early start on the 2026 tan. We went to Fuerteventura late in March this year, but the weather was marginal at best. There s always going to be risk so early in the year, but what are our best ideas that avoid long-haul please?

Thanks all

TH

Luck of the draw, you seem unlucky with Fuerteventura, as we did 5 weeks over 2 years in December a few years ago there and saw only 2 overcast/rainy days over the course of 5 weeks. Temperatures were in excess of 25 degrees on some days.

I've just been Benidorm for 4 days over the weekend and it was shorts and t-shirt weather all day and temps are still 21 degrees today.

[ExBoringVolvoDriver]

thr32 said:

Afternoon all,

Him Indoors wants to get an early start on the 2026 tan. We went to Fuerteventura late in March this year, but the weather was marginal at best. There s always going to be risk so early in the year, but what are our best ideas that avoid long-haul please?

Thanks all

TH

I think you were unlucky, we were there in early April and it was fine. Also been in early March and again fine.

Tenerife can be a bit better I think although I would avoid Madeira in March/April based on our experience although others say it’s fine.

Depends on what you class as long haul as Cape Verde might be a good option along with Egypt with flights at IIRC 6 1/2 hours and 5 ish hours respectively.

[mikef]

Or Morocco? Marrakech should be around 25 ℃ and sunny, The coast probably a bit cooler

[DT1975]

The answer is probably Cape Verde.

[bodhi]

Cyprus should be in the 20s by then. Ayia Napa/Protaras should be opening by then - although the sea will be cold - and Paphos is open all year.

Similar flight to the Canaries too.

[ExBoringVolvoDriver]

bodhi said:

Cyprus should be in the 20s by then. Ayia Napa/Protaras should be opening by then - although the sea will be cold - and Paphos is open all year.

Similar flight to the Canaries too.

Cyprus at that time can be hit and miss - we once went end March and had a lovely week of weather, some friends went 2 weeks later and had a bad week.

Still think the best option is probably Cape Verde with a 6 hour flight.

Or for something completely different Gambia.

[ferret50]

It rained almost every day in March last year on the Algarve, but that is unusual, mostly March is warm and sunny with the odd wet day....well that's our theory and past experience.

[LuS1fer]

I go to Fuerteventura mainly, up to 8 times a year and, by and large, it is usually warm or hot weather. Two years ago, in December, Fuerteventura was baking, not a cloud in the sky. We also go to Lanzarote, GC and Tenerife but FV is favourite.

Having checked my notes,it has always been hot in April, whenever I have been. We go in January and late February, too which tend to have the highest risk of being a bit chilly but even they have been more hot than chilly, bar one year when they got some polar winds.

Tenerife tends to be more variable as it has a massive mountain in the middle and in 2016, the Teide national park was at least 10 foot under snow but the island was still hot around the coast.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Tenerife in Jan '25 was good 20's and shorts and t shirt the entire time. Pool was a tad chilly I would have thought very safe bet by March.

[thr32]

Some interesting ideas there — thanks all

TH

[Every day a journey]

Madeira

[Puggit]

mikef said:

Or Morocco? Marrakech should be around 25 ? and sunny, The coast probably a bit cooler

Just got back from a long weekend - it was 25 when we arrived, 16 yesterday, but all four days featured fierce sun.

Of course, mooching around the souks means no tan, but if you wanted to you could burn yourself to a crisp quite easily.

Atlas Mountains had a fresh layer of snow - looked amazing!

[mikef]

Puggit said:

Just got back from a long weekend - it was 25 when we arrived, 16 yesterday, but all four days featured fierce sun.

Of course, mooching around the souks means no tan, but if you wanted to you could burn yourself to a crisp quite easily.

Atlas Mountains had a fresh layer of snow - looked amazing!

We stay at the Iberostar Palmeraie, just east of the city centre, for decent prices and amazing food (all inclusive). There are two huge pool areas, one adults-only, and while the pool water isn't at summer temperature you can easily burn on the loungers at that time of year

[Square Leg]

Whilst not a place that has ever been on my Traveldar, we’ve booked a week in Egypt for the end of March.
Supposedly warm that time of the year…

[SoliD]

Luck of the draw unfortunately and any best laid plans could be disrupted

I've been to Mallorca 4 times for cycling (end of jan, end of feb and beginning of march x2) and had great weather for 3 of the trips and yet rain most days on the last one at beginning of March, the previous time again beginning of March, just 2 weeks before they had had a snow storm and most of the mountain roads were shut due to fallen trees.

But at least it'll be warmer! Just went out to Madeira this past weekend, 20c every day, still warm in the evening, little bit of spitting rain on a couple of days, but blue skies for most of the rest of it!

[Wacky Racer]

Use plenty of sun protection. two friends have just been treated for skin cancer of the face, sometimes it can take 30 years to show apparently.