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Original poster

To think a beach holiday in Europe in May is a waste of money?

121 replies

Lennon80 · 07/04/2024 10:08

May half term - looking for a holiday in Europe with a 14, 7 and 4 year old and just thinking a city break will be hard work and beaches too cold? Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Butterflytown · 07/04/2024 12:40

We went to Majorca in May half term 2022. It was very high 20s into the 30s the whole week, so plenty warm enough for a beach holiday. We’ve also been to Portugal previously in the first week of June, was mid 20s. Similarly corfu one may (mid May) was mid 20s and definitely beach weather. I’d have thought most of Southern Europe would be warm enough for a beach holiday by the last week of May? In fact it wouldn’t occur to me that it wouldn’t be!

bellezarara · 07/04/2024 12:28

Lennon80 · 07/04/2024 10:27

We’ve don’t beach holidays in May before and it’s just not hot enough for the beach all day.

It’s just not hot enough I agree. I don’t see the point if I’m going to be shivering and putting on a cardigan. I can get that in Brighton.

Greenleavesandgrass · 07/04/2024 11:24

Depends on your personal comfort level. My dc will jump in the sea in Cornwall in 22 degree weather, whereas I struggle in anything less than 30 degrees (even the Mediterranean sea is too cold for me).

winceywillis · 07/04/2024 11:18

It's the sea/pool temperature that's an issue for me in may. I've always found it's not warm enough.

Kitkat1523 · 07/04/2024 11:17

Lennon80 · 07/04/2024 10:27

We’ve don’t beach holidays in May before and it’s just not hot enough for the beach all day.

Beach all day would be very boring

Longma · 07/04/2024 11:14

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Longma · 07/04/2024 11:12

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Vod · 07/04/2024 11:11

Depends entirely on how hot you like it, surely?

mitogoshi · 07/04/2024 11:07

That said went to Ibiza in April last year and swam in the sea, plenty warm enough except cloudy one day so went bird watching (with a guide)

mitogoshi · 07/04/2024 11:05

Crete, Cyprus, Sicily, Algarve, southern Spain ... all over 25 normally though just like in the peak summer you can get freak weather

Jmaho · 07/04/2024 11:03

We've just come back from Lanzarote and it will gorgeous weather. Mid 20s every day. Went to beach and pool every day and I burnt my back! Lovely to not be too hot at night too. May weather is usually good in Spain etc

SallyWD · 07/04/2024 11:03

My in laws live on the med and we often go in May half term. It's hit and miss. We've experienced 40 degrees and 15 degrees in May. It's a gamble.

JoJothegerbil · 07/04/2024 11:01

We've been to Mallorca several times in early May. Most times it was pleasantly hot; 25° plus, but one year we had rain for 12 out of 14 days. That was not a fun holiday.

Tequilamockinbird · 07/04/2024 11:00

We go to the Balearics in May every year and it's always been hot enough for the beach. Yes you may get 1 or 2 days with some rain, but at least it's warm rain Grin

Leonarda89 · 07/04/2024 11:00

We have been in Spain (north and south) in April/May lots of times and it is often 30°+ and always high 20s. Often too hot to be on the beach in the afternoon.

BabyEmber · 07/04/2024 10:56

I think May can be variable.

We've had a week of 28 degrees in both Spain and Greece in May, equally a week of 20 degrees in both countries.

Prices are lower as the weather is less predictable

EnglishGirlApproximately · 07/04/2024 10:56

Cyprus or any of the Southern Greek islands will be wonderful in May. I've been to Cyprus late April /early May and it was plenty hot enough to go in the pool and sunbathe all day if that's what you enjoy.

2chocolateoranges · 07/04/2024 10:52

Lennon80 · 07/04/2024 10:27

We’ve don’t beach holidays in May before and it’s just not hot enough for the beach all day.

We did a beach holiday in Lanzarote in December and I can assure you it was hot enough to sit in the sun all day!

where are you going beach holidays that aren’t warm enough?

we’ve done beach holiday may to September and it’s always been warm enough to sunbathe. We’ve been to Greece, mainland Spain, Balearics, canaries and south of France.

ViciousCurrentBun · 07/04/2024 10:51

I would be fine with that but grew up a five minute walk from the beach and have been known to swim in January, it’s what you are used to I suppose, my DH couldn’t cope with that.

Wonkypictureframe · 07/04/2024 10:50

We went to Corfu in May and it was properly hot.

LoadOfToad · 07/04/2024 10:50

We're in the south of France and it's been high 20s all week, definitely hot enough to go to the beach. May is still another month away, so it'll be plenty hot by the time the bank holidays roll around.

Nevermind31 · 07/04/2024 10:49

Canaries would be fine. Went at Christmas and spent plenty of time on the beach, swimming in the sea.

Overtheatlantic · 07/04/2024 10:44

What about a river or lake holiday in May? Central European countries certainly worth a look.

Hoppinggreen · 07/04/2024 10:42

We go to our property on the Portugal/Andalucia border in May most years. Plenty hot enough and on occasion a bit hot for me.

supersonicginandtonic · 07/04/2024 10:36

I've been Portugal, Spain, south of France, Italy, Malta. All May half term and it's always been warm enough for beach and pool days.