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

[Lennon80]

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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)

Depends entirely on how hot you like it, surely?

Beach all day would be very boring

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

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).

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.

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!

This could happen any time.

I went to Malaga in November once and it was 25 degrees most days.

That’s weather for you

Yes but the law of averages means you have a much better chance of hot weather in July/August.

Spain had heat waves in Feb this year, that doesn’t mean I’m going to plan my annual beach holiday for February next year.

We are talking May in the Mediterranean, the weather is likely to be very good.

You’re right, it can be very unpredictable in May. Two years ago we had a heatwave in Italy in the May half term, last year in this same dates/place we only had one day of milky sunshine and spent three days under a weather front bringing torrential rain.

If you want guaranteed (ish) warmth go Canaries. Or look at the forecast two weeks in advance and book last minute where ever looks good.

But the sea/pool temps will always be brisk in May.