Where in Western Europe would you take 3 small kids for a week in April?

[Astrophe]

We may be coming to the UK (from Sydney) for a week in April, and will then want to take another week somewhere in Europe.

We love Switzerland, but I'm not sure what the weather will be like in April? We will have coats, but nothing really substantial.

We've never been to any of Scandanavia, but again, weather?

Any suggestions? We want to go somewhere relaxing and pretty, with some low key sights of activities. We are not into rushing about from one tourist sight to another, but more into gentle walks, parks, boat trips.

The kids will be 7, 5 and almost 2, and I'll be 5 months pregnant.

Thanks :)

bump - thats what you get for starting threads while the UK is asleep!

Have you considered the Kinderhotels - it is an association of very child friendly hotels in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. We've stayed at various ones both in summer and winter and both the kids and adults were very happy.

But you're right about the weather. It would be great for skiing, and your little one could stay in the creche while the older ones ski. The Hotel Alpenrose in Lermoos or the Hotel Hagleitner in Zell am See are great for kids.

i'd get a cheap flight to malaga, and take a hire car to Granada, Seville, and/or Cordoba. Fabulously family-friendly, beautiful, historic, warmer than UK... take a trip to the mountains or coast if you want one (i'd suggest a stay in Frigiliana so you can do both). Depending on your budget, the Parador hotels are lovely. but at that time of year you'd be fine just turning up and asking the tourist office, i would imagine.

Will look at kinderhotels, but they sound like they might be too pricey for us. Also I don't think we would want to ski because we wouldn't leave the little one in creche.

Will all of Switzerland be very cold/snowy in April, or just the highest bits?

Re Spain and better weather, we live in Sydney so are not really sun-seekers! Happy for cool spring weather, just not freezing IYSWIM

Thanks :)

Southern Switzerland won't be cold at all. You could stay in Lugano and enjoy the great lakes and do day trips to Como (italy - border with Switzerland), San Bernardino (cooler as higher but not freezing), Locarno....
Lugano is very nice but Switzerland is expensive, so maybe you could consider sleeping in Como (20 min from Lugano).
Or go for the "Chiantishire" in tuscany. You can stay in a Agriturismo, a rural B&B, and alternate light city-sightseeing with horse ridding and animal feeding in a farm. I love Saturnia and surrounding, plenty of history and DELICIOUS fooD!!

I was going to suggest Lake Como - it's really lovely!

Thanks, I'll look into those options as well. We've been to Lugano and it was pretty - probably we are more attracted to mountains ('cause we don't get many in Aust!).

We are looking at Villa Pia in Tuscan/Umbria, but not sure what to make of the extremely varies reviews. Anyone been?
*

another bump - anyone with villa pia experience?

Create another thread about Villa Pia, and I am sure you'll get plenty of reviews!