Where's warm in April?

[GoneFishingAgain]

Covid aside, looking for recommendations for somewhere warm for a family holiday at Easter. Warm enough to swim in a pool/sea (kids are pretty hardy!) and t-shirt weather. Not Canaries but wondering if anywhere else in Europe will fit the bill.

[LeGrandBleu]

Oman? I know it is not Europe, but swimming in a pool / sea in April can be hit and miss. Good years, bad years.

[EveryDayIsLikeMonday]

Also not in Europe: Cape Verde islands

[SJaneS48]

Southern Portugal (Tavira/Faro)is about 20 degrees in April - warm enough for hardy kids to swim (although I’d probably give it a miss!).

Oman would be lovely though you’d need a biggish budget. As well as nice beaches, Muscat it’s good for snorkelling/diving/water sports and has an interesting old souk and pretty corniche. Further out you get into the mountains with old fortified villages - good if you like getting off the beaten track or hiking.

I’ve not been to Cape Verde but from friends who’ve been there I’ve been told it’s just big resorts and hot weather, really not much else. It depends what you are looking for though and as above, this is just hearsay!

[Wheytaminute]

I would suggest the Algarve. I've only been once and that was mid March. It was sunny for the 9 out of our 10 days.

Malta will probably be warm too. Never been though so no advice.

April is a tricky time in Europe - can be nice but can't guarantee it. Plus is out of season so not all resorts will be open.

Which is why my winter breaks are always to the Canaries.

[twilightcafe]

Egypt? Its 5/6 hours flight from the UK to Hurghada

[hopefulhalf]

Naples ? Sicily ?

[Redtartanshoes]

Not Europe but Marrakech would be lovely

[GoneFishingAgain]

Lots of great suggestions, thank you! Will look into them all. It may all be for nothing, but it's nice to plan.

Oman sounds amazing, think that would be right up our street, thank you.

[FatArse123]

Another vote for Naples, which has easy access to islands and beaches, plus it's (in my view) the most fascinating city in Europe. It's a bit of a love it or hate it kind of place; mad, beautiful, superstitious, friendly, dirty and edgy but safe so long as you hold on to your handbag properly. I think the sea anywhere in Europe will be freezing in April - I've swam in Malta and Sicily then and it's been quite brief! The Aeolian islands are also really lovely, we went to Lipari town in April, which is a great base for the other islands while being ig enough to not feel too 'off season'.

[SJaneS48]

As the PP says, Naples is marmite. It’s got some interesting museums and good food but one persons gritty and edgy is another’s grim and dodgy at the edges. It’s a hell of a long time ago but after I had men trying to pull me into a car as I was walking along the seafront in Naples in my early twenties (they were laughing their heads off - I’m sure if it had been 100% serious they’d have succeeded but I had to hit one them as he’d grabbed my legs and was pulling me) I’ve not had much of a desire to go back. That’s not to say Naples is an outright dangerous place to be - I’m sure I got unlucky - it is somewhere though to keep your wits about you which might not be everyone’s idea of a relaxing break.

Horses for courses though (and how boring of we all liked the same places!)

[FatArse123]

@SJaneS48 I'm sorry that happened to you, that's awful. I would agree that Naples is somewhere to keep your wits about you, and maybe focus on the centro historico which is very busy, but also big enough for a weekend.

[reluctantbrit]

If you want guaranteed good weather I would go long haul and go to the Caribeean.

[FindMeInTheSunshine]

I also think anywhere in Europe in April is not guaranteed to be warm, and definitely not warm sea. We had a holiday in southern Italy towards the end of April one year and I had to buy extra warm clothes and spent any time in the room in bed huddled under the duvet as the heating was nowhere near powerful enough!

[KoalasandRabbit]

We've been in pool / sea in April in Europe in Menorca, Majorca and Cyprus but its borderline on temp and you need to be hardy incase you aren't lucky with weather. Also check what's open, some outdoor water places don't open until May.

[RoundTheTwister]

We got married in April in Malta a few years ago. Weather was amazing - mid to late 20s every day but the swimming pools and sea were still too cold for swimming in really. Maybe your kids are tougher than me though?!

[HRH18]

Sea is cold off Europe in April wherever you go, even the Canaries.

We have had nice weather in Portugal at Easter. Lots of sun and temps around 21 degrees.