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Original poster

Europe too hot in July for young children?

58 replies

Gameofmoans81 · 27/01/2023 08:21

I’ve been looking at holidays in Corsica, Portugal, Spain etc for July but my friend has really put me off as she thinks it will be too hot. She went to Sardinia last year in July and said they couldn’t leave the house, burnt their feet walking to the pool, burnt faces while in the pool and the littlest got heat exhaustion sat in the shade! She’s said she’ll never go later than May now.
I love a warm sea and sunny beach but now I’m worried it will be too much for our 4 year old. What were people’s experiences last year? Were they similar?
I know forecasts say this year will be even hotter.
We’re going to Slovenia in April so don’t really want to replicate the lakes/Northern Europe holiday again in the summer - I really want some beach time! Where is lovely but maybe not so hot?
thanks!

OP posts:
ImmigrantAlice · 27/01/2023 10:30

I spent every summer in Corsica growing up, and yes, it did get hot, but it was glorious. You sit in shade, or cool off in the sea.

AnnaMagnani · 27/01/2023 10:32

Siesta culture exists in these countries for a reason.

DH and I foolishly did Italy in August one year. Everything is shut for the hottest hours of the day, some things are shut altogether, and everyone emerges with their kids after 8pm.

If this isn't what you want to do, there are lovely holidays with great beaches in Northern Europe.

Sunshineandflipflops · 27/01/2023 10:34

We took our dc to the south of France every year from when our youngest was 6 months old and they loved it. Plenty of time in the pool/in the sea, shade if they needed it.

Whitewolf2 · 27/01/2023 10:47

Honestly it’s not something I’d want to do especially given the heat waves last year, so We’re going to Europe in May. Sure kids live in hot countries, but they’re used to the heat! My kids are sweaty grumpy messes in hot weather. I’d rather holiday in the Uk in July.

CoolShoeshine · 27/01/2023 15:22

sorry if it’s common sense but I’d research your accommodation well before you go. One year our advertised “10 minute” walk from the villa to the resort center and beach turned out to be more like 30 minutes with kids and was all uphill on the way back. We got frazzled and it wasn’t fun, especially if we’d picked up groceries to carry.
Also some places like Mallorca/Minorca have resorts with small cove beaches surrounded by pine trees which are great for shade. We like to go in the sea and then chill in the shade rather than lie in the full sun. We are so fair we wouldn’t last 10 minutes on the beach without some shade. Likewise if your hotel has a pool with shady garden area it is a bonus.
We do Med in August every year and still have a lovely time, but we’re realistic about how much we can do in the heat. Whatever you do don’t attempt to sightsee in the heat with children, you’ll definitely regret it!

Geamhradh · 27/01/2023 15:28

I live in Italy and regularly spend holidays in Spain and Portugal in August.
Portugal (Atlantic coast/Algarve) definitely the most bearable. I'm used to it now, was at the Colosseum in Rome with 43 degrees and Madrid with 42.
But I've been in Italy for 28 years so am acclimatised. And Italians go to the beach early morning and leave by 11-12, or arrive around 4pm. That's what we did in Menorca and Portugal. The beach stuff very late afternoon

CottonSock · 27/01/2023 15:33

I agree somewhat. Did love northern Spain mid summer and great weather.
I have been to Paris in a heatwave and roasted.
Found turkey too hot even without kids.
Even managed to hit a 45C or similar when I went to Poland. The roads melted.

I stick to the UK in summer :)

Underparmummy · 27/01/2023 18:19

You just think about how to manage it and take lots of suncream. You will be fine!

Havanananana · 27/01/2023 18:47

Since when was Slovenia in Northern Europe?

Actually, a beach holiday in northern Europe might be the answer. The Danish west coast or islands (Rømø, Fanø, Langeland, Aerø, Bornholm) or the northern German Baltic coast are all sunny in the summer without usually being too hot. 25-30 deg is the norm in August - and there are loads of things for kids to do apart from going to the beach.

Granted its not the Mediterranean, but nor is it likely to be unbearably hot.

4thonthe4th · 27/01/2023 18:51

Whatthediddlyfeck · 27/01/2023 08:27

Exactly this…your friend sounds like she underestimated the heat and managed it poorly. There’s no excuse for children getting burnt especially in water

Show quote history

This; she didn’t take proper precautions clearly.

We’ve taken our children abroad in July / August ranging from 6 weeks old - 6 months (depending on their birthdays) to Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Mallorca.
None of my children have ever been burnt.

Their feet got burnt? Didn’t they take flip flops / sliders? Sun cream on their faces?

Commonsensitivity · 27/01/2023 18:51

As others have said - last summer was not a normal summer - there were massive heat waves across Europe including the UK.
I'd expect a swing back to normal temperatures this summer.

You forgot to factor in climate change. We are. Now doing Paris on the eurostar in April. We live near some lovely beaches so staying in the UK for the hottest part of the year.

FettleOfKish · 27/01/2023 18:56

Last summer was exceptionally hot everywhere though. We went to a wedding in Rome in late July and honestly it was bloody awful, but importantly all the guests who live in Rome were suffering just as badly as us. It wasn't just 'what it is' (at least for now).

We've been to Majorca in August the last 2 years and it's been hot but totally manageable with good planning.

Shampern · 27/01/2023 19:00

It depends how both you and your kids tolerate the heat. We are all fair skinned and managing the constant precautions are draining for everyone.

We go to the Vendee where there is at least some Atlantic breeze.

isthismylifenow · 27/01/2023 19:03

Hobbi · 27/01/2023 08:38

It's one of the reasons people in hot countries never have children.

😂What ?

Hobbi · 27/01/2023 19:26

@isthismylifenow

Just a little joke - I got called stupid for it earlier 😂. When ours were little we went to very hot places - we're all pale skinned so had siestas, covered and lathered up, cooled down in the water, sat in the shade and stayed up late at night. Was nice to be out of the way of the bourgeoisie who I presume were busy dragging their kids through cathedrals and markets in cooler climes.

Heatherbell1978 · 27/01/2023 19:33

Do you enjoy the heat? We've done quite a few hot holidays with the kids including Australia with a toddler when it didn't get below 40. Kids have always been fine as long as they're in the pool, covered up, have access to shade etc. If you enjoy the heat and take sensible precautions with the kids then everyone will be happy.

cravingtoblerone · 27/01/2023 19:36

Corsica gets a coastal breeze that can lower the temp. We've been there mid-June and it was about 26 Usually somewhere around 30-32 degrees mid-summer. Not too hideous.

feellikeanalien · 27/01/2023 19:58

The Algarve and west coast of Portugal are on the Atlantic so a bit fresher. DD was born there and managed to survive 7 years living there despite being blonde and fair skinned.

We used to holiday on the west coast in July and it was lovely. We would go to the beach early or later in the afternoon and DD never got sunburnt once. (The sea is also much cooler than the Mediterranean) The only time she has had sunburn was when we came back to the UK and she was playing outside at school in the summer term. Flip flops or sandals will stop feet from burning on the sand.

As others have said take the usual sensible precautions and you will be fine. I got sunstroke in Scotland as a child!!

SkankingWombat · 27/01/2023 20:07

It depends on your DCs surely? We had one memorable year in Southern France when DD1 was 3yo. It was 34 degrees and she was stood poolside in full sun, dressed in a shortie wetsuit, shivering with blue lips... All the other (French) kids were happily paddling around in shorts/bikini bottoms. I swear that child is cold blooded... Last year it was over 40 and DD1 was living her best life. The rest of us managed just fine by doing the long shady lunches (plus played some cards), siestas, and late afternoon/evening pool sessions mentioned upthread.

BumpyaDaisyevna · 27/01/2023 20:18

??

What do all the little Greek/Italian/Spanish kiddies do in the summer?

Do they migrate further north where it is cooler?

Think your kids will be fine OP

dreamingbohemian · 27/01/2023 22:11

Havanananana · 27/01/2023 18:47

Since when was Slovenia in Northern Europe?

Actually, a beach holiday in northern Europe might be the answer. The Danish west coast or islands (Rømø, Fanø, Langeland, Aerø, Bornholm) or the northern German Baltic coast are all sunny in the summer without usually being too hot. 25-30 deg is the norm in August - and there are loads of things for kids to do apart from going to the beach.

Granted its not the Mediterranean, but nor is it likely to be unbearably hot.

Oh the German Baltic coast is lovely, look up Rugen

Original poster
Gameofmoans81 · 28/01/2023 13:43

Thank you, some great suggestions to look up that I hadn’t thought of! I think a beach but somewhere fresher sounds much more fun.
I'm obviously talking about holidaying in hot weather not living in it - locals tend to stay indoors all day (not my idea of a holiday).
my friend is actually Sardinian and was visiting family! The point was that even slathered in sun cream and sitting in the shade it was unbearable. Like others have said last year was unusually hot though. Unfortunately from the sounds of it there’s more of that to come this year and next

OP posts:
Star81 · 28/01/2023 13:47

I spend the summers in Europe and last year was the warmest I can ever remember , uncomfortably warm but then again there were heatwaves are over England so not surprising.

whenever you go into the sun you would’ve want to be in it all day long. Even here they say avoid strongest sunlight between 11. - 3 pm so play in mornings and later afternoon in pool / beach and have long lunches and a siesta and you’ll have a great time.

heldinadream · 28/01/2023 13:48

unusually hot is going to become the norm though. Warnings for 100 years. Dear me no-one took it seriously.
This is NOT directed at OP. This is about the whole human race needing to take on board climate change is here now.

maddy68 · 28/01/2023 13:52

I live in Spain. It is hot in the summer but do what the locals do. That's why we have siestas outdoors all morning. , Lunch and siesta in the hottest time , come out again when it's cooler it's just Brits that stay out all day. 🤣