Not going on a booked holiday because the weather forecast is terrible?

[Usernamen]

Hi,

I have non-refundable flights and a (as yet refundable) hotel booked for a trip to Malta for 5 nights over Easter, but the weather forecast is rubbish - so much colder than I thought it would be. It’s forecast to be 17 degrees, just a couple of degrees warmer than London.

I only booked a trip so I could get some warmth (especially after the dreadful weather of the last few weeks…) and I really expected it to be around low 20s, based on previous years.

Anyway, I am thinking of just writing the price of the flights (£200) off and booking somewhere warm like Seville instead (29 degrees!). It’s a solo trip so no one else to consult or consider.

Has anyone ever done this? Just cut their losses and booked somewhere else? Am I being ridiculous?

If you can afford it I would say go for Seville OP.. life is short. Go and get some sunshine!

Weeks like a sensible idea if you can afford it.

Seems like a good idea...

Sevilla at Easter is an interesting time. And usually very busy, and really expensive.

Yes, we lost flights to sicily once as forecast was 45 degrees and didn't think young dc would manage / we'd be inside most of the time. Cheap flights so only lost about 250 quid and went to Wales instead!

If you can get somewhere in Saville and can afford it I'd go

How can you be so sure of the forecast this far out? Easter holidays start in over a week. Easter itself is 2 weeks away. Personally I'd not trust the forecast yet.

There is absolutely no way you (or anyone else) can know what the weather will be like in either destination two weeks in the future. I assume you’re looking at one of these long range forecasts and taking it as gospel. You could change your travel and find that it is blazing in Malta and torrential rain in Seville over Easter.

you might feel happier changing destination but be prepared for the weather not staying hot in Seville. Nowhere in Europe is guaranteed heat and sun at Easter.

The weather probably won't be as bad as forecast. DH and I had booked a weekend away last week when it was forecast to rain and we ended up having lots of warm sunshine. We could so easily have cancelled.

If you do that, you're bound to find that as you get closer the weather in Malta is lovely and that in Seville isn't. You're only going for 5 nights, so surely you can just enjoy being in Malta, 17 degrees is a lovely temperature to be able to enjoy the island. Why does it have to be hot to enjoy a holiday?

I think you were being over optimistic about the temperatures in Malta at Easter TBH. I also think that it won't be 29 degrees in Seville in a couple of weeks.

My weather app is currently showing 19/20 for Malta. There's 2 more weeks until Easter. I wouldn't cancel at this stage as that would be lovely temp for exploring.

If you were going to lie in the sun, I don't think it's ridiculous to cut your losses.

If you are interested in ancient history, there are some amazing ancient sites on Malta that are worth it.

It's vv unlikely to rain all day every day. If any rain it's most likely to be showers and sunshine.

I would cancel a few days out if it still looked that temperature, too soon to call now though

Not much consolation if you were going for heat though

I would stick with Malta. The weather in southern Europe always feels warmer than it's forecast - the sun's stronger as it's nearer the equator. Go to Seville another time!

I made the mistake of assuming it would be warm in Seville one Easter. I had to go shopping for a hoodie and coat, it was freezing! Only about 15 degrees. the hotel staff told us it had been 26 the week before. 🙄

I've been to Malta in January and it was lovely -the sun is so much stronger than here and just needed a light jacket. We were able to eat outside during the day and some evenings. It was windy though.
Loads of history and interesting things to see.

17 in Malta will feel warmer than 17 in London. And long-range forecasts are notoriously unreliable, you can't really know until about five days out (and even then weather systems can suddenly change). We went to Malta in November and it was lovely, warm and sunny, like a pleasant English summer day.

Neither place is guaranteed hot weather. But if you'd now rather go to Seville and you can afford the loss of the flights, of course you could change your mind.

I'd prob just go to Malta or at least leave it as late as u can! It will feel warmer especially as it's been so cold here it will feel lovely.

Seville is beautiful though but usually quite pricey for accommodation. It's really hot just now 28-31 in next few days!

I've been in that situation before. At Easter if you want a hot holiday I think you have two choices: 1) long haul, 2) book very last minute, a couple of days before departure, to somewhere reliably (ish) warm in Europe.

In this situation I wouldn't rebook. It's honestly just as likely to be hot in a week and a bit in either place, and might not be very good weather in either.

Sounds like perfect sightseeing temperatures to me!

And I know it's a solo trip, but still. Malta being Malta, better make 150 percent sure you can't possibly be pregnant or you could end up in a life-threatening situation if things ever go pear shaped. An American tourist had a near-Savita experience there last year, just lucked out at the last minute to qualify for medevac with a miscarriage at risk of going septic and doctors too scared to take action in that bloody theocracy.

Yes. We had Cornwall booked and I came home from work and DH said the weather is raining all week so I have booked Cyprus instead.

best decision ever

Check the Accuweather website to see what the weather was at the same time last year.

weather in Valletta in April '22

I would stick with Malta and book another trip later on the year. You can be unlucky with bad weather at all times.

I wouldn't of expected Malta to be warm in Early April anyway.