Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Seville, Valetta, Faro or Barcelona

42 replies

Wishingonaplane · 11/12/2023 10:29

Can anyone help me decide? 🤞🏻😊

We're looking at a 2 night/3 day childfree break in January.

These are the locations that have flights that work best with our childcare arrangements for the weekend we go.

We're mid 30s, we like to explore, drink nice coffee, eat good food. We're not into museums as such but happy to view architecture and wander around historical sites.

Would like it to be warmer than the UK, but I also understand some places will still be chilly.

OP posts:
pinklady123456 · 11/12/2023 12:33

Seville would be my pick put of those, we went in February and it was 20 degrees, lovely sitting outside for lunches when we are usually bundled up in coats and scarfs in February.

Plenty to see for a couple of nights in Seville itself and the food is delicious. We found it really reasonably priced too.

Original poster
Wishingonaplane · 11/12/2023 13:08

@pinklady123456 Seville is currently my favourite after looking at the accommodation options and just the general feel I'm getting from photos of the city etc. Plus being further south I guess will be a better chance of mild weather!

Just a shame that's the most expensive flight option 😆

Valletta in Malta is coming in a very close second though!

OP posts:
dreamingofsun · 12/12/2023 12:02

Valletta is OK, but wouldnt explore outside of that. The rest is grim, though we did have floods when we went in October, and a mini cyclone which obviously didnt help.

54isanopendoor · 12/12/2023 12:08

Will much be 'open' in Malta in January (asking as I'm also considering it)
I know that Malta has beautiful architecture & churches but also museums re WWII & pre-history plus eg the Manoel theatre & places in Rabat worth a visit?

OP, where are you looking to stay in Malta please ?

arethereanyleftatall · 12/12/2023 12:12

As a slight aside, I saw the title but not the topic and thought this was another bonkers baby names thread.

Imtoooldforallthis · 12/12/2023 12:14

Can highly recommend Barcelona, there is a fabulous food tour you can do, if you can book it for the first day it gives a great oversite of the city. I'll see if I can find it.

Eyesopenwideawake · 12/12/2023 12:15

Another vote for Seville. Barcelona is the rainiest place in Europe so Feb is not a good month to visit.

Original poster
Wishingonaplane · 12/12/2023 12:21

@54isanopendoor I was looking at staying in Valletta in Malta

@arethereanyleftatall I'm tickled at the baby name comment😂

@dreamingofsun thank you, yes I've been checking out past weather and it looks like there's more chance of rain in Malta than Spain.

@Imtoooldforallthis that looks gorgeous thank you

@Eyesopenwideawake that's good intel thank you! I'm 95% sold on booking Seville in all honesty

OP posts:
MissAmbrosia · 12/12/2023 12:25

We went to Seville end November and the weather was glorious. Cant wait to go back.

noooooooo · 12/12/2023 12:30

100% Seville. Firstly, is hot all year, but in February won’t be roasting- ideal for a short break without kids. There’s a lot of cool stuff to see but it’s got a small city feel and is all easily wanderable, laid back and easy. Imagine the difference, say, between going to York and going to London. Valletta is v. atmospheric but I’d say Seville has more of a vibe. Also lot of cheap but excellent food options, you might claw back some of the cost of flights 😂

Crikeyalmighty · 12/12/2023 12:36

Valletta is lovely but I wouldn't go in January - it's beloved by pensioners on cheap winter breaks and weather can be iffy - we had 8 days there in July this year (blimey it was hot) and way nicer than I expected -great food too and very reasonable. I think it's a lovely 4 day spring or autumn break

I would def go to Seville-

FritataPatate · 12/12/2023 12:45

Seville is great. And it's great in February.

OMGitsnotgood · 12/12/2023 12:53

dreamingofsun · 12/12/2023 12:02

Valletta is OK, but wouldnt explore outside of that. The rest is grim, though we did have floods when we went in October, and a mini cyclone which obviously didnt help.

I think your experience was affected by the weather. The whole of Malta outside of Valetta is not grim!

Original poster
Wishingonaplane · 12/12/2023 13:07

Thanks everyone, I think you'd convinced me to book Seville! There are some stunning accommodation options too! Secretly wishing we could go for 3 nights instead of 2 😍😆

OP posts:
Original poster
Wishingonaplane · 12/12/2023 14:01

Would anyone like to help me whittle down these accommodation options? 😅

Omm Suites

Magno Apartments

Muralla Sevilla by Lola

La Sillera de Triana

OMM Suites Sevilla by Magno Apartments, Seville, Spain

Well located in the Old town district of Seville, OMM Suites Sevilla by Magno Apartments is located 1.8 km from Santa María La Blanca Church, 3.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/omm-suites.en-gb.html?aid=304142&label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaFCIAQGYAQm4ARfIAQzYAQHoAQH4AQ2IAgGoAgO4Ao6h4asGwAIB0gIkZGEzYTFiOTAtYzhkZS00OGNiLTk0ZWItZTIzOGVmYjQ0N2Jm2AIG4AIB&sid=d59f646a1fa3bf09027d7683595d13d9&checkin=2024-01-06&checkout=2024-01-08&dist=0&from_list=1&group_adults=2&group_children=0&group_rooms=1&highlighted_blocks=656497103_269078643_2_0_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&sb_price_type=total&type=total&#_

OP posts:
Chocbuttonsandredwine · 12/12/2023 14:07

Seville.
2nd choice Barcelona
didn’t rate Faro
hqvent been to Valetta

we went to Seville in feb and it was t shirt weather. We did a great food tour, segway tour and then basically rooftop bars ans tapas

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 12/12/2023 14:12

Your accomodation options all look great, we stayed in the Zenit which was fab and would totally recommend just to throw another into mix

Welshcheddar · 12/12/2023 14:12

arethereanyleftatall · 12/12/2023 12:12

As a slight aside, I saw the title but not the topic and thought this was another bonkers baby names thread.

I think Valetta might work?

StoneColdAlibi · 12/12/2023 14:18

100% Seville, we travel a lot and have been to Seville a lot. It's just got a great vibe.
We stayed here in November, the apartment with the reddish tones. It's beautiful and has a lift that opens directly into the apartment, which feels very cool. It's also right by the cathedral, a perfect location.

https://www.booking.com/Share-E4dKR6

Lukanda Luxury, Seville, Spain

Lukanda Luxury provides accommodation located 500 metres from the centre of Seville and offers a rooftop pool and an open-air bath.

https://www.booking.com/Share-E4dKR6

noooooooo · 12/12/2023 14:29

They all look lovely but some are a bit further out.
As it’s only a couple of nights I’d probably try to stay as near the cathedral as possible, there’s a warren of narrow streets all around and hundreds of fabulous places to shop and eat and watch the world go by.

this place is a phenomenal experience, it’s not as hip as all these apartments so if up-to-the-minute decor is high on the list it may not be your thing at all but it’s so romantic it actually made me cry a little bit 😂
https://www.booking.com/Share-eZCCkc

★★★★ Hotel Las Casas de la Judería, Seville, Spain

Hotel Las Casas de la Judería is set within 27 traditional Sevillan houses, connected by passages and courtyards.

https://www.booking.com/Share-eZCCkc

Original poster
Wishingonaplane · 12/12/2023 14:37

@noooooooo I'm a sucker for good marketing but have just been having a look at the locations of the ones I chose and realised they're quite a trek to the main attractions and we wouldn't be able to easily pop back to the room to freshen up for dinner in an evening! The one you've shared looks really beautiful 😍

OP posts:
dreamingofsun · 12/12/2023 16:32

OMGitsnotgood - i agree the awful weather did influence our feel for Malta, But there was a lot of building work; the food wasnt great or especially cheap; buses were packed; it was very arid (and we love canaries), no decent beaches (which obviously we knew). Apart from Valletta there wasnt anything that we really liked - and we arent super fussy. Except the apartment - that was amazing, and also the pool (but that was out of bounds most of the time due to weather and you could only use it a few times before paying extra.)