Advice regarding Best Europe destination for Feb 2019

TestLink

I am thinking about a trip with my family (2 adults and 2 boys) in Feb 2019 - 4 days and 4 nights. I have the following in mind:

1. Italy (Rome) - What about adding Venice or some other Italian city along with Rome?
2. Netherlands (Amsterdam)
3. Any other suggestions?

Can you suggest which would be the best considering:

1. Food 2. Beach 3. Scenery

jt_dublin

Hi Testlink,

If beach & scenery are 2 of your 3 priorities and you are looking at travelling in February, then I don't think that Rome or Amsterdam fit the bill. I'm thinking scenery is the natural landscape rather than city sightseeing?

For beach in February, then it sounds like you need somewhere warm so I would suggest Tenerife south coast. Booking flights & accommodation yourself rather than a package trip would save you a bit. A day trip up to the volcano Mount Teide is amazing and would hopefully fulfil the scenery part of your trip. If you need any suggestion about places to stay then let me know.

If you are thinking of Rome for the trip, then I wouldn't try do Venice as well. There is enough in Rome for 4 days so don't try to spread yourself too thin.

Maybe tell us a bit more about you are hoping to do and we can offer more advice.

JT.

TestLink

What about Canary Islands?

Going with another family - Total 4 adults, 5 kids aged between 13 and 5

What about including Tenerife and one more island - 2 days in each island.

I know it is only 1 hr or less between Island to Island.

Any advice welcome...

thegills

How old are the kids. Amsterdam great if they can cycle. Otherwise it's mainly museums and canals. Hard to get to use a beach unless you head to Tenerife area. Munich a great spot also. Plenty too see and do.

TestLink

Five Kids are aged between 5 and 13

Like to visit some where warm. So I dont know whether Amsterdam would fit.

Some place like Salou?

Could spend one day in Port Aventura (if open) and one day trip to Barcelona.

NIMAN

Seville?
Barcelona?

TestLink

NIMAN wrote: »

Seville?
Barcelona?

Is 4 days required to explore Barcelona ?

Any other place to include like Madrid or Malaga - 2 days each?

Does Tenerife have good public transport?

Also is there anything else in Tenerife other than beaches?

spurious

Plenty in Barcelona and surrounding areas to fill even a week or more. It's not going to be warm in February though.
Morocco?

TestLink

spurious wrote: »

Plenty in Barcelona and surrounding areas to fill even a week or more. It's not going to be warm in February though.
Morocco?

Not Morocco this time.

Does Tenerife have good public transport? Also is there anything else in Tenerife other than beaches?

TestLink

Mr.S wrote: »

It has decent public transport for getting around the main town(s) but if you want to explore and see the other coastal towns, parks, volcano etc (which you will want to do) you're going to need a car realistically. But a small car is cheap, so shouldn't be a problem.

If beach and heat are the requirements, then your only option is the Canary Islands, everywhere else will be either freezing, or low 10's.

Amsterdam would be very cold, and lots of walking so not ideal.

Barcelona would be nice, but you won't be on the beach.

What about Lisbon? Again, you won't be on the beach but you'll have alright weather, it's cheap and easy to get around with lots to do. You could break it up a bit and take the train to Porto for a day or two, which is equally as nice.

Has already been to Lisbon.

Tenerife to Dublin flight is around 200 euros pp on ryan air. So out of scope.

Since travelling with 5 kids, want to escape irish weather to some where warm.

TestLink

Mr.S wrote: »

It has decent public transport for getting around the main town(s) but if you want to explore and see the other coastal towns, parks, volcano etc (which you will want to do) you're going to need a car realistically. But a small car is cheap, so shouldn't be a problem.

If beach and heat are the requirements, then your only option is the Canary Islands, everywhere else will be either freezing, or low 10's.

Amsterdam would be very cold, and lots of walking so not ideal.

Barcelona would be nice, but you won't be on the beach.

What about Lisbon? Again, you won't be on the beach but you'll have alright weather, it's cheap and easy to get around with lots to do. You could break it up a bit and take the train to Porto for a day or two, which is equally as nice.

Has already been to Lisbon.

Tenerife to Dublin flight is around 200 euros pp on ryan air. So out of scope.

Since travelling with 5 kids, want to escape irish weather to some where warm.

PhoenixParker

Warm and February don't go together anywhere in Europe.

You need to look further afield, change your goals or change your dates. Looking further afield is gonna push up flight prices.

TestLink

Barcelona might be the only viable option taking into consideration flight fare and climate.

Stratvs

If you want heat/beach then for price and distance it's the Canary Islands

For February best weather likely to be in Gran Canaria , followed by Tenerife then Lanzarote / Fuerteventura. Unfortunately as Gran Canaria has the reputation for best weather for the time of year prices in February can be higher than in summer.

4 days is very little to see much of any of them let alone island hop although Lanzarote is compact, plenty of flights from Ireland and had some stunning natural attractions. Plenty of half and full day coach tours which would cover most of the island quickly. Also there is a ferry to north Fuerteventura which is under an hour across if one really wanted to visit another. Weather in Feb in Lanzarote in Feb can be mixed enough. You will probably get to the beach and in the sea but it won't be Mediterranean warm.

For value on the ground (Meals etc) Gran Canaria I've found the dearest with Tenerife the best value and Lanzarote reasonable. (haven't been to Fuerte in 7 yrs so can't really comment)

Public transport in all is very reasonable and regular and unless you wanted to stay somewhere very remote, most tourist parts of any of them are within an hour of the respective airports by car. I've driven in all 4 of the above and have never had a problem with good roads and car hire is reasonable.

There are some wonderful natural attractions on the islands, Mt Teide on Tenerife and Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote but most of the islands' efforts go into the beach tourism and resorts are structured accordingly.

TestLink

Mr.S wrote: »

You’ll be lucky if it pushes 15 degrees in Barcelona in February. Europe + heat + February don’t mix.

If you just don’t want to be cold, then Barcelona will be a good shout, just don’t expect to be on the beach!

What about Malta or Crete?

How would you compare Barcelona with Malta? Which one offers value for money for Feb visit.

TestLink

I am still trying to find a good location to visit in Feb 2019 with family of mine and my friend. I have either Malta or Barcelona in mind.

I prefer to book hotels very close to city centre as travel to various places of interest would be easy and close to public transport..

We are travelling from Dublin to Malta airport.

What about public transport in Malta. Do they accept cash / card or only coins?

Which city centre location is good?

Are bus / boat tours available?

Thanks...

Working class heroes

Have a look at Lanzarote. Good value to be had in February.
Are you traveling during the mid term? If you are flights to the Canaries tend to be a bit more expensive so try and go either side of it if you can.

jt_dublin

If your trip is only 4 days, I wouldn't be looking at going between 2 destinations.. Way too much travel in such a short time. Choose one place & enjoy it.

Just checked flights with AerLingus for Feb 7th to 11th (4 nights)

Lanzarote €109 return
Tenerife €111 return

That is such great value, I think I might book one myself!

jt_dublin

jt_dublin wrote: »

If your trip is only 4 days, I wouldn't be looking at going between 2 destinations.. Way too much travel in such a short time. Choose one place & enjoy it.

Just checked flights with AerLingus for Feb 7th to 11th (4 nights)

Lanzarote €109 return
Tenerife €111 return

That is such great value, I think I might book one myself!

And out of these 2 I would choose Tenerife every time. Take a look at Parque Santiago 3 apartments. They are on the beach and a great location with everything on your doorstep.