Adult family holiday suggestions- Mams 60th

Pacman2D

Hi everyone, 

My mam is turning 60 at the end of March next year and I would really appreciate some ideas on where to go for a family holiday? 

Some of the general things I know she’d like is:

- somewhere in Europe with nice weather (warm but not overly hot) 

- Somewhere with some nightlife in March so we can go to bars, have meals etc

- Food we are used to eating at home (pub grub, Sunday dinners, fish & chips, pizza etc

- A place with plenty of things to do (not just lying out in the sun all day) so like an old town or city, places to explore 

- A beach not too far away 

I know with the majority of places in Europe, March wouldn’t be the hottest but somewhere at least warm / chances of minimal rain? We are looking at going for a week. 

wirelessdude01

Lanzarote would be a good fit for what you have listed, Puerto del Carmen in particular.

ted1

San Sebastián is a great place, wouldn’t be as hot as canaries etc. but a far better holiday

The food may be a bit to good for you 🫣

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430010#Comment_122430010

Not in March though!

Why go on holiday and eat the same thing? Might as well go to centre parcs somewhere

I'd suggest Seville or canaries eg Tenerife Costa adeje. You'll get a good 4 or 5 star hotel for a good price

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122429466#Comment_122429466

Agree with this. Tenerife is better than Lanzarote for kids and activities but for sight seeing Lanzarote has a lot more to offer.

Food is good and you can get anything from your home food to local Spanish/Canarian aswell as Chinese, Italian. Weather 18-23 degrees according to google

wandererz

Wouldn't be going to Spain as they want tourists out.

Protests started with Tenerife in April.

Have a look to Cyprus perhaps, they're screaming for more tourists.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122429466#Comment_122429466

playa blanca either.

endofrainbow

I've heard Benidorm is nice in March. Lots of English caffs for your Sunday roasts/fish & chips and full cooked breakfasts.

mulbot

COSTA ADEJE, in Tenerife,nicest of the resort types in any of the Canaries IMO. Don't bother with mainland Spain at that time of year,weather too unpredictable

mulbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430080#Comment_122430080

Have you not been to North Tenerife? Far far nicer than anything you'll find in lanzarote

Soc_Alt

Italy

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430350#Comment_122430350

Yeah we alternate every year

mulbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430423#Comment_122430423

You won't find reliable good weather in March, in Italy or the food they want

elperello

Algarve, all day long.

mrcheez

yup, I second Portugal… also find more likely to speak English than in Spain if that's a factor

stargazer 68

We love gran canaria at that time of the year. Maspalomas or Melonaras. Lovely beach area with lots of bars and restaurants. Then Playa D'Ingles if you want a bit livlier. I'm 56 BTW and female :)

samo

Alicante or Valencia, neither might be swimming weather but decent enough. Valencia is a beautiful city, loads to do and also beach area 15 mins away by bus/tram/uber. The city itself is always buzzing, areas like Rustafa.

I was in San Sebastián this June and also great city but weather was rainier than Ireland! Although a little quiet vs Valencia.

mfceiling

I'd be thinking of Nice.

anewme

Radisson Morgan Gran Canaria or Le Jardim Tecina La Gomera.

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461824#Comment_122461824

Lovely spots. La Gomera is hard to get to though

MakersMark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430317#Comment_122430317

Benidorm is an awful place.

Looks like a Sheffield high street at closing time all day.

wandererz

Fly into Nice Airport.

Stay in Nice, Antibes or Cannes.

Great beaches along that coast.

Train goes along that line all the way to Monaco. Nice spot to spend a day.

There are many little villages along the way that are picturesque.

I rented an apartment in Cannes, which has a nice old town.

It gives the option to go further south to the likes of San Tropez or northbound to Antibes just up the road, then Nice and Monaco.

Along the way are towns like Eze etc

Most people along that coast speak perfect English as well.

There are also opportunities to go to Provence and Grasse etc. (think world class perfumeries etc).

mulbot

They won't find the type of food there that the OP wrote in her list

black & white

Valencia, a city on the coast with lovely beaches, a great nightlife and excellent food. It’s a reasonably priced city as well so no breaking the bank. It will be pleasantly warm there in March as well

wandererz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465650#Comment_122465650

There are Irish Pubs in Cannes, Nice, Antibes, Monaco.

Burger joints, pizza restaurants, English Pubs.

Plus the options of steak, seafood, French cuisine etc.

That whole coast is Anglicised so food won't be a problem and neither will there be a language barrier.

My wife is a very fussy eater (typical boiled Irish cr*p) and she does not have a problem finding something to eat.

Loads of restaurants, just walk along, take a look at the menus. There is bound to be something that suits everyone.

mulbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465688#Comment_122465688

Apologies, that's good to know, wanted to do a trip that way at some point, thanks.

wandererz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465814#Comment_122465814

I used to travel over with work quite often then went over on personal trips.

It's easy to get to. Both Cryanair and Aer Lingus fly into Nice Airport (only one airport for commercial flights).

If you stay either in Nice or Cannes (even Antibes) you can't go wrong because that can be a base for day trips up the coast to Monaco or south as far as St Tropez by train.

If you are willing to drive, then you have much more flexibility, but not entirely necessary.

One of my favourite things to do is sit outside this pizzeria in Monaco near the harbour, close to the train station and have some wine and pizza while watching supercars zoom past. Cheap, delicious pizza, excellent wine.

Another place is the Fairmont MonteCarlo hotel. On Sunday they do an open buffet menu. It's expensive at €99 (with champagne) but excellent quality and something for everyone.

A trip into the Casino Montecarlo is great for the experience and a drink (passport and decent attire required - no shorts etc).

Nice and Cannes have loads of restaurants, cafes and bars at different price points.

Some beaches are pay to access, others are free.

Cannes Harbour is a must do, to see how the other 1% live the super yacht lifestyle.

The last time we spent €90 each for an all day sailing yacht cruise with all food and drinks included. Booked at Cannes Harbour the night before directly with the owners.

It all can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. A bit of planning wouldn't go amiss.

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465574#Comment_122465574

My suggestion was very much tongue in cheek !

KanyeSouthEast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430083#Comment_122430083

funny enough I’m in Spain at the moment along with literally thousands of others and nobody has said to me they wanted “tourists out”. Do you get out much yourself?

wandererz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122468845#Comment_122468845

Yes. I do get out. Quite a bit in fact.

I also read and watch the news to get an indication of what's happening outside of my sphere.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99wxwgzn8qo