TOP FAMILY EASTER HOT SPOTS...AND NO, NOT THE CANARIES
Where, a few readers want to know, is a good place to head for Easter with the children in tow? And ‘not the Canaries’.
The poor old Canaries – is their year-round popularity becoming a turn-off?
I don’t think so…
It’s just that people who travel a good deal will already have had their ‘blast’ of Canarian winter sunshine and are looking for something a bit different for Easter.
If I was travelling by myself or with another adult I would probably go to Seville.
It’s a fabulous city – I know it reasonably well – and the city’s Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations and religious parades are among the most impressive in all of Spain.
I’m not so sure about Seville, however, if you have children.
Semana Santa is fairly overwhelming and chances are they would be bored – or even a bit frightened if they are very young.
If you are set on going to this part of the world, however, I would fly into Seville and drive to Cádiz.
There you’ll have a choice of beaches, an atmospheric fisherman’s quarter in the old town with great tapas bars and a good range of hotels and apartment accommodation.
(The Parador hotel, refurbished since I last stayed, was always very comfortable and in the best location in the city).
With kids to consider, I think I’d be looking at options for Greece.
With a similar flying time to the Canaries, the mainland and islands all offer so much for adults and children alike.
And this year, as happens occasionally, the Greek Orthodox Easter falls on exactly the same weekend (14/16 April) as our own religious festival so you can tie in with school holidays and also get a chance to see how the Eastern Orthodox Church does things at Easter.
Direct flights to Greece are still a bit thin on the ground in April. Aer Lingus has flights to Athens and Corfu from the end of the month.
Ryanair does have limited flights earlier in April – to Athens (three times a week) and to Crete (on Wednesdays and Saturdays).
Either place would be a great choice for a family break at Easter – Crete probably being the more hassle-free option.
Ryanair flies into Chania and there is plenty of familyfriendly accommodation in and around that lovely city on the sea.
Cyprus is another option. Direct flights with Cobalt operate throughout April, flying from Dublin to Larnaca.
Or you could go for a package – often a better bet when you are travelling en familia.
The island has one of the mildest climates in the Mediterranean and, although the temperature won’t climb much higher than 20C or 21C, the sea will be warm enough for the children to plunge in.
There are a number of pretty places in Cyprus – and even a ‘resort’ like Paphos has a cultural dimension with its stunning mosaics.
Paphos is actually a good bet as a destination this year as it is a European Capital of Culture, so there is a full programme of events.
If you can bribe the children for a day, head to the Troodos Mountains.
In the villages there, you will find the most beautiful collection of small churches, which have world heritage status.
With many of them looking like a small barn or storehouse on the outside, once you enter (having gone in search of one of the locals who has the key) the ancient frescoes covering the walls will take your breath away.
On Easter Sunday the atmosphere must be electric.
‘Even a ‘resort’ like Paphos has a cultural dimension with its stunning mosaics’