Long term sunny winter stay, within EU?

Pitlanepiglet

Hello....my 75 year old Dad has been going to Goa for 7 or 8 weeks over winter for a good number of years but insurance is now a real problem and I'd like to find him a destination for 2011 that allows him to remain within the EU (although I appreciate that there are still healthcare considerations).

I think we'd be looking at the Canaries and he'd prefer all inclusive rather than an apartment.

I'm going to hit Google but I wondered if anyone could provide any advice from their own experience?

Thanks very much.

Savvy_Sue

Well, the Canaries are certainly lovely, not TOO hot and not TOO exotic, but certainly warm.

cannot give any advice on all-inclusive, we've usually had an apartment. And we've only been to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

If you don't get many responses here I'll speed this over to the travel board in a bit. There's someone who lives in Lanzarote so doing a search over there might find who that is!

Oldernotwiser

We've had pretty good weather on the Costa Blanca when we've done this although it's more hit and miss than the Canaries.

Although Cyprus and Malta aren't in the EU you can use the EHIC in both of tham and the weather should be good there as well.

Savvy_Sue

Although I would not rely on JUST an EHIC anywhere, remember that all it entitles you to is to be treated like a regular person in that country, so it won't cover costs of flying back early if something happens, you may have to pay up front etc.

Oldernotwiser

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Although I would not rely on JUST an EHIC anywhere, remember that all it entitles you to is to be treated like a regular person in that country, so it won't cover costs of flying back early if something happens, you may have to pay up front etc.

In many countries you'd be nuts to fly back to the UK for medical treatment!

Savvy_Sue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

In many countries you'd be nuts to fly back to the UK for medical treatment!

Possibly. Depends what it is, IMO. Before I had the benign brain tumour out, I always had that specifically not covered, because a) it was unlikely to cause any problems and b) I wasn't letting some foreigner dig around in my brain without being darned sure we could understand each other! :rotfl:

SuzieSue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

.

Although Cyprus and Malta aren't in the EU you can use the EHIC in both of tham and the weather should be good there as well.

Just to let you know, that both Cyprus and Malta are in the EU:

http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/FSMS/MS12.htm

scotsbob

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

In many countries you'd be nuts to fly back to the UK for medical treatment!

You got that one right mate.

The standard of health care in many countries is far superior to what you get here. Sadly there is a huge amount of xenophobia when it comes to getting health care abroad.

chucknorris

SuzieSue wrote: »

Just to let you know, that both Cyprus and Malta are in the EU:

http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/FSMS/MS12.htm

You beat me too it.

I don't think Turkey will ever get into the EU whilst they remain in occupation of Northern Cyprus, despite all the noises about them being potential members.

Oldernotwiser

SuzieSue wrote: »

Just to let you know, that both Cyprus and Malta are in the EU:

http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/FSMS/MS12.htm

Oops!!!!!!

chucknorris

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

We've had pretty good weather on the Costa Blanca when we've done this although it's more hit and miss than the Canaries.

Although Cyprus and Malta aren't in the EU you can use the EHIC in both of tham and the weather should be good there as well.

My wife and I are planning to do this for about 3-4 months in about 2-4 years, but as we have our dog with us, that really means Southern Spain, that way we can take him via the car ferry to Northern Spain and drive down to the Costa Del Sol (or somewhere else in that area). It appears as if they get about our late September temperatures during the winter, which will do for us as we don't really like it too hot anyway (we just hate our winters).