Long term sunny winter stay, within EU?

Pitlanepiglet

Thanks all an sorry not to respond sooner. We appreciate the insurance risk within the EU but he's determined to go somewhere and at least he will get some cover within the EU area whereas he is struggling to get useful cover for India. Staying home for the winter is not an option as far as he is concerned so all I can do is try to minimise the problems.

I'll take a trip to the travel board for some recommendations.

Thanks again.

[Deleted User]

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.

malta is in the eu now and the euro zone

Merrywidow

My God daughter was Tavel Rep in Malta and she watched in amazement everyyear as flight after flight in the late Autumn unloads older people for their 3 months over winter stay. Must have a lot going for it. Check out travel agents for special rates - they must be out there.

topdognero

Cyprus, especially Paphos, is an excellent destination for long term winter stays. Benefits are warm weather, everyone speaks English, bars and restaurants open all year round, plus there is free medical care for tourists if you have a European Health Insurance Card (previously known as E111) as Cyprus is in the EU.

beedeedee

Quite a few countries outside of the EU actually have reciprocal health agreements with the UK....not a lot of people know that!

margaretclare

I lived in Limassol, Cyprus 1960-62 and I would not have said that it was all that warm in the winter. Certainly not as warm as Goa, which the OP's Dad has become used to.

pollypenny

Health care may well be good or better than in the UK. However, even where English is spoken, accents can be a problem, both theirs and ours. We found that out when my aunt broke her hip in Belgium.

datostar

chucknorris wrote: »

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).

There's a reason for all that lovely summer greenery on the Costa Del Sol. It can rain, and rain, and rain in winter and early spring. We've had 2 solid weeks of rain there in February/March and higher ground inland gets snow too. You do need the heating on. Costa Blanca, as someone else has mentioned, might be a better bet. Like a hot desert in summer, but warm and pretty dry in winter.

BusPass_2

I concur with previous poster.
We spent a holiday on Costa del Sol in March 2010 hoping for some winter sunshine and it rained solid for eight days. Heating was on 24 hours each day.
Marbella is as miserable as Skegness (sic) when it rains in March.

datostar

BusPass wrote: »

I concur with previous poster.
We spent a holiday on Costa del Sol in March 2010 hoping for some winter sunshine and it rained solid for eight days. Heating was on 24 hours each day.
Marbella is as miserable as Skegness (sic) when it rains in March.

And all those lovely marble pavements get awful slippery!