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With the first half-term break of the school year fast approaching, our family travel expert has the lowdown on where’s hot, where’s wet and how to find the best deals. What’s more, if you are struggling with the school holiday price hikes, why not fly from north (or south) of the border? Read on to discover why leaving from Scotland during the school holidays in England and Wales, or vice versa, could cost well under half the price.
Choosing the perfect destination for an October half-term holiday can be a pretty tricky business. For some, those escape artists who run screaming to the airport as soon as the school bell rings out the old year in July, memories of summer sun can seem distant and the lure of the beach strong once more.
Others however, those who enjoy the delayed gratification of a late summer jaunt, may still be teasing out the last hint of a tan having whizzed back into Gatwick with minutes to spare before the new school year is rung in at the start of September. Before you know it, October is upon us, the weather’s miserable (again), the kids are hyperactive (again) and the tour operators have conveniently bumped up the prices by 250% to coincide with your slim window for a break (again) – so where do you go?
Historically, our choice of destination in October is most likely to be influenced by the quality of weather experienced at home that summer – so if the British summer has been kind we’re far more likely to brave a potentially damp half-term in the Lake District or Center Parcs.
The record-breaking poor weather endured over prolonged periods of 2012 is likely to result in an upsurge of bookings for early-winter sunshine breaks abroad. You could reasonably expect long haul travel to be the only way to find guaranteed sunshine this late in the year, but while a lot of traditional early winter destinations such as the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Florida certainly provide all the heat you’ll need, don’t be surprised to be the recipient of a regular soaking as these locations enter the height of their respective rainy seasons.
You may think that a week away is too short to be wasting precious relaxation time on long-distance travel, in which case there are still plenty of warm weather options available on short haul flights from the UK. Within Europe, you’ll find warm conditions right through to the end of October are common in traditional summer favourites like Spain and Greece, so please read on to discover some of the best European destinations for families at half-term, and tips for uncovering a better deal.
Majorca
Well-known as a popular, if at times crowded summer destination for British holidaymakers, Majorca is a great place to visit during the autumn half-term. This beautiful Balearic Island experiences average high temperatures of around 24C during the month, although you will run the risk of an occasional dousing with around 70mm of rain likely to fall over an average of seven wet October days. The island is fantastically scenic and far better enjoyed in the relative solitude on offer outside of the peak summer months.
There are also plenty of cultural diversions if the rain does make an unwelcome intrusion. A superb base for families, Puerto Pollensa on Majorca’s north-west coast is a chic, low-rise resort blessed with an array of stylish restaurants and accommodation. A delightful feature is the decorative Pine Walk, a tree-lined promenade that snakes alongside the beach through the length of the town.
The sheltered town beaches benefit from notably calm and shallow waters (you can wade out a long way from the shoreline) and sea temperatures remain warm into November, making this an ideal location for young children. Flight time is around two-and-a-half hours from the UK.
Hassle free guide to Majorca | Best of Palma de Mallorca
Canary Islands
If you don’t mind a little extra time in the air (around four hours from the UK) the Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa, provide year round warmth and sunshine and are much-loved by many British visitors.
The four major islands, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, enjoy some of the best beach weather in Europe while each offers up something of its own unique character. The average high temperature for October is around 26C with six hours of bright sunshine per day. Rainfall is thankfully on the low side with only 30mm expected from a monthly average of just three rainy days.
You’ll be pretty much guaranteed good weather whichever island you choose, but in terms of sheer scale of options for families, the top choice might just be Tenerife. A classic case of split personality, this island has a lush, verdant northern half which is breathtakingly scenic yet prone to fairly wet conditions. Standing at the centre is the towering volcano, Mount Teide (Spain’s highest peak) which separates the damp, green north from the hot, arid south.
While not as scenic as the north, the warmer and drier conditions mean that the south is home to the majority of Tenerife’s tourist destinations. Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas, two bustling, cosmopolitan, neighbouring resorts offer a notable British flavour and plenty to occupy families. Twenty miles to the north, Los Gigantes is a far more tranquil family resort nestling in the shadows of the monumental cliffs which give this place its name.
Everything you need to know about the Canary Islands
Crete
Greece’s largest and most southerly island, Crete has long been a major summer draw for British holidaymakers. Due to its southern location the island also benefits from a slower descent into winter, meaning conditions during October are generally warmer and drier than other parts of Greece.
A half term trip here is likely to enjoy six hours of sunshine per day with average high temperatures of 24C. Unlike summer, which sees practically zero rainfall, there are on average six wet days in October depositing a total of around 40mm of rain – so be prepared for the odd shower. Crete is undoubtedly a beautiful place, but one of the reasons visitors return year after year is the unconditional welcome the islanders afford their guests.
Cretan cuisine is possibly the best in Greece and there is a custom among many of the island’s restaurateurs of offering visiting diners a small gift “on the house” – perhaps a dessert, often a glass of raki (the local spirit which is traditionally distilled from grape skins in the month of October) or occasionally some home grown fruit picked from the garden.
The capital of western Crete, Chania is a charming but lively town with a picturesque Venetian harbour packed with restaurants and bars backed by narrow cobbled streets full of craft shops and market stalls. A short trip from Chania International Airport (a 3.5 to 4 hour flight from the UK), the town makes an ideal base for exploring the many delights of the surrounding area.The pretty and uncrowded beach resorts of Kalives and Almyrida are nearby and are well worth spending some time in and the stunning Lake Kournas is a short distance further east.
Wherever you are in Crete you can’t help but be awed by the mighty Lefka Ori (White Mountains) which dominate the landscape from the centre of the island. A drive up the mountain roads from Chania will reveal some of the real traditional Crete not always apparent from its touristic coastal fringes. Climbing further inland will reward you with delightful, unspoilt villages boasting Byzantine churches, stunning views and often a taverna serving some of the most authentic Cretan rustic cuisine to be found on the island.
Hassle free Crete | Best of Crete’s beaches, walks and sights
Want the best deal? Try crossing the border before your holiday
All parents of school age children will doubtless be painfully aware of the premium that tour operators levy on us for having the audacity to travel during the school holidays. To see how much this premium amounts to, just check out the price of the same package deal either one week before the start or one week after the end of the school holiday period.
Recent years have seen an upsurge in the numbers of parents taking their children on holiday during term time, for no other reason than financial expediency – many can’t afford to holiday during “the holidays”. This approach, apart from any possible detriment to your child’s education, may now prove to be a false economy, as local authorities begin to clamp down on this type of unauthorised absence from school with the issue of financial penalties against offending parents. So how can you get a good deal without being an outlaw?
The simple answer is to go online and check out term dates for different parts of the country. This autumn, most schools in Scotland have their mid-term (as it’s known north of the border) holiday from the week commencing 15th October, for either 1 or 2 weeks, while most schools in England have their half-term week off from 26th October.
A few availability searches on holiday websites will reveal that while the Scottish schools are closed, package deals departing from Glasgow or Edinburgh are priced at the premium high season rate while those departing from English airports attract an off-season discounted price point.
Moving forward a week or so to when English schools break up, the opposite scenario comes into effect, with cheap deals in place for Scottish departures and nothing but premium prices available for travel from England.
This pricing policy can represent as much as a 250% differential in the price you pay, meaning, for example, that a holiday from your local airport priced at £500 per person may be available for as little as £200 per person if you’re prepared to travel further to your departure point.
It may seem like a big hassle, but if you consider that a journey from Glasgow to Gatwick or vice versa could save a family of four around £1200 in the above example, it does bear thinking about before you make your final booking.