Half term family holidays

Half terms can be tricky when it comes to family holidays and breaks – one week doesn’t seem enough for a ‘proper holiday’, but it seems a shame not to take the opportunity to jet off for a spot of winter sun, especially in the half terms that fall in February and October, when we’re either still ensnared in winter or facing the gloomy prospect of the next. February is also a classic – if pricey – time for family ski holidays.

It’s also very tempting to get away for the May half term – the weather can be fabulous but you’ll miss the crowds and hiked-up prices of high summer. Indeed, a half term is a great time to visit places that get too hot in summer, especially with young kids. They’re also a good time for budget-friendly short breaks to destinations or attractions that get too crowded for comfort in the summer holidays.

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Tips

Look for somewhere you can fly to quickly and without jet-lag – in Europe, May and October are great times to visit Portugal, Tenerife, and Turkey. Do bear mind that in May and usually in October too, though the weather on most Mediterranean beaches should be warmish, outdoor pools may not be heated.

Remember that Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are best-visited in half term, as the summer heat can be uncomfortable. Flights are manageable, too. A bit further afield, Dubai starts to cool down in October but is best saved for February. South Africa is a much longer flight but there’s no jet-lag.

Or consider a staycation. Holiday parks in the UK are popular at half-term, or head for a theme-park with its own accommodation. Wrap up warm and there’s nothing to stop you spending even the February and October half-terms in good old Blighty, perhaps hiring a cottage by the sea.

In February, embrace wintry landscapes – February half-term is notoriously expensive for ski holidays, but you can pursue a whole range of snowy activities in, for instance, Lapland. Or take a half-term city break, where there’ll be so much to do you won’t care about the weather.

In May and perhaps also October, you might think about ‘camping’ in a mobile home in a holiday park with a waterpark and other rainy-day facilities; try the South of France and Spain. Or brave the elements for some October or May half-term 'glamping' on a British farm."