Stuck for October half-term ideas? Natalie Marsh has the answers.
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1. Under-10s
What’s the brief?
A family with primary school-age children is looking for an October half-term holiday somewhere with plenty to do for the kids, but in a location that also appeals to the parents. They want somewhere close and easy to get to – and even better if they can avoid travelling through an airport.
Al Fresco Holidays, Nick Riggs, managing director
We suggest
La Croix du Vieux Pont in Berny-Rivière, France, is popular for October half-term. It’s fairly accessible and has good all-weather facilities. For those who can drive, it takes about three hours from Calais. It also works for anybody flying here, but we recommend the car because it is quite rural.
It’s got great attraction parks nearby. Disneyland Paris is about an hour away, and Parc Astérix, which is another favourite in the area, is about an hour away. Then there are famous landmarks like the Chateau de Chantilly and Pierrefonds, and the Champagne region is really close by.
It’s become a resort in its own right, so people go there for the fun on-site as well as the excursion possibilities.
As well as the indoor swimming pool, there’s laser quest, a bowling alley and a soft play area. Those are in addition to all the standard activities of football, archery and more.
We find this is a great option for those who may find on-site Disney a bit expensive. It gives you a relaxing rural setting, but the campsite has a coach to Disney and Paris so you can do them by day.
Book it
Seven nights at La Croix du Vieux Pont leads in at £336 on October 26.
alfresco-holidays.com
2. Teenagers
What’s the brief?
Two parents and their teenagers want to get away for some early winter sun over October half-term. They want somewhere they can all relax and have some downtime, but that also has plenty of history and culture for the whole family to explore together.
Olympic Holidays, Ricky Wason, head of product & purchasing
We suggest
I would suggest Rhodes as the destination, and Labranda Blue Bay as a great value-for-money option on an all-inclusive basis. Rhodes gets some of the most sunshine in Greece, so there’s a high likelihood of better weather at that time of year.
I always recommend getting out and about at least one or two days while you’re there. Rhodes Town is a short journey away from the hotel. There are a lot of historical places of interest there, a lot of modern shops, a marina and the old city walls – you can spend hours getting lost. The south of the island has some of the best beaches, plus Lindos, which is quite a historical village, and the Acropolis.
One of the main selling points of Labranda Blue Bay is its beachfront location. They’ve got a full-time animation team, and for teenagers, there are watersports around the pool areas. They tend to have activities that are catered towards older kids and adults.
It offers a good selection of family rooms, with a separate sleeping area for children. It’s quite an informal hotel – it’s spread out, has different facilities, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Book it
Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Labranda Blue Bay Resort starts at £645 per person, flying from Gatwick on October 21.
olympicholidays.com
3. Multigenerational
What’s the brief?
A three-generation family of children, parents and grandparents would love to jet away for half-term. It needs to be somewhere relatively easy to get to, and where they can all stay together under the same roof, with the option to explore the local area.
Interhome, Danny Waine, business development manager UK & Ireland
We suggest
I would suggest Villa Perla del Mar in Costa Blanca, Spain. It’s a very easy location to get to – it’s one of the top-selling destinations that we have, and one of those that people always go back to.
There is something for everyone in that area. Value for money is very good, and it’s great to be there outside the height of summer, so you can go out and do things. I would definitely recommend a car if you wanted to go somewhere close by, or to Valencia, the nearest big city.
The property size is ideal. There’s a brilliant pool area for kids and families, and it also caters to people that want to chill out and relax. To sell this villa, look at the different facilities available within the property: everything from the games room to a large swimming pool, both of which cater for younger children, through to a barbecue and outdoor dining for the adults, and proximity to local facilities as well as the beach.
Book it
A multigenerational family can stay at the Villa Perla del Mar, which has five bedrooms and a private pool, for a total of £2,237 for seven nights, from October 26.
interhome.co.uk
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