Where to get sun in Feb half-term?

[Growingboys]

We've had one day of cold and I'm sick of it, so planning on taking the whole family away for February half term somewhere HOT.

The sort of holiday that other ppl have and we never do (think Devon in the rain) so I really don't know where to start.

I'm after:
Sun
Swimming pool or beach or ideally both
Good food
Relaxed locals (DC3 has SEN so can't go anywhere intolerant)
As near as possible as I hate flying! I know this is ridiculous really as I will have to fly, but I don't really want to take a million little planes / there isn't enough diazepam in the world.

Any thoughts very welcome. Money sort of no object as we have been saving for this. But we are not mega rich.

Thank you

Dubai?

Worried about Dubai in terms of strictness - what if DC did something weird and it flouted some local law? I know that sounds a bit thick but if they eg had a tantrum or something... I don't know.

But apart from that I think it would be great.

I think in the tourist areas you’d be fine: weather good, water parks, Jeep safaris, nice hotel with plenty of space, good
Food.

I know it’s not everyone’s thing but for sunshine and a rest in feb with not too long a flight I it would be ideal

My little sister lives there, am planning another visit as we speak

Nowhere in mainland Europe or even the Canaries will give guaranteed sunshine in Feb and swimming in a unheated pool or the sea at that time would be more than unpleasant. Without going to the Middle East there's probably only long haul open to you, Florida or the Caribbean would be favourite.

I want the sun in Feb too but not the swimming so am considering Portugal or my usual haunt in southern Spain but I fully expect that the weather in either could be hit and miss. The last two Febs there have been cool but very sunny, walking rather than sitting on the beach weather. Its been wetter than usual this autumn so there are no guarantees.

Maybe Tenerife? It’ll be warm rather than hot though.

Australia.

Worth the 24 hour flight. Guaranteed sun.

Eilat. Great place for winter sun. Lovely people all very sen tolerant. 5 hour flight

We went to Madeira last February half term- lovely island relaxed locals and it was in low 20s all week. Only a 4 hour flight.

Tenerife? Very family friendly and hot all year round.

It’ll be gorgeous in NZ in Feb 😎

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

Yeah playa Blanca, families everywhere

Cape verde

I third Playa Blanca,, Lanzarote. Was there in Feb this year. The days are short and the evenings cool. During the day the sun came out and it was 22/23 deg. Warm enough to swim in a heated pool but I was too chicken for the sea. Lovely holiday though...been several times at all times of year. Going back in Dec.

Things if it’s nicr in canaries then it’s great but it’s nit guaranteed in feb by any stretch, end if the weather isn’t great it severely limits what you can do with kids... stuck in an apartment or hotel room fir a week if it’s raining will be fecking miserable, I went once in May and the temp never got above 19 and it was cloudy and windy. Ds was shivering every time he came out of the pool... and we are Scottish!

Playa Blanca has a lovely promenade beside the beach though were you can ride bikes or just walk past all the shops and restaurants and there's a water park somewhere

Take the ferry over to other islands

You could buy one of those wet suit T-shirt's things for cold swimming pools. Yeah first time I went to playa Blanca i complained to Thomas Cook that I chose that hotel for the heated pools and they were actually freezing. All of them.

No one was swimming anywhere for more than a few mins and def needed a light coat for night times

After that I spent a bit more for a more expensive hotel by the beach.

saves money on taxis as well if you can find somewhere right by the beach/main strip area

might be good offers on in jan also you might be better waiting til early jan to book when the discount codes come out

Thank you all, loving reading these posts!

Yes am sure the Antipodes would be bloody lovely but we don't have the budget or the time or the inclination to fly all our lot out there for a week!

Thanks so much for the discount codes tip too - great intel!

Am desperate to go on hols after reading all the above...

Canaries might be warm and sunny but not guaranteed. More chance of decent weather in Egypt or Cape Verde but then it's a 6 hour flight and an AI hotel, which may be OK as you'll have pools, waterparks, kids clubs etc.

Anywhere with guaranteed hot weather much further - Caribbean, Goa, Thailand (but check actual weather because these places have monsoon/hurricane seasons and I don't know when these are).

I went to canaries February this year and although it was a windy 21 degrees , the pools are not heated so keep that in mind when looking at canary island hotels.
It’s t shirt and cardigan weather.
Evenings are cold so still need jumpers or coats if outside and finally be v prepared to pay high price for bog standard accommodation.I believe the tour operators love to rip British tourists off on quality of accommodation and price for all inclusive in sunnier climbs in February.