Short-haul winter sun ideas for February half-term please!

[harriedmum]

We've had a horrendous Christmas, everybody's blue, and poor DD is on the CAMHS waitlisr for an ASD/ADHD diagnosis, and having a very hard time with school. So we're going to run away to somewhere sunny for Feb. half-term.

I'm too exhausted to do proper research, so I'm putting my faith in Mumsnet: your suggestions for where to go and where to stay most welcome. 8 year old DD likes the beach and animals, we all hate camping, and our nearest airport is London. DH likes old ruins (luckily for me), and city cycling, but neither of us would be confident driving.

Tell us where to go!

@IGotHam

Cyprus as I understand it has some very strict covid testing requirements.

There's a thread currently running about Cyprus requirements - they sound very strict :-/

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4447589-bloody-hell-cyprus-entry-requirements

Spain requires double vaccination for UK citizens an all over 12s. Or the Digital Certificate if you have an EU passport…

Once there it’s not very complicated. Some provinces do require Covid passes to access restaurants, but children are exempt. Mask wearing is compulsory everywhere outdoors, including for walks, all over 6s. Laying on the beach/by the pool you can take them off, or to eat and drink.

We went to Marrakesh 2 years ago. It wasn't warm enough to get in the pool, rained some times . Was more cardigan weather than shorts and T

Did real warmth need to do south of the equater

Sorry to be a pessimist, but have you thought about what you would do if you tested positive either at departure or arrival? You don’t want to be stuck in a quarantine hotel with 2 kids.

@harriedmum

Yes, we're worried about testing requirements too, but needs must: we're desperately in need of good weather (looks glumly out of the window).

Spain currently looks like its open to double vaccinated travelers, so we're currently considering Va!encia too.

Costa del Sol would be much warmer than Valencia. Look at the beach resorts around Malaga.