Where is affordable to go for some sun in October half term?

[thebellagio]

I literally haven't booked a holiday through a travel agent in years.

We've had a shit year and want to have a relaxing holiday for 2 adults and 1 child, possibly with some sun just lying by the pool, but I literally don't know where to go or how much it would cost.

Where is cheap to go, easy to get to and who is good to book with in terms of reputable travel agents?

What would you recommend? Ideally, as cheap as possible!

Our half term is the w/c 24th, so for a week, we would want either sat 22 or sun 23.

we are in the south, so it would be any London airport

Depends what you define as cheap and affordable! Canaries is all around a good bet for October sun but cheap ? Depends on your definition! Sicily, Cyprus, Greece and southern Spain are at the tail end of their summer season so weather far from guaranteed but they are priced more affordably consequently. I've used travel republic in the past for independent hotel and flight bookings. Last year I booked last minute with TUI for an excellent price for 4 star ai (10 days before travel) but it wasn't in school holidays and I didn't need a family room.

I paid £550 pp last year in term time as a comparison, canaries

We're going to Turkey for 10 days AI and transfers, 2 adults and DDs 15 & 10 for £1800. Booked via On the Beach.

That's expensive. We paid around £2700 for 10 nights to Greece for 3 adults and 2 children. We go beginning of august. We used on the beach

Booked 3 days ago..... Also meant to add.

Cyprus was pretty grim the second half of half term last year if that helps. I was fine in a jumper and leggings- the locals were wrapped up like I would be in a snow day though and it was mostly all shut down.

We were in Cyprus second half of half term last year (w/c 25th Oct) and it was lovely! I was in a bikini and swimming in the sea and I’m a wuss. Maybe different areas? - we were Pissouri bay which is south west as I recall. Cyprus definitely more reliable for warmth than Greece Spain etc.

I would say Cyprus, Canaries or Marrakech are your best bets weather wise. But not sure about doing Marrakech on the cheap tbh. Do you want all inclusive or are you happy to go self catering and eat out sometimes?

OP if your dc can miss the Monday back after half term, you could go to the holiday village in lanzarote for £2,600. Not cheap, but brilliant fun. Went years ago.
it’s AI, and from Gatwick.

I think I’d rather do self catering.

I wish I could search for a holiday but budget rather than location! That way I could input my dates and max budget and have something come up. I just get so bored searching through various filters.

I suspect we won’t end up doing anything,

Canaries would be reliably warm, I’ve swim in the sea on Christmas Day out there several times. Southern Spain would be hit and miss, not a definite: same for Cyprus and possibly Turkey.
Morocco?

I wouldn’t do it this year if I were you, all the prices are massively inflated.
we normally go to the Canaries at that time of year but I priced up flights and the hotel we’ve stayed in before and it’s £1500 more than last time we went!

You can with jet 2 and tui! Posters have offered lots of help and suggestions but you seem like you want to be spoon fed!

Tui Blu Lanzarote we found to be cheap in the October hols.

That was rude,

I said, I literally haven’t booked a holiday for years so I have no idea of what to expect or who to book with. I actually thought that Tui had gone under/were about to go under.

I see a few people have recommended on the beach so I’ll have a look at them.

thank you to everyone else for the recommendations.

Malta or Madeira. Not too hot, but very pleasant warm weather.

Why don’t you speak to a travel agent and see what they can do with your dates and budget. My friend works for Hays Travel and I didn’t really know that bricks and mortar travel agents still existed but she’s been really busy ( following Covid and people being stranded etc). Alternatively sign up for emails from Holiday Pirates who find super cheap deals. ( my advice is use it as a springboard… we are currently in Mauritius following a text offer from them but found a better hotel and flight options by searching the location…. Use different devices to search not just one because the algorithm seems to bump the price up if you repeatedly use the same device. ( or maybe I’ve just been unlucky )

Watch out for “ On the beach” - read the reviews. We had a bad experience buying flights through them.

Turkey - Lara beach is fab, just 20 minutes from Antalya. I highly recommend the Saturn Palace.

Went to turkey in October, red hot in the day but absolutely freezing at night, the temperature really drops !
Another suggestion could be Cape Verde... 6 hour flight though and wouldn't exactly be cheap but not as expensive as a proper long haul

@thebellagio Not rude, just pointing out to you, that people have tried to give you pointers, and you’ve just ignored the practical advice and resorted to whinging.
I’m out!

If you try On The Beach (I've never had an issue with them), you can choose 'anywhere' as a destination and then sort low to high, choose your filters such as AI, SC , etc.

Thanks for this thread OP, I have been wondering the same thing! Hope you find somewhere to go 😊

Turkey seems to be really cheap at the moment, incredible deals 5* all inclusive for £500pp it will be lovely and warm in Turkey and only a four hour flight!

Southern Spain will be cheaper than the canaries. We had a lovely week in Roquetas De Mar. Make sure the pools will still be heated.