Annus Horribilis February half term holiday HELP

[farmerinthedell]

I am slowly going insane trying to book a last minute(ish) holiday commencing on 15th Feb. We never normally go away but after an onslaught of bad news are taking a fuck it approach.

Happy to go anywhere in the world but must be worth it for 1 week. We have a 4 year old and a 7 year old.

Budget £7k

Don't mind chilly weather if there is lots to entertain kids. Would love to just lie on a sun lounger but places like Dubai seem to be over budget when you factor in flights that leave at reasonable times.

Anyone?

I'd even be keen to spend less and stay in the UK but it needs to feel like a real treat where we can leave our woes behind for a week.

Thank you if there are any replies!

I've just booked Lanzarote for 3 of us in Feb half term AI for £2k, so I'm sure you could get some pretty nice accommodation there for your £7k!

Nothing wrong with CP or Butlins but i thought OP wanted abroad

Azores
Bermuda
Antigua
Morocco
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos islands.

It’s easier to do outdoor activities in the warmth and sun though. I mean yes you could still spend ££ on a UK holiday in the UK in Feb but would you want to/be able to spend hours on the beach in the cold and rain for example? You’d end up spending more money to do indoor activities.

If I wanted it to be a treat in Feb I’d personally go for sun and warmth or go skiing.

Not a cold beach in England.

Mexico. Have a look at Tui for that week. Plenty in your budget. The ruins are always good. Avoid the really cheap hotels. Nif you want nice beaches and don't mind being away from everything e.g a resort holiday then look at Costa Mujeres. The Riu Palace Costa Mujeres and Dunamar are both nice. Big AI but immaculately clean and staff are lovely. The AI buffets are great. A La Carte a bit hit and miss but otherwise couldn't fault it.

I've been to Tenerife in Feb and it was warm enough so long as you didn't get in the pool.

I've also been to Lanzarote but it's windy even in august so I'd avoid it in Feb I think.

We have just booked the Four Seasons in Vilamoura for February. The weather is due to be 17/18 not too hot but definitely warmer than here and also it has a heated indoor pool and games room that the kids can use if the outdoor pool is too chilly.

Lanzarote is great in Feb. And you can totally use the pools

Dubai packages seem to be 5 days rather than 7 weirdly. Have you tried that length?

Flying Emirates is part of the experience, even in economy.

There's a hotel next to the parks, Lego land, dreamworks etc that does free daily tickets, so you can do half pool days and half theme parks. Your kids are perfect ages for them too.

We went in Oct half term and there were just zero or small queues for everything in Legoland. It's bizarre compared to the Windsor one!

Here's a fab hotel right on a pretty Devon beach. Hotel is great, has lovely warm indoor pool. You can borrow beach stuff from the hotel, kids love a beach!

https://www.harbourhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/devon/harbour-beach-club-hotel-spa?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=local&utmcampaign=hotel-harbourbeachclubhotel

Only on MN would someone suggest taking two suitcases of food on a long haul holiday. How embarrassing!

Yeah I think it’s actually more windy in summer (I go often for sports training) July is peak wind! I mean it can be windy all year round but definitely more in summer.

As pp has suggested, go for one of the Luxury Family Hotels if in the UK, much nicer than Center Parcs and probably not much more expensive tbh.

Otherwise I'd go Canaries or the Algarve - the latter usually has surprisingly OK weather in February, I've been swimming in the sea this time of year (though maybe still a bit cold for kids!) Algarve is also super cheap at the moment, we got car hire, a 3 bed hotel apartment and flights for the four of us for under 2k. Not AI or anything but that leaves a lot of cash for eating out!

Thanks everyone.

I can't tell you how much you have helped. Sorry to be annoying but still not decided! I have narrowed down to:

• Egypt
• Canaries - maybe a cruise! But zero experience
• Staying in UK (definitely not CP, Butlins). Lots of the luxury hotels suggested (Fowey, Wooley Grange etc) have no rooms though.

We just don't think further afield feels right with little ones in tow. Maybe next year! I also really don't want to cook. Not even pour milk into a bowl of cereal!

Only if they are heated!

@farmerinthedell out of the narrowed down choices, we found a a good quality all inc hotel in the Canaries the best option when our sons were those kind of ages, as they was always something they could eat. TripAdvisor can be very helpful when trying to get the measure of an all inclusive hotel. Pick one that has some speciality restaurants where you order from menu, as buffets get boring and repetitive. With the budget you have you should be ok. Have a fantastic holiday, wherever you choose.

To be unhelpful in adding choice, can I add/repeat the suggestion of a Kinderhotel? I just had a quick look at the Kinderhotel website for availability in half term and there are several - the most expensive is about 4k and they're all all-inclusive (that doesn't include travel). They're all in ski areas but you don't have to ski, although they'll probably all offer ski school which you might want your kids to do.

Vacations for the whole family - Kinderhotels Europa

Have a look at Hotel Suites Villa Maria in Tenerife - looks like the pools are heated in winter. They have one villa left for your dates, it’s £5100 b&b booking direct but you might find a deal elsewhere.

I’d probably go Egypt but if you go there or the Canaries you will want either an indoor or heated pool- the sea and unheated pools will be freezing!

Definitely not a ski trip?

Out of those choices I’d do Canaries. I’m slightly biased as I had a bad experience in Egypt!

Egypt/tunisia/turkey/Cape Verde all awful - you're not alone in that thinking!

Really? You’ve been to every bit of those diverse, in some cases ancient and hugely historically important countries and can give that qualified view can you?

I’m sure that some parts of all of them might not be great but surely you could say that about the UK too? And some parts are amazing. Casual Xenophobia is all a bit basic don’t you think?

From my perspective- my incident in Egypt was with regards to personal safety (had a dodgy taxi driver who groped me). And also a few other incidents with men that made me feel unsafe. It may just have been that specific part of Egypt but it’s not on my list of places I want to return to, especially with young kids. I said I may be biased. I was also there when the bomb went off in the desert! I did not have a great trip…!

Hi everyone, I promised to update.

Sadly our year of stress has become even more woeful and so a holiday is no longer possible. I just need to sleep.

You all gave such wonderful ideas that I am thinking of booking something now for Feb 2026. Probably Woolley Grange - a glimmer of hope on the distant horizon is better than no glimmer at all!

Thank you all again