How to avoid school holiday price madness? Please help!

[Gryffindor]

I am changing jobs in October and have decided to take a week off in between. Unfortunately, the week in question partially overlaps with school half term and the prices are absolutely extortionate.

It's just DH and I, childfree. We were ideally looking for a sunny holiday but would also be happy with a city break if the price was reasonable. It needs to be quite relaxing so I can start the new job chilled out (which definitely won't last long)!

Ideal departure date is Thursday 23rd - schools are off from the following Monday.

Any ideas please?

Have you looked at cruises? The ships which take children don't seem to bump their prices much so I doubt the child free ships do

Go further away? Maybe places like Cuba or New England wouldn't have such a price leap.

Best advice is to book the flights and accommodation yourself, mid week departures are often cheaper and perhaps use a less obvious airport. However bear in mind UK half term can encompass either or both of the last 2 weeks of October so while it may not be half term in your area until that Monday it may well be elsewhere. Also European schools often take an Autumn break earlier in October than we do.

Brilliant, thanks everyone. Currently looking at New York (flights reasonable, hotels vvvv expensive), Amsterdam (reasonable) or the Canaries (eye wateringly expensive for the same holiday that would be hundreds cheaper a week earlier).

The cruise suggestion is a very good idea. Never been on one before but I quite like the idea of just getting on the ship and they do all the hard work - you just get off and explore!

I went on a lovely child-free boat on a cruise in the Baltic. Oslo, st Petersburg, Helsinki... It was great. Cruise Maritime Voyages it was.