Where for my 40th in October half term?!

[Badgoushk]

Hello, I'd like to book a week away for October half term but don't know where to go! It will be my 40th birthday during the week and we are a family of 4: me, DH, DD aged 4, DD aged 2.

We don't normally fly for environmental reasons but we might make an exception. I'd like to go somewhere nice and warm 20-25 degrees. Not too far away. I don't want to mess up the girls' sleeping patterns.

We normally holiday in self catering cottages in the UK.

My ideal holiday would involve going in a pool every day, some sunbathing, dressing up for dinner in the evening, lots of laughter. I'm happy for it to be very kid orientated as it will ultimately be more relaxing that way.

Please can you suggest destinations? Would Sicily work? Or Crete?

Thanks.

Canaries?

Lanzarote is mostly lovely (Playa Blanca nicest resort) and you should still have nice weather at that time of year. Same time zone so no worries there.

Budapest or Tenerife?

Have a look at the sherston in fuerteventura. Ryanair fly there

Sharaton

Good grief: Sheraton

Another for Sheraton Salobre. Brilliant place.

Thanks everyone. Will check it out!

Dressing up at night?

Have you considered a cruise?

Ha LizzieMacQueen, I don't mean dressing up in any kind of extreme way. I mean more like brushing the sand out of my hair and all going out for a child friendly dinner.

My MIL does cruises... Not really my cup of tea!

If you're used to self catering then wonder if you might not like a hotel holiday where you have to have every meal in a restaurant?

If so.... you could consider somewhere like Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus which has s/c cottages but restaurants and pool on site.

Also consider Baobab Suites Tenerife - again self catering apartments but with restaurants on site. I've been so PM me if you want more info.

If you don't need the s/c facilities then I'd look at Crete or Cyprus - child friendly hotels include Sani, Anassa, Almrya, Ammos (has s/c), Daois Cove, Domes of Elounda.

Thank you minipie, I'll check those out! I'm very impressed with your knowledge. Are you in the travel industry?

No I just dream about holidays... a lot!

Oh and actually you can find most of these on websites like Tots Too, Tots to Travel or I escape with kids.

I haven't been but have heard good things about Malta. Shorter flight time than Cyprus from the UK but you may have more reliable weather in Cyprus in October.

If you want guaranteed nice, warm weather in Oct half-term then you need to head for Canaries, Cyprus, Malta, possibly Madeira. Most other places aren't reliably warm at that time - southern Spain can be nice, but could be too cold for lying by the pool.

I can recommend Aphrodite Hills (we're actually going back in Oct), or the Papagayo Resort in Playa Blanca. There are loads of great family places to go in the Canaries though.