October half term - where??

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

We had to cancel our summer holiday and are all feeling rather down in the dumps. Where can we go for a week at the end of October for some heat and sun?
We are, Me, DH, DS (17), DD (15). We like beaches, exploring, villas or hotels as long everyone isn’t all on top of each other. Budget is £4K absolute tops for the week.
Any suggestions please?

Strictly speaking we’ve got 9 days with the weekends on either side, but, yes we haven’t got much wriggle room so after as much “guaranteed” weather as possible!

We went to Crete last Oct half-term and it was warm (mid-20s) as was the sea. The outdoor pools were cold though.

Kefalonia

Any of the canaries are good for that time. Lanzarote or Fuerteventura are options, Gran Canaria is furthest South

Cape Verde for something a bit quieter

I’ve got past the ‘ooh where can we go that’s warm’ stage and into the ‘where can we go that’s not going to be a complete nightmare and high risk of going tits up due to changing covid rules’ stage.

So amongst the locations I was considering:

TURKEY - red list, so that’s a nope
CRETE - government has recently reintroduced curfews due to rising rates, sounds a bit uncertain
ITALY - rules for children aged 6+ currently uncertain as it’s not clear they are exempt from 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated.

Probably looking at adding £300+ to cost of holiday for required tests pre and post holiday, as well as the WTF would you do if you test positive while you’re out there.

Starting to wonder whether it’s worth the risk and hassle TBH

We looked at Cyprus but were put off as anyone over 12 not fully vaccinated have to PCR test on arrival at airport and wait for result (if I'm reading the entry requirements correctly).

'Passengers coming from Red Category countries without proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations must undergo a PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure and provide proof of a negative result. You must then undergo another PCR test upon arrival at Larnaca or Paphos airports. Test results should be available within three hours through the online platform. The cost of both tests is borne by the passenger.' www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cyprus/entry-requirements

@LastToBePicked

I’ve got past the ‘ooh where can we go that’s warm’ stage and into the ‘where can we go that’s not going to be a complete nightmare and high risk of going tits up due to changing covid rules’ stage.

So amongst the locations I was considering:

TURKEY - red list, so that’s a nope
CRETE - government has recently reintroduced curfews due to rising rates, sounds a bit uncertain
ITALY - rules for children aged 6+ currently uncertain as it’s not clear they are exempt from 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated.

Probably looking at adding £300+ to cost of holiday for required tests pre and post holiday, as well as the WTF would you do if you test positive while you’re out there.

Starting to wonder whether it’s worth the risk and hassle TBH

From 6-17 non vaccinated Brits need to do a test to enter Italy. They don't need to quarantine.

We're in Malta at the moment and I believe it's still very warm in October. It's currently 30 degrees. We've decided on three nights to wander Valletta and surrounding areas and then onto Gozo. Only arrived this morning but so far loving it and it's green list, as opposed to green watch or amber.

@LastToBePicked

I’ve got past the ‘ooh where can we go that’s warm’ stage and into the ‘where can we go that’s not going to be a complete nightmare and high risk of going tits up due to changing covid rules’ stage.

So amongst the locations I was considering:

TURKEY - red list, so that’s a nope
CRETE - government has recently reintroduced curfews due to rising rates, sounds a bit uncertain
ITALY - rules for children aged 6+ currently uncertain as it’s not clear they are exempt from 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated.

Probably looking at adding £300+ to cost of holiday for required tests pre and post holiday, as well as the WTF would you do if you test positive while you’re out there.

Starting to wonder whether it’s worth the risk and hassle TBH

If you book with TUI then you can get your LFT to come home and your day 2 PCR test for £20 per person.

We have a place in Andalucia on the border with The Algarve.
We usually go in October half term and have had temps up to 30c, although mid to low 20s in more usual.
Kids wear wetsuits in the sea and it’s long sleeves at night but it’s still a lot warmer than The UK and much nicer for days trips etc. For example we were last there in a June and had to cancel trips to Cadiz and Seville when it go up to 40c.

We’ve done both Cyprus and Fuerteventura in the October half term. Both were great but Cyprus edged it for weather. The flights to Cyprus for the half term can be quite costly though, normally more expensive than the Canaries.

We went to Cyprus 2 years ago and had a mixed bag weather wise. Really nice and sunny days but also rain. We drove up into the mountains and had 10 degrees, at the beach we had 25.

The evenings can get cool so a cardigan is a must.

But it is a great place to explore and do more than just laying at the pool. Saying that, check about pool temperature, some don't heat anymore but it is too fresh to swim long in them.

@LastToBePicked feeling similar. My kids have 2 week half term this year and am tempted by Crete or Cyprus after small uk holiday was scuppered by us all actually getting COVID but beginning to feel it's not worth the hassle and I may settle for UK instead

Been to Cyprus end of October before....about 26 during the day....bit cooler in the evenings ....but still onLy need a cardigan.... can definately sit outdoors in the evenings

we are going Canary Islands. I would be super happy with low 20s in Greece etc, but younger kids in our small gang require pools rather than the sea, so we've had to look at the more 'guaranteed' mid 20s of Canary Islands. Fingers crossed

If you book with TUI then you can get your LFT to come home and your day 2 PCR test for £20 per person.

We never do package holidays, we always travel independently - which makes me more nervous about the whole thing as we’d be on our own if thing went wrong.

I’m looking at some Airbnb’s that offer free cancellation right to day before arrival and the flights are cheap as chips, so if we couldn’t travel we’re not too exposed. Main risk would be a status change of the country we are in to red list during the trip.

Cyprus is lovely. But be warned - it gets dark very early once the clocks change (it is dark by 5pm for the last week of October).

What's Rhodes like end of Oct? Or madeira??

We have just been in Rhodes and loved the Island. I suspect pools will be freezing as they are not heated but the sea will remain warm.

Cyprus is lovely. But be warned - it gets dark very early once the clocks change (it is dark by 5pm for the last week of October)

Ooh that hadn’t crossed my mind - good point.

Now the BBC are reporting that there definitely won’t be a Lockdown in October, which makes me wonder if that’s a way of dangling that idea and just letting it sit before an announcement…

When we've been to the Algarve in October half term it's always been 25°+ but maybe we've just been lucky!

@AvonCallingBarksdale

Now the BBC are reporting that there definitely won’t be a Lockdown in October, which makes me wonder if that’s a way of dangling that idea and just letting it sit before an announcement…

Wondering the same thing. We have an October holiday booked and I'm feeling quite concerned