Where should we take DD15 on holiday in October?

[Paq]

She has a two week 1/2 term, it will be her GCSE year so want to give her a chance to decompress. So not looking for a frantic city break but not just lounging by a pool.

Criteria:

• Rural / semi rural / coastal - beautiful and relaxing but not boring for a teen
• Could have activities - e.g. swimming, kayaking, hiking, climbing, horse riding. Not sailing or cycling.
• Decent weather for late October but probably can't afford long haul.

Does this sound like a holiday you've been on and would recommend?

Thanks!

Canaries are you best option for warmth at that time without long haul. Choose a resort with activities on site she can opt into. We have used the TUI hotels which are ai so hassle free

We did Egypt with ours (& friends) this October

Weather was lovely, flight just over 5 hours
They did some water sports but there was horse riding too and a water park on site

Otherwise I would second Canaries

Thanks! I'm not keen on Egypt from experience as a female traveller there and we have done Lanzarote before, which was great. I'm now looking at the Azores and Madeira...

cyprus will still be warm in october

Friends went to Cape Verde, liked it but not much to do there so depends on your expectations. My parents rated la palma too

I'm giving up! Can't get to the Azores in late October and holidays to Madeira seem £££ for what's on offer. We are in the far south west so once you add up travel to London airports it doesn't seem worth it.

Lanzarote is not the only Canary Island!

Algarve? We've been late November and early December three times and it was as warm then as, if not warmer than, Mallorca in October with some warmer and some cooler days. You can get cheap flights to Faro and there's beautiful coastline for walking.

Malaga - beach and city, plus lots of lovely surrounding areas to explore. Weather should still be good.

I know, but it is the nicest...

Bristol to Faro or Funchal is over £700 for three of us. I know the era of cheap flights is over but that plus decent accommodation to go to somewhere not our first (or second, or third) choice doesn't appeal.

Yes, I'm aware these are first world problems!

Malaga would be a good option, lots to see and beaches if you want them.

We’ve done Majorca in October and it’s warm enough, lots to do etc

Mallorca or Menorca? Stunning beaches in Menorca and the temps in Oct this year were really good. Activities such as riding, cycling, watersports easily available. Lovely restaurants and old towns to wander around.

I second the Algarve- we flew into Lisbon as much cheaper and hired a car. Food is amazing and very reasonably priced and lots to do and see if you want to do that. Could also incorporate a few days in Lisbon if you wanted to.

@Holidayqueen1 Lisbon is a much cheaper option. Thanks!

Have you looked at Exeter? Some easy destinations from there. I second Menorca/Mallorca, or Ibiza was still pleasant too in October.

We went to Malta in the October half term this year - we went for a friend's wedding and it's not somewhere I'd ever really considered. We loved it! The weather was perfect (consistently mid-20s and sunny), it's an island so loads of beaches/coves/smaller islands to explore. There's kayaking, horse riding, climbing, snorkeling, quad biking, coach tours etc etc. Wide range of accommodation for all budgets and needs (lots of self catering and apartment style places as well as the usual hotels) and the food is amazing. There's also so much history - megalithic temples/tombs, forts and military museums, gorgeous cathedrals and temples and beautiful architecture generally.

We flew from Bristol too and it was about £150 pp. They only had direct flights on a Tuesday (both there and back) so it's worth bearing that in mind. If you'd be happy Megabussing it to Heathrow etc I think the flights would be a lot more regular (and cheaper) - we just didn't want the added hassle.

Honestly, it was one of the nicest holidays I've been on for a very long time and massively surpassed my expectations.

Dubrovnik, Lisbon, Seville or Rome all gorgeous at that time of year. Hotel with pool ideally.

We went to Naples in 2019 and Southern Spain this year. Both lovely weather.

A split fortnight between Lisbon and coastal Algarve? It's only about 2 to 2.5 hours drive and the toll roads are really very good.

Before you book, maybe contact the school to find out if they will be running any catch up / intervention / extension sessions over half term as many do for Y11. If they do, then they can tell you whether it’s normally first or second week.

Then book an amazing holiday for her. First choice for me would be somewhere in the Caribbean and then if not, maybe the canaries or somewhere like that.

Just to update, after lots of prevarication I booked us a week in Rhodes. The island wasn't my first choice but the hotel is right on the beach and has a 50m swimming pool and DD is a big swimmer.

Flights, transfers and all inclusive hotel with sea view: £1,236 for two of us. Seemed really good value.

Can I recommend Cairo. V luxurious, reasonable prices, lots of culture, very modern hotels & hip restaurants on the Nile and as a big city does not have the same issues for women as for example sharm

We went to Rhodes last October. We had a good time - hired a car for a few days and did a few day trips. Would go back.