Ideas for a REALLY easy lovely peaceful Feb break?

[Leavesonthewashingline]

We have had a year from hell, with very serious illness and now mental illness too. Could really really do w taking the family away at half term, somewhere easy and lovely and sunny (doesn’t need to be hot, does need to be bright and sunny). Kids are A level and GCSE and one younger, so we need 3 bedrooms. Would pay quite a bit more for somewhere really reliably lovely, tho everything seems terrifyingly expensive. Where to look? Things are really hard right now and I can’t find the time to look properly…

What about Hawaii? Either Oahu (although I wouldn't stay in Honolulu/Waikiki) or Maui. The weather is reliably lovely, the sea warm and turquoise.

I take it you've just got a week, are you intending to travel Feb or May. If Feb I would head to the middle east e.g Dubai or Oman, which will be reliably sunny and almost certainly warm too. Otherwise best bet more locally would be the canary islands. If you meant May then most of Europe is good, even if swimming is on the chilly side

Budget will dictate a lot!

the costa del Sol is the sunniest place in mainland Europe and it’ll be 16-20c and hopefully sunny. Lots of places to rent so 3 bedrooms will be easy.

Dubai will be warmer but will cost a lot more.

Hawaii for a week doesn't sound that relaxing!

If you want bright winter sun rather than heat how about the Italian lakes? Garda is beautiful.

Or Sorrento maybe

If you could be swayed away from sunny and bright, we have had the absolute best breaks in Finnish Lapland at Feb half term. With teens. It is the ultimate switch off, rest and relax. Daily saunas, the peace that comes from the way snow muffles everything. When it is sunny it is achingly beautiful. We walk through the forests, spend time together, sledge. Absolute bliss that gets a unanimous thumbs up and desire to repeat the holiday from all 3 dc.

Did you get a package (and if so, who with) or self book? Sounds lovely

Was that an expensive trip, pp? It sounds wonderful but, before I suggest it to anyone, I thought I should check the budget we’d need!

Yes please tell us more about lapland!!

I would.book a week on the Canaries, easy flights and small islands to.get round once you are there

Look up Jet2 Villas, which give you flights, villa and car hire in one.

We self book Lapland.

Ryanair fly to Rovaniemi and then you get a bus from the airport to wherever you want. We went to Pyha last year booked a self catering lodge easily enough. Then sorted everything else out there, there was no really need to book stuff in advance, not even ski lessons. We just rocked up and were able to book a private lesson for the teenagers for the next day no problem.

It can be as expensive as you want it to be. If you book reindeer and huskies etc then it is very, very expensive. If you potter under your own steam, maybe hire snowshoes then it is very reasonable.

We went to Saariselka in 2019 which was good, we flew to ivalo with Finnair that year but those flights are silly money these days. You can get a bus from Rovaniemi but it is a much longer trip.

Feb 2025 our half term and the Finnish school holiday line up so accommodation was more expensive to book and I imagine the resort will be busier.

Pyha has brilliant sledging hills and the national park has huts everywhere with fire pits and wood so you just potter, explore, light fires and grill sausages, sledge a bit and so on.

Lapland sounds just lovely but having looked, I can’t see how we could do it - Ryanair flight is sold out… also can’t do anything too strenuous due to child illness. Maybe next year - it does look wonderful!

it is Feb not May

Won’t do Dubai. Italian lakes look lovely but I think the Lapland idea is more what we need - real deep relaxation and peace w not many options and no sightseeing. I just can’t see how to make it work…

I will look at Jet2 and canaries - any other ideas??

Canaries is a good shout. Flight length not too onerous. We did Fuerteventura with TUI one Feb half term and after a couple of wet and windy days at the beginning of the week, it was balmy. We did do a couple of touristy trips out but had plenty of time to flop by the pool.

If you want easy and bright, the Canaries are probably best as longer daylight, loads of choice and relatively affordable. Just pick the south of the island for better weather. Perhaps use the deals finder on jet2holidays.com.

Iceland could be an alternative to Lapland. I think Icelandair do packages that include some of the most popular excursions, to make it easier, or you can book separately using whichever budget airline (not sure about Ryanair but Easyjet or Jet2 fly there) and find a self catering property using booking.com.

Loads to do in Reykjavik, plus you can book excursions locally. Plus there's loads of public swimming pools with spa areas and water slides.

I had to laugh at this suggestion as it's probably as far away from what the OP is looking for as you could get, save for visiting a war zone.

H10 hotel in Lanzarote can’t go wrong. Jet2 easy flights, package deal, AI, nice and warm and food was fine. Light bright and relaxing we went in Nov and it was the most chilled I’ve been on holiday I think. Complete switch off with nothing to do but eat, drink and talk to each other.

Which hotel?

Check out Feuerstein in South Tyrol - it’s got that winter fresh relaxation vibe, nestled in the mountains. Fresh air, amazing hotel to switch off and relax but also set up for kids so lots of activities (although more for younger than older kids I’d say)

This February we booked a last minute week with Jet2 on our first ever package holiday near Faro. It was the week before half term and it was sunny every day: definitely t shirt weather.

There wasn't loads to do in the town, but we did day trips to Spain, nearby castles, time by the pool, beach walks etc. Yoga on the beach looked good, and the pool was just about warm enough to swim.

We had a one bedroom SC apartment, but all inclusive was available too. Jet2 were good: friendly, helpful, efficient and unobtrusive.

Faro in Denmark? I don’t understand, it’s not near Spain.

In Portugal I imagine

Just be a bit careful with Tenerife as is quite hilly in parts if you don’t want anything strenuous. Get accommodation near the beach not up a hill.

Where do you stay?

I don’t recommend the h10 gardens, the restaurant is like a school cafeteria and you get elbowed out of the way for food, not relaxing.

It's the southernmost city in Portugal.