October Half Term Holiday Ideas

[patate10]

Have done Turkey for last 3 years but last year weather wasn't great and I think we are done for a bit.

Will have 16, 14 and 12. 16 may still be in difficult teenage stage

Max 4 hour flight.

DH v snotty about canary islands

We need good food (prefer all inclusive rather than self catering now), good beach, good pool option (loved swim ups in Turkey for eg) and some activities/day trips to do (boat trips, shopping, not v strenuous ones!)

Edited to add - looking for at least mid 20's in day, don't mind chillier eves

Any recommendations?!

• Olympic Lagoon in Cyprus has great dining - there were at least 7 restaurants when we went. It’s about 2km to central Paphos and the harbour.

We went to Cyprus three times for the October half term already. I don’t think there is anything closer with good (=swimmable) weather. I didn’t even realise Turkey was an option. If I remember rightly, some flights can be just over 4 hours (depends on the direction and prevailing winds). I think to go there it could be under 4 hours potentially, and to go back it will be over 4 hours.

We did Cyprus in October and it was ok weather wise, still the odd shower one afternoon, I would think similar to Turkey.

Apart from Canaries or maybe Morroco or Egypt these will be your options.

Cyprus
Malta
Egypt
Marrakesh

Wondering if we could lengthen flight times a bit to get guaranteed weather. Wouldn't want Dubai though... So annoying as I dont think there is an answer but its the best time for us all to have a week together.

@patate10 hi and sorry i cannot help as i am looking at a similar holiday but no experience so far…
can you recommend where you have been in turkey? I have 3 teens and it is my 50th so it would be quite nice.. many thaks

We have been to Jiva Beach, Liberty Lykia and Liberty Signa. All three had plus and minus points and are at different price brackets.

For teens maybe Lykia as Oludeniz is nearby for hilarious shopping and the blue lagoon. We have done boat trips and the Fethiye markets each year as well.

Turkey has been great but we need a change and also the weather wasn't great this past year and it scared me! The two years before we have had amazing weather though.

Would you go as far as Cape Verde? Hotels are beautiful.

Would it be comparable in terms of price to Turkey?
do you have any recommendations for all inclusive?
many thanks

@patate10 thanks a lot, i will have a look!!

A couple of aquaintainces said Cape Verde was quite boring and they had that recent gastro scare so I had eliminated it.

Canary Islands can be really lovely! For example Lanzarote bans all high rise buildings (except one) and we’ve done cycling along the seafront, wine tasting, volcano visit etc.

Egypt will be hotter than Turkey.

Oman?

Both DH and I have had rubbish canary experiences (but 20-25 years ago!). I would try again as have heard the same. He won't hear of it!

Going to properly research Egypt and Oman now, thank you!

We are in Egypt right now, Sharm is good for Feb half term and will be even warmer in October (I was there once in November and once in December), BUT the flight there is over 4.5 hours and back about 5.5 hours.

This.

Tell snotty DH to get over himself of stay at home if he's going to write off a lovely holiday destination based on limited experience where he obviously went to the wrong resort.

You just need to go to the right places and not 'Brits in the sun' if that's not what you want. As well as the vineyards, volcano, watersports there's local artist Cesar Manrique's houses to visit. The other islands can also be lovely too.

All the Canary Islands? Each one offers something different. I love Fuerteventura and the huge beaches and sand dunes.

Tunisia - we were very sceptical but absolutely loved it with teenagers, have returned 3 times now!

I was going to suggest Cyprus- that is what we are hoping for. (Not planning as we don't have any money but hope our situation will change by then).

If you reconsider Cyprus, Nissi beach stands out. But I don’t know beaches in the Paphos area.