October Half Term Holidays

Make the most of the October half term and bag yourself a final slice of summer by having some fun in the sun as a family. A half term holiday in October is the perfect time to jet off with the kids for that final bit of sunshine, all before the dark nights and pesky winter temperatures kick in.

The best hotels for half term holidays

Make memories in fun-filled family hotels like the TUI BLUE for Families properties, packed with exciting entertainment for all ages, as well as large pools and kids clubs that will leave your little ones captivated. The food here is some of the best you’ll find too – there’s something for everyone, with plenty of options for picky eaters and dreamy desserts for afters.

If you’re looking for the ultimate family break, a stay in a completely kids-orientated First Choice Holiday Village is a no-brainer. You won’t find just ordinary activities here – we’re talking taking on the high ropes on an Aerial Adventure, tackling the pool assault course, and dancing in the pool daily to win the prestiged title of Prince and Princess of the pool. Complete with a winning crown of course!

Kids can even brush up on their footy skills in the Football Academy, build their confidence before the bright lights of the Stage Academy, or up their ability in the water with the Swim Academy. Fun and new skills go hand in hand at these hotels!

If you’ve got any water babies on your hands, Splashworld hotels are the perfect choice to thrill the kids (and adults!) with a fantastic selection of slides, pools, and lazy rivers right on your doorstep. Slip and slide to your heart’s content or lay back in a rubber ring and float your troubles away – the choice is all yours. 

When is October half term?

October half term 2021 begins on Friday 22nd October until Monday 1st November, when schools return. 

Thinking of booking ahead for next year? October half term 2022 begins on Friday 21st October, until schools return on Monday 31st October.

Tips for bagging a brilliant half term deal

There’s plenty of ways to snap up an October half term holiday without breaking the bank. If you’re wanting to keep the purse strings tight after a hectic summer, or make sure you don’t overspend before the run up to Christmas, here’s our top tips to ensure you bag yourself some family fun in the sun at a fantastic price. 

Sign up to our emails!  – this is the easiest way to get dreamy discounted deals delivered straight to your inbox. Save yourself the endless searching and let us do the hard work for you! 

Be flexible – you’ll be surprised how much difference selecting an alternative airport can make. If you’re willing to change things up and depart from somewhere different, you could potentially save hundreds on the total cost of your holiday. It’s certainly worth playing around with! 

The dates you choose to fly on can also have a big impact on the cost of your booking too. Taking into account the two weekends over the October half term, you have around 10 days to play with – so try browsing the flights available leaving on the Friday the kids break up, in comparison to any Saturday and Sunday flights. You might be able to save yourself a substantial amount just based off that tiny tweak!

The other way you can be flexible is by being open minded with your destination. Certain regions or countries might have more discounts featured than others, so if you’re not set on going to a particular place and you’re happy to head wherever the sunshine is, then you’ll more than likely save plenty of pounds! 

Keep in mind that unusual durations can often cut the cost of your holiday too – instead of just searching for your standard seven nights, try playing around and testing out five or six night durations, or even 10 nights if you can time the flight times right for getting the kids back to school. You might be able to bag a longer holiday for less! 

And last but not least, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for Free Kids Places. Many of our holidays give you a free child place with every two full paying adults, which is a sure-fire way to scrimp on those pennies! 

Children between the ages of 2-16 qualify, but sometimes your board basis can determine the eligibility of your child – with All Inclusive hotels capping a child’s age at 12. The terms and conditions for Free Child Places vary, so the best way to find these places is by using our handy search tool to filter your results and highlight those applicable to you.

Simply search for your desired holiday at the top of our website as normal, make sure to enter the ages of your children and then filter by ‘free child places’. Then bam! Your search results will automatically pull out the best deals with free places included. It’s as easy as that!

Best October half term holiday destinations

October half term holidays can be one of your last chances to snap up some sun before winter sets in, so choosing a destination that still sees toasty temperatures is key!

If you’re wanting idyllic island vibes with a short flight, then the Balearic Island favourite Majorca is your best bet. Temperatures in October still reach the mid twenties, which is perfect for topping up your tan whilst not being too hot and humid for the little ones.

Mainland Spain is also a good shout, with average temperatures of around 20 degrees celsius in October. And with a flight time to the likes of Benidorm being only around 2.5 hours, it’s perfect to save on the worry of keeping the kids entertained for long on the plane.

If you want temperatures just that little bit higher, sunny Cyprus is a pretty safe bet. With highs of 27 degrees, you’ll soon forget that the year is nearly coming to an end – it’ll still feel like the middle of summer! Cyprus has so much going on for families too – with the likes of Waterworld, the island’s iconic waterpark, being a big hit. 

If you don’t mind a little longer flight, then the Canaries could be the way to go for a half term holiday break. With a flight duration of around 4.5 hours to terrific Tenerife, and an average daily maximum of 29 degrees, we’d say it’s definitely worth the trip! Families will be in their element here too, with exciting excursions available to the wonderful Loro Parque, a haven of wildlife, not to mention one of the world’s best and most thrilling waterparks – Siam Park. You won’t quite believe the wave pool when you see it! 

Ready to make the most of October half term?

Take a look at our best October deals at the top of this page, or use our handy search tool to select the brilliant break you’re looking for. Family fun is just around the corner!