By the time the half term break rolls around, many are ready for a break. Taking a family trip away can leave everyone feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the next few busy months of school, work and extracurricular activities. The only downside of travelling during a half term break is that it will probably be very busy and expensive. With that in mind, here are our picks of the best half term holiday ideas to consider.
A dose of sunshine
Since half term breaks typically fall in autumn and late winter or early spring, a break that includes sun might be what you’re after. Consider heading south to Spain, Italy or France. If you’re travelling with children, you may want to incorporate activities other than just the beach to add some variety. Introduce them to the culture of the town or city you’re in by attending shows, visiting local eateries and walking through the streets.
House swap
A popular choice amongst holidaymakers is house swapping. This works by making contact with like-minded people who are willing to offer their home as a holiday home for the duration that they would stay in yours. If you’re aiming to get a real feel of what it’s like to live there with home comforts then this choice is ideal. The benefits can be mutual when your idea of a holiday is indulging in the culture of the community you’re visiting. This works particularly well with families with young children from the UK and the USA.
City break time?
Consider a break to a historic city, like Florence. Visit world-renowned attractions like the Duomo, a spectacular domed cathedral, and Michelangelo’s David and teach your children about the historic aspects of the city. If you and your partner are history buffs, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy picking a historic city to explore with your family.
Planning your Half Term trip
If you’d like to book a holiday, you may get a better deal if you book a hotel and flights together. Package holiday deals can make booking a trip much easier, as they take away all the different correspondence with various booking agents, leaving you with more time to plan each day’s activities.
Pitch a tent
If money is tight, consider a short camping trip or take a day trip to a nearby beach or theme park. The half term break can also be the ideal time to visit family and friends who live out of town. Consider taking a road trip around the country, and save money by staying with friends and family. Make the road trip special by stopping off at different attractions along the way – chances are, you and your family probably haven’t seen every nearby attraction.
In short, half term breaks are all about doing something out of the ordinary to make the week off school feel like something special. Whether it’s a trip out of the country or a day journey somewhere close, choose something new and you’ll be sure to give your family a break from everyday life back home.
An article by Jamie Monteath
