It’s the family holiday conundrum that just won’t go away: how to avoid swingeing price increases to half-term getaways.
The travel industry swears blind there’s nothing that can be done about the problem, blaming ‘supply and demand’. But that’s not particularly helpful, especially when the cost of holidays can shoot up by as much as 479 per cent during half-term breaks.
Here we’ve assembled the ultimate guide to trying to get round the costly bi-annual problem.
GO ON SUNDAY
It’s natural instinct to want to head off at the first possible opportunity – but wait until Sunday and flight prices often dip. For example, BA fares from Gatwick to Orlando departing on Saturday February 15, at the beginning of half-term, is from £1,246. However, go Sunday-to-Sunday (February 16-23) and the price is from £710 – a reduction of 75 per cent.
SIX NIGHTS CHEAPER
Going for one fewer night away will mean that your return flights will be markedly less. Looking at fares from Manchester to Tenerife for the upcoming February half-term, Saturday-to-Saturday fares are from £393 on Ryanair, or £333 for Saturday-to-Friday. A saving of £240 for a family of four.
MONITOR AIRLINE SALES
To know about best half-term fares in advance, work out which airline travels on the route you want and sign up to its newsletters well in advance of departure. This way you can pounce on the cheapest tickets as they are announced.
USE A SEARCH ENGINE
Sign up to price alerts at sky scanner.net when checking a route’s price on specific dates; for Google Flights, click on the tab that says ‘Track Prices’.
With Skyscanner, you can also add your dates of travel and select ‘Explore Everywhere’ for your destination. This gave us Luton-Dublin returns from £111 for a family of four, with two children aged eight and ten, for February 15-22.
THINK A YEAR AHEAD
If you enjoyed a holiday in a particular accommodation and would like to go back, don’t beat about the bush. Act quickly and make a reservation for next year – even, while you’re out there when you may be able to negotiate a price.
CENTER PARCS IN EUROPE
Center Parcs, which has five UK locations, has expanded into Europe – Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Given Continental school holiday times differ, bargains are to be had at the latter. For example, four nights this half-term in a Comfort Lodge sleeping four is from £788 at Villages Nature Paris, close to Disneyland Paris (centerparcs.eu). Back in the UK, the price for four nights at a New Style Woodland Lodge in Longleat Forest, Wiltshire is from £1,699 – more than double.
Yes, you will have to get to France, but ferry prices are from £204 (directferries.co.uk), and it’s a three-hour drive from Calais – so you’ll still be quids in.
CONSIDER A VILLA
Book a villa or holiday home over half-term and you may be surprised by both the availability and reasonable prices. This is because supply exists to cover families as well as non-families during summer holidays, but at half-term there’s less non-family demand.
The result can be bargains such as pretty Knight’s Rest cottage in Leyburn within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It comes with a wood-burning stove and costs from £590 for seven nights from February 15, sleeping four in three bedrooms (ruralretreats.co.uk).
Or, further afield, seven nights at the smart, whitewashed Villa El Ranchito in Torremolinos, sleeping two adults and two children, costs from £1,007 for a week from February 15.
It comes with a lovely little pool (solmarvillas.com). Return Luton-Malaga flights currently from £186 (ryanair.com).
TRY A CITY BREAK
Flight availability tends to be better for a city break than for traditional bucket-and-spade destinations. They can be educational and less crowded at half-term than at other times.
A six-night trip to Rome with £135pp return flights from Stansted departing on February 17 (ryanair.com). Book an Airbnb such as ‘Apartment in Aurelio’ from £879 for six nights, sleeping four (airbnb.co.uk). Put the two together and it comes to £1,419 – letting you see the Colosseum and the Vatican in style, without the crowds.
Or try three nights in Prague staying in a junior suite with room for a family of four from £1,032 including flights from Luton on February 18 (easyjet.com). It’s a great chance to visit Prague Castle, see the splendid Charles Bridge and explore the medieval lanes of the Czech capital when it’s not so busy.
GO A DAY OR TWO EARLY
You are not meant to take children out of school unless authorised. However, if you ask permission of a sympathetic head teacher it might be possible to cut term short a day or two without a fine. This is – it must be stressed – usually in exceptional circumstances, possibly where the difference in travel costs is particularly high.
Bear in mind that if permission is not granted, you face a fine of £80 per child, rising to £160 per child for a second offence within a three-year period, after which prosecution is possible. See educationhub.blog.gov.uk for the full lowdown.
FLY FROM SCOTLAND
Mid-term holidays, as half-term breaks are called in Scotland, are from February 10-14 this year. If you fly out of Edinburgh Airport you can bag a good deal (such as £121 return to Tenerife from February 15-22, ryanair.com), although this travel hack is usually better, for those who live close to the Scottish border, during the summer as many Scottish schools return to classes around August 14.
Checking school term dates can also work to the advantage of Scottish families when English and Welsh schools are still running classes.
All prices correct at time of publication.
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