It’s the family holiday conundrum that just won’t go away: how to avoid price hikes after half-term break.
The travel industry blindly swears there is 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 soar by as much as 479 per cent during half-term breaks.
Here we’ve put together the ultimate guide to trying to get around the expensive biennial problem.
GO SUNDAY
It’s natural to want to leave at the first possible opportunity – but wait until Sunday and flight prices often drop. For example, BA rates from Gatwick to Orlando departing on Saturday 15 February, at the start of half term, is from £1,246. However, go Sunday-to-Sunday (February 16-23) and the price is from £710 – a 75 per cent reduction.
SIX NIGHTS CHEAPER
Going away for one less night will mean your return flights will be considerably 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 in advance about the best half-term fares, work out which airline is traveling on the route you want and sign up to its newsletters early. This way you can pounce on the cheapest tickets as they are announced.
USE A SEARCH ENGINE
Sign up for price alerts at sky scanner.net when you check a route’s price on specific dates; for Google Flights, click on the tab that says “Track Prices”.
Skyscanner also lets you add your travel dates and select ‘Explore anywhere’ for your destination. This gave us Luton-Dublin returns of £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 knock. Act fast and make a reservation for next year – even while you’re out there when you might be able to negotiate a price.
CENTER PARKS IN EUROPE
Center Parcs, which has five UK locations, has expanded into Europe – Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
As continental school holiday times vary, bargains must be made at the latter. For example, four nights this half term in a Comfort Lodge sleeping four is from £788 at Villages Nature Parys, near 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’ll have to come to France, but ferry prices are from £204 (directferries.co.uk), and it’s a three-hour drive from Calais – so you’ll still have prize money.
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 there is supply to cover both families and non-families during the summer holidays, but in half term there is less non-family demand.
The result can be bargains like the stunning Knight’s Rest cottage in Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It comes with a wood 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, cost from £1,007 for a week from February 15.
It comes with a lovely swimming pool (solmarvillas.com). Return flights Luton-Malaga currently from £186 (ryanair.com).
TRY A CITY WEEK
Flight availability tends to be better for a city break than for traditional bucket-and-shovel destinations. They can be educational and less stressful at half term than at other times.
A six-night trip to Rome from £135pp return from Stansted departing February 17 (ryanair.com). Book an Airbnb like ‘Apartment in Aurelio’ from £879 for six nights, sleeping four (airbnb.co.uk). Put the two together and it comes to £1,419 – so you can see the Colosseum and the Vatican in style, without the crowds.
Or try three nights in Prague staying in a junior suite accommodating 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 beautiful 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 authorized. However, if you ask permission from a sympathetic head teacher, it may be possible to cut a term or two short without penalty. This is – it must be emphasized – usually in exceptional circumstances, possibly where the difference in travel costs is particularly high.
Bear in mind that if consent is not granted, you face a fine of £80 per child, rising to £160 per child for a second offense 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 10 to 14 February this year. If you fly out of Edinburgh airport you can get a good deal (such as £121 return to Tenerife from 15-22 February, ryanair.com), although this travel hack is usually better for those living near the Scottish border, during the summer, 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 offering classes.
- All prices correct at time of publication.
