{"id":2074,"date":"2014-10-07T11:03:05","date_gmt":"2014-10-07T11:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/?p=2074"},"modified":"2014-10-07T11:03:05","modified_gmt":"2014-10-07T11:03:05","slug":"october-half-term-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/october-half-term-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"October half term holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Make the most of the half term break this month and sneak in a bit of sunshine before things really take a turn for the worse weather-wise in the UK<\/a>, and we\u2019re unceremoniously hauled into the season of woolly socks and winter coats. There\u2019s some fantastic holiday destinations in Europe and further afield, read on for our top picks\u2026<\/p>\n

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In the Med\u2026
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Portuga<\/a>l\u2019s Algarve <\/a>is still lovely and warm in late October \u2013 great for all you beach bums and golf lovers. Albufeira<\/a> is the most popular destination for holidaymakers in the Algarve, and it\u2019s not had to see why.\u00a0Lagos<\/a> is famous for its award winning beaches, especially Meia Praia<\/a>, which stretches for 4km and is ideal for avid sunbathers and\u00a0watersports lovers alike. Take your pick from some of the many stunning golf courses that line the coast – Pine Cliffs Golf Course<\/a> is built in a pine forest and affords wonderful views of the Algarve’s golden beaches. Kids are catered for too, with some brilliant waterparks<\/a> and zoos<\/a> ensuring there\u2019s plenty of fun for all the family. For up-to-date weather forecasts in Algarve click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Crete<\/a>, one of Greece<\/a>\u2019s southernmost \u2013 and largest – islands, is also a safe bet at this time of year for reliably pleasant temperatures and sunshine. Explore the island\u2019s spectacular 1,000 kilometre-long coastline dotted with exquisite coves, bays and peninsulas, many of which offer numerous sandy beaches to while away a sunny day. There\u2019s also a myriad of pretty fishing villages such as the picturesque Paxos<\/a>, ancient treasures <\/a>and a variety of delicious Cretan culinary delights to enjoy. For up-to-date weather forecasts in Crete click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Canary Islands<\/a> are always going to get a well-deserved mention when listing top family holiday destinations that won\u2019t break the bank and will deliver on great year-round weather, places to stay, activities and much more. With average daily\u00a0temperatures<\/a> sitting comfortably around the mid-20s well into late October, the popular resorts Los Cristianos<\/a>, Playa de las Americas<\/a> and Costa Adeje<\/a> in Tenerife<\/a> \u2013 with their multitude of long, sandy beaches and inviting waters – are bound to help beat the onset of the winter blues and turn back the clock, albeit temporarily, to the heady days of summer. Lanzarote<\/a>, also in the Canary Islands, certainly doesn\u2019t let the side down in the temperature and sunshine stakes, offers a unique, striking landscape, with the western side of the island typically being hotter and drier than the eastern side. October is one of the best months for big game fishing<\/a>, which is a popular pastime on the island, plus make the most of the warm sea temperatures<\/a> and get into the big blue; take your pick from scuba diving, snorkelling<\/a>, or by simply enjoying a daily dip. Click here for an up-to-date weather forecasts in Tenerife<\/a> and Lanzarote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Majorca<\/a>\u00a0in Spain<\/a> enjoys a Mediterranean climate all-year round and daily\u00a0temperatures<\/a> average around 25\u00b0C to 21\u00b0C throughout the month, with things cooling down towards the end of October. This pleasant weather allows for enjoying the island\u2019s many beautiful walking and cycling trails \u2013 the island boasts wonderful wildlife and a dazzling variety of flora. Nature lovers should definitely not miss a visit to the S\u2019Albufera Wetlands<\/a>. The Coves de Campanet<\/a> in Alcudia<\/a>\u00a0are another must-see \u2013 these amazing caves are famous for the fossilised remains, as well as numerous pathways, chambers and pools. For up-to-date weather forecasts in Majorca click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Europe\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Perhaps you and your family want to squeeze in a bit of action before the season of slumping on the sofa having stuffed yourself silly kicks in? If so, why not consider a cycling holiday – popular destinations include Ghent<\/a>, Belgium<\/a>, the\u00a0Loire Valley<\/a> in France<\/a>\u00a0and the Catalan coast<\/a>\u00a0of Spain<\/a> (including a few nights in Barcelona<\/a> perhaps). Other enjoyable and scenic routes include east to west across the Algarve<\/a>, Portugal and the lakes of Bavaria<\/a>, Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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For a truly memorable and unique holiday experience, there\u2019s nowhere quite like Iceland<\/a>, plus it\u2019s only a short flight away. Soak up the breath-taking scenery by exploring the island\u2019s stunning natural parks<\/a>, the South coast, Golden Circle and the\u00a0Blue Lagoon<\/a>. You could even take in this beautiful country on horseback<\/a>.\u00a0Then, soothe your sore bones in Iceland’s famous geothermal pools<\/a> before sampling traditional tasty fare such as \u201char\u00f0fiskur\u201d, a type of dried fish. Best of all, in late October you have a good chance of seeing the\u00a0Northern Lights<\/a>. The temperatures may not rival that of the Med but you\u2019ll still enjoy plenty of sunshine<\/a> at this time of year.<\/p>\n

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Venturing further afield\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>There\u2019s a lot to be said for sun and sand, but if you\u2019re after fascinating history and culture too, then Morocco<\/a> has both by the bucket load. With a daily temperature lingering around 21 in Marrakesh<\/a>, the weather is perfect for exploring this beautiful part of the world, furthermore, you\u2019ll feel as if you\u2019ve travelled across the globe but in reality you can fly to Morocco in just three hours. October is a great time to go, as you\u2019ll catch the festival\u00a0Eid al-Fitr<\/a>, which signals the end of Ramadan. Expect feasting, music, dancing and general merriment \u2013 and don\u2019t forget to haggle in the magical souks and chill out in a hammam. For thrills and spills, head to Oasiria Water Park<\/a> \u2013 great for the kids \u2013 and for adventure-seekers, why not incorporate a trekking trip into the Atlas Mountains<\/a> for a truly special experience. Click here for up-to-date weather forecasts in Marrakesh<\/a> and the Atlas Mountains<\/a>.<\/p>\n

October is an ideal month to go to Sharm el Sheikh<\/a> on Egypt\u2019<\/a>s Red Sea<\/a> coast, with wonderful weather minus the oppressively hot temperatures. Rain is rare and the sea<\/a> is still lovely and warm, so now is a perfect time to learn to dive<\/a>. If your children are aged 10 years or more, they can learn to dive and achieve a PADI qualification \u2013 surely a fantastic skill for them to capitalise on in their later years. Don\u2019t miss\u00a0Ras um Sid<\/a>, a stunning beach resort with a large diving and snorkelling site brimming with colourful coral and marine life. Check travel advice <\/a>for Sharm el Sheikh from the Foreign Office before booking your holiday. For up-to-date weather forecasts in Sharm el Sheikh\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Make the most of the half term break this month and sneak in a bit of sunshine before things really take a turn for the worse weather-wise in the UK, and we\u2019re unceremoniously hauled into the season of woolly socks and winter coats. There\u2019s some fantastic holiday destinations in Europe and further afield, read on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"post_views_count":4233,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[175,113,124,337,336,333,286,334,307,327,115,335,331,6,220,328,329,332,116,330],"class_list":["post-2074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays","tag-resort-albufeira","tag-resort-alcudia","tag-resort-algarve","tag-resort-atlasmountains","tag-resort-bavaria","tag-resort-costaadeje","tag-resort-crete","tag-resort-ghent","tag-resort-iceland","tag-resort-lagos","tag-resort-lanzarote","tag-resort-loirevalley","tag-resort-loscristianos","tag-resort-majorca","tag-resort-marrakesh","tag-resort-meiapraia","tag-resort-paxos","tag-resort-playadelasamericas","tag-resort-tenerife","tag-resort-thecanaryislands"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2074"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2082,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074\/revisions\/2082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}