Surfing and yoga in Morocco
Bookings to Morocco are on the up, and with highs of 21C and seven hours’ sunshine a day in February, it’s a great choice to escape winter. With a large pool, a three-mile beach, three restaurants and an outdoor cinema, the Paradis Plage is a perfect choice for families. Parents can enjoy the spa and yoga classes, while little ones play beach games, build sandcastles and do yoga at the kids’ club (free for children aged 4 to 11). There are also surf lessons for over-eights. Seven nights’ B&B cost from £998pp — a saving of £110pp — based on a family of four sharing a two-bedroom suite. The holiday includes flights, transfers and fitness classes, departing on February 11 (020 8968 0501, thehealthyholidaycompany.co.uk).
Skiing in Mayrhofen, Austria
Head to colder climes for a skiing holiday. Crystal Ski (020 8939 0726, crystalski.co.uk) has a week’s B&B at the three-star Hotel Landhaus Roscher in Mayrhofen from £639pp (a saving of £350pp) based on four sharing, including flights from Manchester and transfers, departing on February 11.
Cornwall without the crowds
Crisp fresh air and footprint-free beaches await in Cornwall this half-term. The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth has 20 per cent savings on rooms over the February break. B&B family rooms, with a view of the harbour, cost from £143 a night, while suites cost from £207. To book call 01326 312440, quoting Jan30.
Luxury in Malaysia
Malaysia for half-term? Talk about bragging rights in the classroom. The swanky Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is set in 400-acre grounds, with an 18-hole golf course. There’s also a children’s club for 5 to 11-year-olds, with activities such as batik painting, origami and treasure hunts. Seven nights’ B&B costs from £1,099pp — a saving of £200pp — including flights and transfers (01242 547895, abercrombiekent.co.uk).
Winter sun in the Canary Islands, Spain
Tenerife is one of the closest winter-sun destinations to the UK, with an average high of 20C in February. A week’s all-inclusive at the four-star Labranda Isla Bonita Hotel is from £468pp, based on two adults and two children sharing, and flights from Manchester with easyJet (020 8974 7200, travelrepublic.co.uk). Or on Gran Canaria, a week’s half-board at the cool Seaside Palm Beach Hotel costs from £1,404pp, based on two adults and two children staying in two twin rooms, including flights and transfers (0871 2314691, thomson.co.uk).
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Skiing in France
Val Thorens is Europe’s highest ski resort and linked to Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest interconnected ski area. Ski Total (01483 791935, skitotal.com) has cut its prices for Chalet Catherine with a week’s stay from £1,098pp (down from £1,608pp). This includes chalet-board catering (with wine at dinner), flights from Birmingham, transfers and free airport parking at Birmingham airport. Or try Val d’Isère, where a week’s chalet stay costs £765pp, including flights and transfers (020 3051 9372, alpineelements.co.uk).
Visit Valletta, Malta
Explore Valletta’s architecture by day and eat at restaurants in St Julian’s Bay this half-term. A week’s B&B at the five-star Radisson Blu Resort, Malta St Julian’s, costs from £489pp, including flights from Luton, departing on February 12 (0871 4743000, onthebeach.co.uk).
Family adventure in Sweden
Forget Santa, February is a far better time to visit Swedish Lapland, with longer days and (slightly) warmer temperatures. Scandinavia Only (01274 875199, scandinaviaonly.co.uk) has a four-night family adventure, staying half-board in a cabin at the Brandon Lodge, from £1,665pp, including flights to Lulea via Stockholm and transfers, departing on February 11. The activity programme includes dog sledding, snowmobile riding and snowshoeing to hunt for the northern lights.
Sunbathe in Sri Lanka
One of Sri Lanka’s most popular holiday spots, Bentota has white-sand beaches and palm trees at every turn. And prices at the recently renovated Vivanta by Taj resort, nestled on a hill overlooking the sea, have been cut by up to 10 per cent. A week’s B&B costs from £1,135pp, including flights from Gatwick with Emirates (020 8972 8951, emiratesholidays.com).