While rounding up the best places to stay for the forthcoming October half-term holidays, we couldn’t help noticing what a great bunch of hotels and rentals you and your tribe could enjoy — across Europe and beyond — with prices to suit all budgets. Don’t forget, at this time of year rates and temperatures are lower, availability is usually better, and there are fewer crowds.
Beach Hotels
These Holy Grail hotels have everything: beachfront views, great restaurants, dedicated kids swimming pools and plenty of activities on tap…
Anassa, Latchi Bay, Cyprus
This luxurious bougainvillea-draped resort cascades over a landscaped hillside, and has super service, great food and an excellent spa.
- all-ages kids club beside the playground and ping pong tables
- heated kids pool with pool toys, ice cream cart nearby
- great watersports from the bay
i-escape extra: free spa credit worth EUR50 if booking a studio; EUR100 if booking a suite
Offer: free half-board for kids if parents book half-board
Price: From £481/night for a family of 3
Ammos Hotel, Nr Chania, Crete, Greece
A refreshingly chic (and great value) hotel with legendary personal service and excellent Greek food.
- the sandy bay has safe, sheltered and shallow waters
- all studios and suites have kitchenettes for budget-conscious families (the extensive buffet breakfast is an added extra)
- for superb produce at unbelievably low prices, there’s a farmers market in Chania Old Town every Thursday and Saturday
- a playroom with toys, crafts and climbing frame
Price: Studios from £122/night for a family of 3
Coastal Rentals
For families who like to set their own agenda, and are looking for more privacy, these self-catering options by the sea works brilliantly…
The Chalet Saunton, North Devon, UK
- Brand-new, sleek and very spacious 3-bed apartments overlooking stunning Saunton Sands
- wraparound sea-facing balcony or terrace and huge picture windows in each apartment
- high spec fittings such as underfloor heating, wine fridges and Sonos/Netflix-connected TVs
- surf lessons in nearby surfing mecca Croyde; boogie boards to borrow; boat trips to Lundy Island (runs 3/wk from Ilfracombe)
i-escape extra: a welcome breakfast pack
Price: From £350/night for a 3-bed apartment
Tarifa Beach Villa, Nr Tarifa, Costa de la Luz, Spain
- A tranquil villa with lush gardens, a shady terrace and sea views, with sand dunes beyond. Sleeps up to 7 in 3 bedrooms.
- sun-trap roof terrace with views to North Africa
- pristine sandy beaches, the nearest is a 4-minute walk and has a natural paddling pool rock formation
- world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing (for many it’s best season as fewer crowds and a reliable 5 days/week of wind)
i-escape extra: a bottle of wine on arrival
Price: From £215/night
Country Charmers
There’s nothing like going wild in the country with oodles of room to roam, and fun pursuits to boot…
Villas St Pierre de Serjac Puissalicon, Languedoc, France
- Elegant family villas (some with private pools) on a beautiful winery estate, with restaurant, cocktail bar and spa.
- 30m heated swimming pool
- ping-pong, tennis, boules, bikes to borrow, and horse riding nearby
- make the most of the brilliantly equipped kitchen by shopping at Languedoc’s best market, Pézenas (Saturdays)
i-escape extra: a bottle of wine on arrival
Price: From £279/night for a family of 4 in a 2-bed apartment or villa
Fattoria Barbialla Nuova, Montaione, Tuscany, Italy
- An organic farm with apartments in converted farmhouses (sleeps 2-6) and a villa (8-10) on a 500-acre private estate of forests, pastures and hills.
- cooking classes, guided truffle hunting (in the autumn), fishing, and introductory beekeeping lessons
- boules, ping-pong, football and nature walks (the local wildlife includes wild boar and porcupine)
- day trips to Siena, Florence, Pisa, plus castles and authentic villages
i-escape extra: a bottle of estate-produced organic olive oil
Price: From £97/night for a 2-bed apartment
Mountain Retreats
For tribes seeking cool pads at cooler altitudes, aim high with these elevated escapes…
LaVue Zermatt, Zermatt, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
- 6 luxurious designer apartments (sleeping 4-10) above the popular resort of Zermatt, and overshadowed by the mighty Matterhorn.
- discreet yet relaxed chalets with concierge services, including breakfast delivered daily
- breathtaking scenery, and a plum location: just 2 minutes down to the main square
- board games, kids DVDs, pre-loaded Apple TV, cinema room, and bikes (from 4 years upwards) with electric bikes (14 years up) to hire
- October is ideal for hiking and biking
i-escape extra: a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne
Offer: free use of electric mountain bikes for stays of 5+ nights
Price: From £366/night for a 2-bed apartment
Kasbah Tamadot, Asni, High Atlas, Morocco
- Lavishly refurbished kasbah with expansive colourful suites (the 3-bed Master Suite has a pool and garden), with a 5-star spa and spectacular views.
- extensive landscaped gardens and a fantastic infinity pool
- Kasbah Kids programme (13 Oct- 5 Nov) tailored for each child: think treasure hunts, Moroccan cookery classes, table tennis tournaments, nail painting in the spa, and football
- horse-and-cart rides; meet the resident mules, donkeys and camels
i-escape extra: a pair of babouches (traditional slippers) to take home
Price: From £880/night for a family of 3 (with a child over 6; under-6 stay free)
City Boltholes
Living like a local is easy if you’re bag a great-value apartment within easy reach of shops and restaurants, plus sights on your doorstep.
Madrid Boutique Apartments, Plaza Santa Ana & environs, Madrid, Spain
- Spacious, stylish, light-filled and well-equipped apartments in the heart of the Spanish capital.
- a choice of locations: vibrant Huertas; the iconic thoroughfare Gran Via; or elegant Salamanca
- choose 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms; all have well-equipped kitchens and sleek bathrooms
- a playground near Santa Ana, all the major art museums have tailored children’s tours (the new Rubens exhibition opens at the Prado early October)
i-escape extra: a bottle of wine on arrival
Offer: 15% reduction if staying 5+ nights
Price: From £106/night for a 2-bed apartment
Istanbul Place Apartments, Galata, Istanbul, Turkey
- 8 self-catering 2-3 bedroom apartments across several 19th-century historic buildings in bohemian Galata
- all have cool, calming and contemporary interiors, board games and cards supplied
- large windows with views of the Golden Horn or Galata Tower
- boat trips up the Bosphorus; shopping in the Grand Bazaar (October is best for bargains); Topkapi Palace for centuries of exotic intrigue
i-escape extra: 1hr orientation tour of the area, or a bottle of wine on arrival
Price: From £119/night for a 2-bed apartment
Looking for more? There’s plenty of great hideaways for October half-term to choose from here
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