WORLD CLASS ADVENTURES NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2022

6 of The Best Places to Go in February Half Term

Seasons Greetings from World Class Adventures!  Traditionally after the Christmas Festivities are over, people's thoughts turn to booking a holiday to look forward to, in a warm place!  January is usually the busiest month for travel bookings, and I expect 2023 will be bigger than ever given a lot of people haven't been able to travel for so long.  Even with the cost of living crisis, customers are still keen to give themselves a treat. 

Here are some of my favourite places to escape the February freeze and jet off to winter sunshine as soon as school’s out!

Whether your ideal family holiday is all about building sandcastles on the beach or going on an action-packed adventure, we’ve picked some of the best luxury family holidays in February half term for quality time and a dose of Vitamin D.  From waterpark thrills in Dubai to a beach break in Barbados, these are the best places to go in the February half term. Just remember to book sooner rather than later!

1. Dubai

• Flight time from UK: 7 hours (Medium haul).  
• Dubai's average temperature in February: 25°C

If you’re craving a frost-free February, Dubai’s mild weather is guaranteed to keep you toasty. Just over an hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi, this city in the UAE is a favourite for February half-term holidays. 

From dune-bashing in the desert to navigating a maze of souks, boat trips alongside playful dolphins and relaxing on palm tree-studded beaches, there are enough activities here to span a month, let alone a week!

Children will love riding ‘Ain Dubai’ – the world’s biggest Ferris wheel, taking a trip to Legoland, speeding down the slopes at Ski Dubai, and making a splash at one of the many waterparks. Stay at the lavish One&Only Royal Mirage and you’ll enjoy a complimentary pass to Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, with over 100 record-breaking slides.

The resort comprises three distinct hotels, and One&Only Royal Mirage – Arabian Court is perhaps the most family friendly. Set on a pristine private beach edged by vast gardens, there’s plenty of safe space to run around. Then there’s a complimentary KidsOnly club with a roster of Arabian-inspired activities, from henna painting and sand-sculpting to Arabic lessons.

Add to this the pulse-racing watersports, a sumptuous spa and sea-facing rooms and suites with interconnecting options, and you have everything you could possibly dream of.

2. Tenerife

• Flight time from UK: 4h 30min (Short haul)
• Tenerife average temperature in February: 20°C

While the UK is likely experiencing a torrent of rain and snow, you could be making the most of your February half-term holiday in the Canary Islands. For a short-haul getaway with pleasant weather, Tenerife is the ideal place to go in February. And you won’t have to worry about jet lag!

One of the best places to stay is Bahia del Duque Resort, occupying a privileged seaside spot in Costa Adeje, one of the warmest parts of Tenerife. The Ritz-Carlton, Abama is another great option for families in February half term, home to the largest ‘Ritz Kids’ in Europe.

While little ones are entertained with playgrounds, pools and a planetarium, adults can take the resort’s funicular down to the private sandy cove to soak up some winter sun, distraction-free. The restaurants here are another highlight. Even the Michelin-starred M.B and Kabuki welcome kids with dishes to delight even the pickiest of eaters.

Outside the resort, Siam Park, the biggest water park of the island and boat trips to see whales and dolphins provide hours of fun. For a dreamy experience, escape the light pollution and go stargazing in Teide National Park.

3. Maldives

• Flight time from UK: 10 hours 30 minutes (Long haul)
• Maldives average temperature in February: 27°C

A February half-term holiday doesn’t get much better than the Maldives. Visit this Indian Ocean paradise in February and you’ll enjoy one of the archipelago’s driest months. The skies are clear and blue and the sunshine turns the water so luminous, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet entirely.

With so many out-of-this-world hotels offering everything from healthy dining to high-octane watersports, it can be tricky deciding on just one – or two if you want to island-hop. For a bit of everything, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island suits families, gastronomes and luxury seekers alike.

The resort covers two islands linked by a 500m bridge, with the larger and livelier Rangali-Finolhu Island dedicated entirely to families. This island is the meeting point for watersports and boat trips. In February half term, the waters offer perfect visibility for snorkelling and diving when you’ll likely see manta rays, tiger and gentle whale sharks. 

The island is also home to the splash park and kids’ club, Majaa Explorer Hub, boasting a fun-filled schedule of coral reef education and little chef workshops. What’s more, children over the age of five years can learn the basics of scuba diving in specially designed “bubble-making” classes, while PADI-accredited instructors take them to see the manta rays at the popular dive site, Manta Point. 

With such warm temperatures and around 10 hours of sunshine each day, you’ll also be perfectly content lazing one of the pristine beaches circling the island. 

4. Barbados

• Flight time from UK: 8h 30m (Long haul)
• Barbados' average temperature in February: 29°C

Where better to unwind and escape winter chills than in the Caribbean? Barbados is one of the best places to go in February half term, thanks to the dry weather and warm temperatures, not to mention it’s one of the world’s best beach destinations. 

Some of the finest sandy stretches belong to Barbados’ Platinum West Coast, home to Colony Club by Elegant Hotels. All included in your stay, enjoy the trappings of premium accommodations, delicious full buffet breakfasts and complimentary motorised and non-motorised watersports. While your tribe are off swimming in lagoon-style pools, waterskiing and tubing, there’s plenty of elbow-room on the golden beaches to catch some winter sun rays.

Spend time together on a walking tour of nearby Holetown, snorkel with sea turtles and tour the hotel’s organic garden. Should you want to play golf or hit the spa, Kids Korner provides hours of supervised entertainment. After all, nothing means success to a family holiday like happy children and teens!

5. Mauritius 

• Flight time from UK: 12 hours (Long haul)
• Mauritius average temperature in February: 26ºC

Let’s face it – February is a pretty miserable time of year in the UK. So, escape the cold weather and spend your half-term holiday on other shores. 

Despite it being long-haul, the white-sand beaches and a week’s blast of heat make a trip to Mauritius totally worth it.

Unfurling along almost a kilometre of powder sand on Mauritius’ western coast, Sugar Beach provides a sweet sanctuary for families where kids under 12 years stay for free. The Sun Kids’ Club, unlimited golf, movies on the beach and exceptional dining are made even better by daily sunshine.

If you’d prefer to be on the quieter east coast, Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius is an ideal place to go for February half term. The resort spoils with beautiful beaches on your doorstep, natural wonders and uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean from every room. While tots through to teens are entertained at The T-Club, tee off at two championship golf courses, you can indulge in trendy dining and enjoy perfect weather on the private island of Ilot Mangénie, exclusive to Shangri-La guests.

6. Krabi, Thailand

• Flight time from UK: 12 hours 5 minutes (Long haul)
• Krabi average temperature in February: 27.5°C

Keen on a mix of culture and beach in the school holidays? The beautiful destination of Krabi on southern Thailand’s west coast offers all this and more.  

With maximum temperatures sometimes reaching the mid-thirties, it’s the perfect time to get in the balmy water for some ocean thrills. Take your family snorkelling or island-hopping amongst giant limestone fortresses, stopping to swim at secret beaches along the way. 

Spend February half-term in a tropical rainforest setting at Banyan Tree Krabi, with land and watersports galore and luxury villas with private pools. The Kids’ Club is a paradise for youngsters, surrounded by a waterpark and play area with a zipline and climbing wall.

Dine with the whole family at one of the four venues and take a day trip to explore downtown on a complimentary shuttle. At the beach, build sandcastles with the whitest sands and recharge before the school routine resumes.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, get up close to gentle giants at Krabi Elephant Sanctuary. Bathing them in their natural habitat while they squirt water from their trunks is delightful, especially for kids.

If you’ve been inspired by our ideas for February half-term holidays, speak to me today. I understand that every family is different, so tell me what you need and I’ll go above and beyond to tailor-make the perfect family holiday for you!

Credit: inspiringtravelcompany