Somewhere that’s not too far to fly with kids, warm enough for the beach and with plenty going on for families?
You’ve only got one school week to work with, so I wouldn’t spend too much of it in the air or adjusting to a big time difference. I’d look for somewhere warm that you can reach without losing most of a day.
No destination can promise seven cloudless days, but some give you a much better chance than others. These are the places I’d look at first — and as part of the Thomas Cook travel team, I can tell you they're all ATOL and ABTA protected, so your money's looked after from booking to touchdown back home.
October half-term holidays at a glance
If you want the easiest answer, start with the Canary Islands. Turkey generally gives you the most family-hotel facilities for your money, Egypt is the one for serious heat and snorkelling, and Madeira suits families who start getting restless after day two sitting around the pool day.
One thing the temperatures don’t show: a warm afternoon doesn’t necessarily mean a warm hotel pool. If swimming will make or break the week, check whether a pool is heated, which pool it is and whether the heating will be on for your exact dates.
Best half-term destinations for the best chance of October sun
These destinations give you some of the best chances of warm weather in late October, all within around five and a half hours of the UK.
Note: By late October, the hotel can matter almost as much as the destination. Pool heating, the type of beach access and when seasonal facilities close can make two holidays in the same resort feel completely different.
Canary Islands
For most families, I’d start with the Canary Islands. The weather is usually reliable, the resorts are easy to get around and there’s plenty to do beyond the hotel.
Flights take around four and a half hours, there’s no time difference from the UK and October temperatures tend to reach the mid-20s. The sea has had all summer to warm up too, averaging around 23°C, so a swim at the end of October doesn’t feel like an act of bravery. Hotels stay busy with families year-round, rather than winding down for the season.
Costa Adeje is one of the easiest bases in Tenerife. You can walk between sandy beaches, restaurants and the seafront, and Siam Park is close enough for a straightforward day out. Younger children have splash areas and smaller slides, while older ones can head for the faster rides.
I’d choose Lanzarote for beach days mixed with volcanic scenery, or Fuerteventura for longer beaches, quieter resorts and more room to spread out.
Tip: Our reservations team hears this one a lot — check the walking route to the beach, not just the distance. Parts of Costa Adeje climb steeply behind the seafront, so a “short walk” can still mean pushing a buggy uphill at the end of the day.
Flight time: Around 4–4.5 hours
Typical October high: 27°C
Best for: The strongest all-round balance of reliable warmth and beach towns
Seven nights from £295pp, based on [party size], staying [board basis] and flying from [airport] on [date]. Checked X August 2026. Prices are subject to availability and change.
See our Canary Islands holidays
Turkey
I’d look at Turkey when the children want waterslides, pool games and entertainment from morning to night — and you’d rather have most of it sorted at the hotel.
Around Antalya, Lara Beach, Side and Alanya, family hotels often come with several pools, kids’ clubs, restaurants and evening shows. You can usually get more included for your money here than in the Canary Islands, especially with All Inclusive.
The trade-off is the weather. Late October can still bring days in the high 20s around Antalya, but cooler or wetter spells become more likely as the month goes on. I’d take that chance when the hotel is a big part of the holiday, rather than somewhere you only return to sleep.
Side is a good choice when you want sandy beaches with an old town, harbour and Roman ruins nearby. I’d look at Alanya for big waterpark hotels, or Marmaris and Fethiye if boat trips and time outside the resort matter more.
Tip: I always tell parents booking Turkey to check exactly which pools will be heated — not just whether the hotel "has a heated pool." The children's pool, splash area and waterslide pool may still be cold, and that's the bit that catches people out.
Flight time: Around 4–4.5 hours
Typical October high: 28°C
Best for: Large family hotels and plenty to do in one place
Seven nights from £185pp, based on [party size], staying [board basis] and flying from [airport] on [date]. Checked X August 2026. Prices are subject to availability and change.
Browse Turkey holidays
Egypt
I’d choose Egypt when you really mean it when you say you want heat.
Hurghada often reaches around 32°C in October, and the evenings stay warm enough that the emergency jumper may never leave the suitcase. The flight is the longest here, at around five to five and a half hours, but you get a noticeable jump in temperature for it.
Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh have plenty of large All Inclusive hotels with waterparks, kids’ clubs and the Red Sea just outside. I’d start with Hurghada for younger children, as its sandy bays can be easier for paddling. Sharm may suit older children who want to snorkel.
This is usually a more hotel-based week than Madeira or the Canary Islands. You may spend most days moving between the pool, beach, buffet and the occasional boat trip — which may be exactly what you need.
Tip: This is one I picked up from customers coming back from Hurghada — check how you enter the sea before booking. Some hotels have a sandy beach, while others use a jetty over the reef, which may not work as well with small children.
Flight time: Around 5–5.5 hours
Typical October high: 32°C
Best for: The hottest weather and a resort-centred family holiday
Seven nights from £395pp, based on [party size], staying [board basis] and flying from [airport] on [date]. Checked X August 2026. Prices are subject to availability and change.
See our Egypt holidays
Madeira
I’d choose Madeira if your family likes to get out and do things, rather than spend every day around the pool.
October is usually warm without being too hot, which suits cable-car rides, dolphin-watching trips, botanical gardens and walks along the levadas. It’s a particularly good fit with older children who would rather explore than join another round of pool games.
Funchal is the easiest base for restaurants, boat trips, gardens and the cable car. Stay farther west for quieter surroundings, natural pools and easier access to walking routes, though a hire car becomes more useful.
Madeira is beautiful, but I wouldn’t choose it for a classic sandy-beach week. Come for the scenery, wildlife and days out, with some pool time in between. For a holiday built mainly around sand and sea, I’d choose the Canary Islands instead.
Flight time: Around 3–4 hours
Typical October high: 24°C
Best for: Mild weather, scenery and families who like active days
Seven nights from £440pp, based on [party size], staying [board basis] and flying from [airport] on [date]. Checked X August 2026. Prices are subject to availability and change.
Browse Madeira holidays
Best value October half-term holidays
October half term holidays are rarely cheap, so I’d look past the first price on the results page and instead compare what the price covers.
I’d start with Turkey. Package prices are often lower, but the real saving can be the hotel itself. When meals, local drinks, snacks, kids’ clubs and evening entertainment are included, you shouldn’t need to keep reaching for your wallet. A good waterpark can also save you paying for extra days out.
Check the hotel description carefully, though. All Inclusive means different things from one hotel to the next, and à la carte restaurants, imported drinks, some snacks and certain activities may cost extra.
Egypt can offer similar value. The initial price may be higher, but Red Sea resorts are usually designed for families to spend most of the week on site, with plenty to do without leaving the hotel.
The Canary Islands aren’t always the cheapest, but you do have more ways to make the budget work. I’d compare everything from Self Catering apartments to smaller hotels and big All Inclusive resorts, then pay for the bits your family will actually use.
I’d also book early for the widest choice of sensible flight times and family rooms. Check a few UK departure airports too - a slightly longer drive at home can sometimes save enough to make it worthwhile.
Short on time? Best short-flight options
When you only have one school week, an extra hour each way matters more than it would on a fortnight’s holiday — especially with younger children or awkward flight times.
- Algarve: around 3 hours
- Malta: around 3.5 hours
- Madeira: around 3.5–4 hours
- Canary Islands: around 4–4.5 hours
Flight time is only part of the journey. I’d compare departure time, airport drive and transfer length too. A three-hour flight followed by a long coach transfer may eat up more of the week than a slightly longer flight to a resort close to the airport.
The Algarve has the quickest flight in this guide, but its late-October weather can also be less dependable.
Madeira and the Canary Islands involve a slightly longer flight but give you a better chance of warm days while keeping the journey within around four and a half hours from the UK.
Choose Madeira when you want mild weather and plenty to do away from the pool. Pick the Canary Islands when warm beach weather and easy family resorts matter more.
Egypt takes the longest at around five to five and a half hours, but the extra time in the air brings a noticeable jump in temperature.
October half term with the family
With one school week to work with, I’d keep the journey manageable. The Canary Islands, Turkey, Madeira and Egypt are all reachable without a major time change. For the most dependable warmth, I’d start with Lanzarote, Fuerteventura or southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Turkey can still be lovely, though late-October rain and cool unheated pools are more likely. Madeira is mild but changeable, while Egypt is my pick for proper heat.
For an easier week, I’d look at All Inclusive. Having meals, drinks and snacks sorted cuts down the daily decisions and makes the total cost easier to judge.
With younger children, check the room layout rather than relying on “family room”. A separate sleeping area — or even a balcony after bedtime — can make evenings easier.
Before booking, I’d also check what’s running on your dates and look at the hotel on a map. Kids’ clubs and waterparks may have shorter hours late in the season, while being able to walk to the beach, shops and restaurants saves a lot of effort.
When is October half term 2026?
For most schools in England and Wales, October half term runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Dates can vary, though, so check your child’s school calendar before booking.
Scotland usually breaks up earlier. Edinburgh schools finish on Friday 9 October and return on Tuesday 20 October, while Aberdeen’s holiday runs from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October. In Northern Ireland, the Halloween break falls on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October.
Check for teacher training days too. An extra day tagged onto either end of half term can give you more choice of flights — and sometimes a better price than travelling on the main Saturday.
October half-term holiday FAQs
Where is guaranteed sunshine in October?
No destination can guarantee sunshine every day, but for the most dependable beach weather across the whole of October, I’d look at the Canaries, specifically Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, southern Gran Canaria or southern Tenerife.
Where is cheapest for October half term?
I’d check Turkey and Sharm el Sheikh first. In my experience, family All Inclusive deals in both tend to land in a similar price bracket once bags and transfers are added. I’d lean towards Turkey for the shorter flight, or Sharm if you want hotter weather and less time on the coach. Just compare the final price before booking — the cheapest-looking deal is not always cheapest overall.
Which destination is best for toddlers in October?
I’d start with southern Tenerife or Lanzarote for warm weather, no time difference and easy, pushchair-friendly resorts. Choose Cyprus instead if your toddler loves the sea and you’re happy with the longer journey — the water is a couple of degrees warmer and Protaras has excellent sandy beaches. Check that the children’s pool is heated, though — unheated hotel pools can feel surprisingly cold in October.
Is Turkey warm enough for swimming in late October?
Yes, particularly on the Antalya coast around Side and Lara Beach, where late-October days often reach the mid-20s. I’d still avoid treating it as guaranteed pool weather. The sea usually holds onto the summer warmth, but unheated hotel pools can feel surprisingly cold, so check that at least one is heated before booking.
Which destination is hottest during October half term?
I’d pick Egypt if proper heat is your main priority. Hurghada usually reaches around 32°C in October, compared with roughly 27°C around Antalya and the mid-20s in the Canary Islands. The flight is longer, but you’re getting much more dependable weather for full days by the pool and on the beach.
Ready to book your October half-term holiday?
Browse our latest October half-term deals and find a holiday that makes the most of your family’s one week away.
Destination prices were checked on 19 August 2026 and are subject to availability and change. Everything above is ATOL (11806) and ABTA (P8283/Y6720) protected, so your money's safe from the day you book to the day you're back.
About the author
A thrill-seeking globetrotter, Lydia is passionate about trying out new experiences. From rushing down the slopes of Savoie to quad biking over the dunes in Cape Verde.