The British half-term holidays are many things to many people: the chance to soak up a little sun in Europe’s more southernly climes, an opportunity for a bracing staycation nearer to home, or just a welcome first week off from a year that’s already racing towards spring.
But if you’re looking to travel this half term (February 21-25), it may be your first chance to do so since coronavirus swept across the globe and enforced arduous restrictions on getting away.
From February 11, the UK government removed requirements for the double-vaccinated to get tested on arrival – a major obstacle for many due to the costs it had heaped on any holiday plans.
Sure, there are still obstacles to travel, but it does feel like this upcoming break in the school year may be the first in a long time to have some semblance of normality to it.
So, what are your options? Well, Europe is on the cards. And that means culture, good weather and some late-season winter sports opportunities, depending on where you’ll opt for.
And if you’re unsure what restrictions or requirements are in place, remember to check out the free and interactive Travel Tool from battleface – providing up-to-date info on wherever you’re heading.
Here are battleface’s pick of the best half-term holiday travel experiences for families.
Exploring Rome’s magnificent history
Forgotten what a European capital looks like over the past two years? Time to delve into bustling Rome, where rich history, spectacular architecture and Italian freneticism combine for an inimitable experience. Check out tourist favourites like the Colosseum, the Trevi fountain, or indeed the Vatican, before retiring down the backstreets of the Trastevere neighbourhood to seek out a taste of Rome away from the tourist traps.
Grabbing some sun in Mallorca
Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands – and, some would say, the most ‘grown- up’ – is the perfect destination for a sumptuous full-family short-term rental. Capital Palma combines historic charm with authentic Catalan vibrancy, but Alcúdia, in the far north of the island, is well worth the journey for its walled old town and artisan feel.
Following giants’ footsteps in Northern Ireland
You may not spot giants in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, but you’ll certainly feel their presence as you clamber over the gigantic hexagonal basalt columns that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Giants’ Causeway. Of course, the geologically-minded will tell you that an ancient volcanic fissure eruption is responsible for the interlocking stones instead of warring mythical creatures. But you can make up your own mind.
Celebrating quirkiness in trendy Margate
On the pantheon of semi-gentrified English seaside towns, Margate has the obvious benefit of being only an hour or so outside of London and boasting a hotel owned by ‘can’t-believe-they-survived-the-00s’ rockers The Libertines. But that’s not all Margate has going for it. Check out the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, Dreamland Margate – an amusement park with suitably vintage rides -, and the small-town quirkiness of Shell Grotto, where millions of shells adorn underground passageways.
Hitting the slopes in Verbier, Switzerland
Only an hour and a half from Geneva, this ski resort combines the picture-postcard tradition provided by its wooden-clad chalets with the world-class facilities you’d expect from Switzerland. Verbier resides among the 4 Vallées ski area which offers more than 410km of skiing and more than 90 ski lifts, all covered by the same lift pass. Switzerland’s openness to international travellers during coronavirus has put it ahead of the curve as other destinations play catch up.
Cycling through France’s wine country
Bordeaux’s gently rolling slopes, endless vineyards on the horizon and copious opportunities to pull over for a glass of the red stuff mean it’s the perfect choice for the cycle tourer who values la belle vie over gruelling hill climbs. The surrounding Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, meanwhile, is home to such delightful destinations as St Émilion, Cadillac and Mérignac.
