Half term getaway ideas from Travel PR

With summer holidays now a distant memory, set your sights on October half term for your next family getaway with one of these ideas from Travel PR:

Get one night free on a week-long family stay on São Miguel – the Azores from £767 pp with Sunvil
Swap the conventional beach resort for a family holiday to remember on São Miguel in the Azores. The ‘Green Island’ makes the perfect playground for families, offering whale-watching, biking, boat trips and walking trails, plus the must-see twin crater lakes of Sete Cidades. The volcanic landscape is wild and rugged, and the climate is wonderfully moderate. Stay in the capital, Ponta Delgada, at the Antillia Hotel Apartments, featuring an outdoor pool and nearby shops, restaurants and marina. Departing 20 October, stay for seven nights and pay for six – from £767 pp (four sharing two self-catering apartments), including flights (Stansted) and transfers. Call AITO* member Sunvil on 020 8758 4722 (www.sunvil.co.uk).

Treat your little monkeys to a short break in Gibraltar – from £1,989 for a family of four with Kirker
With average daytime temperatures in the mid-20s, sandy beaches, fascinating history and a famous population of Barbary Macaques, Gibraltar’s a great choice for families seeking a short haul escape this October half term. Stay at the four-star deluxe The Rock, home to the largest swimming pool in Gibraltar and walking distance from the 50-metre high Windsor Suspension Bridge, where three nights cost from £1,989 for a family of four (sharing two sea-view rooms), including flights (Gatwick), private transfers, B&B, a 90-minute private walking tour with a local guide, and the services of the Kirker Concierge. Call AITO* member Kirker on 020 7593 2283 (www.kirkerholidays.com).

Enjoy a family escape to Ithaca – Greece from £578 pp with GIC The Villa Collection
With its mountainous scenery, white-pebbled beaches and pretty fishing villages, Ithaca is sure to charm the entire family. Stay at House of Phoebe, a traditional island home with spectacular views towards the Greek mainland, just ten minutes’ walk from Kioni’s waterfront and tavernas. Take a dip in the warm crystal clear waters at Kioni Bay or head a little further over the hill to the beaches towards Frikes, returning to the house for al fresco meals on the patio. Departing 20 October, a seven-night, self-catering stay costs from £578 pp (based on a family of four sharing), including flights (Gatwick) and transfers. Call AITO* member GIC The Villa Collection on 020 8758 4722 (www.gicthevillacollection.com).

Beachside luxury in northern Mallorca – Spain from £545 pp with CV Villas
Poised on a peninsula and just steps away from a sandy beach, this luxury five-bedroom villa commands sweeping bay views from its expansive three-tier gardens. Just a five-minute walk from scenic Cala San Vicente, the traditional whitewashed Mallorcan property (sleeps 10) benefits from comfortable accommodation arranged over four levels, offering plenty of space for the whole family. Stylish outside seating, dining and relaxation areas frame the private pool. A cook service is included (food and beverages extra) for additional ease. A week’s stay from 20 October, inclusive of maid service, is priced from £545 pp (£5,447 total). Flights extra. Call CV Villas on 020 7261 5404 (www.cvvillas.com).

Moroccan medinas, Berber lunches & mountain mule rides – from £860 pp with TravelLocal
Get a truly authentic taste of Morocco in the cooler month of October, when temperatures hover around the low 20s. Kids and adults alike will love watching the acrobats and storytellers in Marrakech’s El Fnaa Square, seeing dinosaur footprints at Rabat, windsurfing in Essaouira and swimming with barbary monkeys in the pools of the Cascades d’Ouzoud waterfall. The ten-day trip costs from £860 pp (family of four sharing two rooms) including B&B, some meals, excursions and the services of a local guide. Flights extra. Call TravelLocal on 01173 257898 (www.travellocal.com).

*AITO is the Association of Independent Tour Operators: more than 120 specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO can be assured of high-quality holidays and excellent personal service. Visit www.aito.com for further information.