Where to go on holiday in February Half Term
I always love the weather in the UK in February, it is less gloomy than January and you very often have cold sunny days. If you are looking to get away during the school holidays here are some ideas for the best adventurous destinations for February family holidays.
Walk in the cloud forests of Monteverde
Where: Costa RIca
Flight time from the UK: 11 hours 15 minutes
As one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, Costa Rica makes for the perfect family adventure.
If you have a love of the outdoors you will not be short of activities to keep you or your little ones entertained. February is a really popular time for Costa Rica as most of the country is well into the dry season. The western and central regions especially have hot sunny weather and no rain.
With smoke billowing from the active volcanoes, to an abundance of wildlife, go cruising along the Corobici River or the waterways of Tortuguero. You can find activities to suit children of all ages.
Cycling through the villages with really young children on your bike, or if you fancy a walk instead, there is no shortage of treetop walkways high up in the Arenal National Park.
To get a feel for everyday life in this really friendly country spend a day staying on a working ranch. To give you an idea of what you could do on your Costa RIcan family holiday have a look at our sample itineraries here.
Find a secret beach
Where: Barbados
Flight time from the UK: 8 hours 30 minutes
February is a great time to visit all of the Caribbean but we especially like Barbados for family holidays because of the variety that it brings. There is so much more to Barbados than the friendly welcome that you get from everyone and unlike some of the other Caribbean islands you can freely explore all that it has to offer.
If you want to break up the relaxation on the beach, hiring a car for a few days is such an easy way to get around. The quieter northern districts of the island give you the opportunity to see the fishermen bringing in the day’s catch at Six Men’s Bay, or visiting Harrison’s cave in the central uplands.
Visit the Golden Palace
Where: Bangkok, Thailand
Flight time from the UK: 11 hours 30 minutes
From the vibrant and colourful sights of Bangkok, to the beautiful beaches of the many islands and National Parks. Thailand is laid back and welcoming, making it a great place to explore on a family holiday. February is one of the few months in Thailand that is the dry season on both coasts so it gives you a much greater choice of where to go.
Chinese New Year takes place in February so if you are able to travel at this time you may see it celebrated; this is especially the case in Bangkok where the streets of China Town are decorated in red.
Choosing which islands to visit in Thailand is dependent on what is most important to you and how long you have to visit. If you are travelling for half term with just a week then one of the islands served by an international airport will give you the most amount of time in destination. So, Phuket Koh Samui and Krabi are all popular choices outside of the main airport in Bangkok and are all served by airlines flying indirectly from the UK.
For some more inspiration on what to do with your children in Thailand you might find our blog, 7 things to do on your Thailand Family Holiday useful. You can read it here.
4x4 driving through the Wadis
Where: Oman
Flight time from the UK: 7 hours 5 minutes
The weather in the Middle East is sunny and warm, but has not yet reached the scorching summer temperatures, which means that February is a great time for a family holiday to Oman. With a shorter flying time (7 hours) than some of the other sunny destinations for this time of year it is no surprise that it is such a popular choice.
Much more traditional in approach and appearance than neighbouring Dubai, Oman arguably gives a greater chance for relaxation. With less hotels to choose from getting the right one for you and your family is key and the Shangri La offers a great family friendly option in Muscat.
It is an easy country to travel around and this makes it great for getting out into the mountains and driving through the Wadis, visiting the famous fort at Nizwa, or seeing the bustling souks of Old Muscat.
All of our trips are bespoke and designed to meet the needs of your family, to give you an idea of what you could do on your family holiday to Oman have a look at our sample itineraries here.
Count the penguins on Boulders Beach
Where: South Africa
Flight time from the UK: 11 hours 30 minutes
As February is summer time in South Africa it means the weather is warm therefore a good time to visit if you are not looking for stifling temperatures. Although it’s a reasonably long flight time from the UK there is almost no time difference. Which is perfect if you are travelling for a shorter period of time.
There is plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. The penguins on Boulders beach give the first glimpse of wildlife that is so prevalent in South Africa; a history lesson with a difference can be had on a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent his days in captivity.
A walk along the Victoria and Albert waterfront and a cable car trip to the top of Table Mountain makes for wonderful day trips
And even a visit to the famous Winelands is not off the table on a family holiday. Many of the vineyards welcome families with activities to keep the children entertained, from falconry to climbing frames. They can even taste the same grapes as you on a non-alcoholic tasting.
See the Aurora Borealis
Where: Iceland
Flight time from the UK: 2 hours 40 minutes
February is a great time in Iceland to see the Northern Lights as the nights are still long if you have clear nights. As the days start to grow slightly longer throughout the month you can fit in more sightseeing and travel further inland more easily thanks to some thawing of the weather.
It is possible to see orca in the waters surrounding the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on the Northwest coast. Alternatively take the famous Golden Circle Route and see many of Iceland's highlights in one trip, including Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall. For more ideas on how to spend time during your trip to Iceland check out our Iceland WInter Family Adventure here.
Experience what Dubai was like before the skyscrapers
Where: Dubai
Flight time from the UK: 7 hours 5 minutes
Dubai’s desert climate means it has good weather all year round making it a great place for a family holiday. In February the days are warm and the evenings are cooler making it a more manageable place to visit if you don’t like really hot weather. Be sure to pack some light layers for the evenings.
As with any time of the year there is no shortage of things to do in Dubai. The daytime temperature makes for a pleasant trip into the desert for either 4x4 driving if you see one of the traditional Bedouin camps. It is still warm enough to swim in the pool or the sea so if you are going for the whole week a stay on the Palm gives you the best of both worlds; a beach for the feeling of a relaxing holiday yet still close enough to the city to experience all it has to offer.
We have written a blog on What to do in Dubai with Children.
Go whale watching in Sri Lanka
Where: Sri Lanka
Flight time from the UK: 10 hours 35 minutes
Sri Lanka is year round destination that offers such a varied experience for a family holiday. The calm seas between December and April make it a great time for spotting an array of wildlife that occupy the waters along the southern Sri Lankan coast. During these months you might be lucky enough to see blue, sperm, fin and Bryde's whales, as well as many dolphin species, turtles, tuna and even flying fish.
The pleasant temperatures and sunny days on the west and south coasts and in central Sri Lanka also make it a great time to visit Yala National Park where the leopards like to bask in the warm sunshine. Our example itinerary, Happiness in the Wilderness could be tailored to fit into a week long half term holiday. In the first instance you can use it as an example of what is possible.
Walk in the footsteps of the Khmer
Where: Cambodia
Flight time from the UK: 14 hours 5 minutes
February is the cooler part of the dry season in Cambodia, with temperatures still reaching about 25 degrees during the day. It is more pleasant to visit some of the sites, like Angkor Wat than some of the hotter months. It just might be a little busier as this is a peak month for people visiting the country.
There is so much more to see than the Angkor Wat temple complex and depending how long you have in the country you might like to venture to Phenom Phen or the islands of Kep and Kampot. You can see why we love Cambodia Family holidays here on our website.
Buy fruit and veg from the floating markets of the Mekong Delta
Where: Vietnam
Flight time from the UK: 11 hours 5 minutes
February is an excellent time to visit Vietnam for your family holiday with most of the country experiencing high temperatures and minimal rain. The Northern parts of the country have slightly cooler temperatures and can sometimes be quite foggy. This includes Halong Bay, although we have personally visited the area at this time and the karsts are still majestic.
The sunny days make it the perfect time to visit the central beach destinations of Nha Trang and Danang; or combine the islands of Phu Quoc and Con Do with some time experiencing the thriving floating markets of the Mekong Delta.
To talk to us more about the February half term options that are best for your family or for a personalised quotation please get in touch with us at 0118 336 0363 or info@littlepeoplebigadventures.com