Great getaways for October half term

October half-term is a great opportunity to spend time with the children before gloomy November sets in. Not only is it a welcome respite from the longest school term of the year, but it offers good value, compared with the peak summer travel weeks. However, there are some challenges to overcome, especially if you are looking for sunshine.

Weather in the southern Mediterranean can be unreliable at this time of year. It will undoubtedly be warmer than at home, but there is a risk of rain and generally unsettled weather. You may also be jostling for the last of the pricey weekend flights – particularly to popular destinations like the Canaries, Cyprus and Florida.

However, the good news is that there’s still a wide range of options available. So whether you want to flop in reliable sunshine, get active or have just a few days to soak up some culture with your children, we’ve found a range of choices.

The best strategy for securing a cheap half-term holiday is to book your arrangements independently, cut down on the length of the trip, and fly from, say, Monday to Friday. That way you aren’t competing with families looking for a weekend flight.

Use skyscanner.net to track down the cheapest flight options, and for recommended hotels see our destination guides at telegraph. co.uk/destinations.

For each of the holidays on the following pages, we’ve found packages and hotels with availability – but act fast to get a holiday at a decent price.

Time is of the essence for booking your family escape. Sophie Butler has last-minute options to suit all budgets