Family holiday options genuinely worth knowing about this week 

• Handpicked by Our Travel Mums
• Based on complete family prices
• Availability checked before publication
• Always honest opinions

This Week in Family Travel

October half term is where we’re seeing the most interesting value this week and mainland Spain and Majorca are producing some surprisingly competitive prices.

Several recently checked all-inclusive breaks in La Pineda, Oropesa del Mar and Alcudia were available for under £400 per person. Comparable family-friendly options in Corfu, Portugal, Morocco and Turkey were generally much more expensive, although some offered stronger facilities or a better chance of warm weather.

The trade-off is temperature. Families willing to accept pleasant rather than guaranteed-hot weather can currently get considerably more for their money in Spain. Choosing a destination with a theme park nearby, or a hotel with an indoor pool, can open up some realy budget finds that the kids will love.  If reliable sunshine is the priority, the Canaries, Turkey, North Africa and even the Middle East may be the safer choices – but expect to pay more for the strongest family hotels.

Looking good: mainland Spain and Majorca

Some of the lowest October half-term prices we found were around the Spanish Costas and Majorca, particularly for families happy with a five-night break.

Worth comparing: Turkey versus Spain

Turkey still offers some excellent all-inclusive family resorts, but it isn’t automatically the cheapest option. Compare the complete family price and decide whether the better pools, waterparks and hotel facilities justify the difference (especially if the weather doesn’t fall in your favour)

Check before booking: what remains open

Late October sits at the end of the Mediterranean season. Check whether outdoor pools are heated, if there are any indoor pools and whether every advertised restaurant, kids’ club, waterslide and entertainment programme will still be operating during your dates. Some hotels will say they have an indoor pool, but it will be an adults only pool in the spa.

The Sunday Six

We search through hundreds of family hotels and family deals each week. These are the six we think are actually worth your attention.

This week’s head-to-head

Two tempting options. One honest verdict.

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Our Verdict

For families with younger children, Estérel gets my vote. The indoor pool provides reliable entertainment whatever the April weather decides to do, while the extra living space of the 3 bedroom mobile home could make a real difference if you have a younger child who doesn’t sleep particularly well. The saving of almost £400 is another big advantage. However, with a reduced entertainment programme in April, older children may find there isn’t quite enough to keep them occupied.

Bella Italia is likely to be the better choice for families with older children. They’ll have Gardaland theme park nearby, along with plenty of beautiful- and extremely Instagram-worthy – towns to explore around Lake Garda. You can hire bikes at the camp and cycle by the lake.

There is one important catch: the advertised price here assumes a family of five will share a two-bedroom Comfort mobile home. One bedroom has a double bed and the other has twin beds, meaning the fifth person would sleep on a sofa bed in the living area. That arrangement may work perfectly well for some families, but those wanting more space or privacy would probably prefer a three-bedroom mobile home, which adds £68 to the total price. Always check what room you are being offered, and whether it works for your family.