School Holidays
School holiday packages are the backbone of family travel from the UK, offering parents and children the opportunity to explore the world together during half-term breaks, Easter, the summer holidays, and the festive Christmas period. Planning a family holiday around the school calendar brings its own unique set of considerations, from securing the right accommodation and flight times to finding destinations that genuinely appeal to every member of the family. At Johnson Holidays, we specialise in making school holiday travel straightforward, affordable, and truly memorable for families of all shapes and sizes.
The summer school holidays remain the most popular travel window, with families heading to sun-soaked destinations across Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Canary Islands for warm weather, calm beaches, and family-friendly resort facilities. Half-term breaks in February and October open up shorter getaways to European city destinations, warm weather resorts, and...
Read More
Featured School Holidays Deals
1 / 13
1 / 20
1 / 14
1 / 12
1 / 20
El Cable, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
766
reviews
Any London
3 Nights
Bed & Breakfast
£193pp
1 / 9
1 / 20
1 / 20
Cala Ratjada, Majorca, Balearic Islands
1,534
reviews
Any London
3 Nights
Bed & Breakfast
£112pp
Popular School Holidays destinations
Frequently Asked Questions
School holiday periods see a significant surge in demand from families who are restricted to travelling when children are not in school. This concentrated demand across a limited number of weeks naturally pushes prices higher across flights, accommodation, and holiday packages. Booking as early as possible is the most effective way to secure competitive pricing during school holidays, as availability tightens and prices rise considerably as departure dates approach. Johnson Holidays offers early booking incentives and flexible payment plans to help families manage costs effectively.
School holiday dates vary slightly between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as between individual local authorities and academy schools. As a general guide, the main travel windows are February half-term in mid to late February, Easter in late March or April, May half-term in late May, the summer holidays from late July to early September, October half-term in late October, and the Christmas and New Year break from late December into early January. Always check your specific school's term dates before booking.
The summer school holidays open up an outstanding range of family-friendly destinations from the UK. Spain remains the most popular choice, with resorts across Majorca, the Costa del Sol, Lanzarote, and Tenerife offering reliable sunshine, calm beaches, and excellent family resort facilities. Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus are equally popular and often represent strong value for families. For longer haul summer adventures, Florida, the Caribbean, and the Canary Islands all deliver exceptional family holiday experiences during the peak summer window.
October half-term falls at an ideal time for warm weather holidays, as many Mediterranean and Atlantic destinations still enjoy very pleasant temperatures well into autumn. The Canary Islands are the standout choice for October half-term sun, with Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria all delivering warm, reliable weather. Egypt and Turkey also offer excellent conditions in late October. For those seeking a shorter break, European city destinations and Halloween-themed resort programmes provide a fun and culturally enriching alternative.
All inclusive is an exceptionally popular choice for school holiday family travel and for very good reason. With children eating and drinking throughout the day, the cost of meals and snacks at independent restaurants can escalate quickly, particularly during a two-week summer holiday. All inclusive removes this daily financial uncertainty entirely, allowing families to relax and enjoy their holiday without constantly monitoring spending. Many all inclusive family resorts also include kids clubs, entertainment, and daytime activities within the package price, adding further value.
For peak summer holidays and Christmas breaks, booking nine to twelve months ahead is strongly recommended to secure the widest choice of accommodation and the most competitive pricing. February and October half-term packages also sell quickly, particularly for popular family destinations and all inclusive resorts. Johnson Holidays offers flexible payment plans that allow families to reserve their holiday with a manageable deposit and spread the remaining balance across affordable monthly instalments leading up to the departure date.
Absolutely. School holiday travel does not need to break the bank, and Johnson Holidays offers a wide range of family packages across different price points to suit varying budgets. Self-catering apartments and villas offer excellent value by reducing daily food costs, particularly for larger families. Destinations such as Bulgaria, Lanzarote, Egypt, and mainland Spain consistently offer strong value during school holiday periods. Travelling at the very start or very end of a school holiday window, rather than peak mid-holiday weeks, can also deliver meaningful savings without compromising on the holiday experience.