15 half-term holidays with availability – and the Covid hoops to jump through

Admit it – you had forgotten, hadn’t you? The next school holiday (half term runs from February 12–20 this year) is just days away and you haven’t done anything about it.

And this half term really does matter. In the past, the February break has been almost an afterthought. Easter, Whitsun, summer – as parents, we are all over those, maxing out our annual leave to seize every sunny day we can. But, we reasoned, who wants to blow their five precious days of holiday in mid-winter? This time round, after the time we have all had, we just can’t wait.

In fact, February is precisely the time of year when we most need a holiday. The schadenfreude is off the scale as your plane lifts up out of freezing fog in the UK and sets you down, hours later, in a destination so sunshine-bright and gloriously unfamiliar that it might as well be another planet. And February is a prime month for travel. It is blue-sky season in the Caribbean and the Maldives, and the peak month for snowfall on Alpine slopes. There is also plenty to excite little ones closer to home.

Thank heavens, too, for grandparents, who often muck in during that vital week, bonding with our precious bundles by whisking them off to feed goats at farm parks in the Cotswolds or even – for the intrepid – taking them to see the sloths of Costa Rica’s national parks if mums and dads really can’t get out of the office.

Half term may be days away, but that is still a nine-day stretch which is certainly long enough for an adventure. And while the rules for travelling with children in a pandemic add an extra level of admin, there are still plenty of options to get away no matter the ages of your family brood. Not to mention that things just got simpler with day two tests dropped for the vaccinated from this Friday (February 11).

If you do decide to go away for half term, you will have to act very fast to get everything sorted. Many destinations have entry restrictions demanding a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travel, meaning you will need to get those ordered in as soon as possible, or go into a clinic to fast-track the process.

Below we list some incredible adventures that will put a spring in your step until spring, and send the children back to school with their eyes a little wider, and horizons a little broader.

King Tut’s wow-wow trip

For: younger children

Most primary-school children learn about ancient Egypt, so a trip there will really bring the subject to life and deepen their understanding. Stubborn Mule, which specialises in family adventure travel, has created an engaging itinerary for younger children that includes riding camels around the Pyramids at sunset and donkeys through the Valley of the Kings, delving into tombs to discover mummified remains and Tutankhamen’s treasure trove, and – with a nod to Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile, also out this February – sailing along the great river and sleeping out on deck.

Entry requirements? A full course of Covid-19 vaccination for adults, or a negative PCR test taken with 72 hours; children under the age of 12 are exempt. Passengers have to complete a health declaration on arrival and provide confirmation of health insurance.

How to do it: Eight-night Highlights of Egypt trip from ￡8,600 for a family of four in half term, including flights, transfers, excursions, B&B, some meals and an English-speaking guide (01728 752751; stubbornmuletravel.com)

All’s well in the Maldives

For: tweens and up

A fairly recent newcomer in the Maldives, Joali (joali.com) is all about family, wellbeing and art. It’s stylish as well as thoughtful, from sustainability practices to the innovative Kid’s Club activities: dancing, storytelling, treasure hunts and marine biology sessions. This year Joali launched its first family wellness programme, so in addition to spa treatments, fitness classes and superfood lunches, there’s juice-making, watercolour painting, and aerial yoga. If nothing else, you can bond over shared cravings.

Entry requirements? All visitors (except children under the age of one) must present a negative PCR test on arrival to Maldives, taken within 96 hours of departure. You must also fill in a Traveller Health Declaration form and an Immigration Arrival Card.

How to do it: Abercrombie & Kent offers a seven-night holiday in a Luxury Beach Villa with pool at Joali from ￡13,500 B&B for a family of four, including flights and seaplane transfers (03301 623455; abercrombiekent.co.uk)

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in the Maldives.

Costa Rica wildlife workcation

For: age 12-plus

One responsible – and highly affordable – way to get close encounters with wild animals is by volunteering at wildlife rescue centres. Responsible Travel runs family voluntourism programmes in sanctuaries all over the world, from orphaned elephants in South Africa to rescued sloths in Costa Rica. Trips can be private or, depending on the size of your family, travelling within a small group (max eight people) – having some likeminded company can work well for single parents, only children, or grandparents taking grandchildren on an adventure.

Entry requirements? Visitors under 18, and visitors over 18 who have been double-vaccinated with an approved vaccine more than 14 days previously, may enter without insurance. If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to buy insurance with specific cover requirements. All travellers must complete an advance form.

How to do it: Volunteering with sloths and monkeys in Costa Rica from ￡975pp for seven nights, full board, excluding flights, departing Feb 13 (01273 823700; responsibletravel.com).

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Costa Rica.

Glacial awareness

For: age 8-plus

Iceland is an extraordinary adventure playground of a place, only three hours from the UK. Its scenery and experiences will blow your kids away, whether you’re on a budget cabin-to-cabin self-drive or, at the other end of the scale, Black Tomato’s full-throttle Luxurious Family Adventure in Iceland. Quad bike across lava fields, sail to see whales, ride horses, ice-walk on glaciers, helicopter over volcanoes, swim in hot lagoons, snorkel between tectonic plates and give your kids the geography lesson of their lives – going deep underground into a magma chamber. Those age 12-plus can also spend a day with scientists, learning about geothermal energy.

Entry requirements? Visitors must adequately demonstrate you have either been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or previously recovered from Covid-19 infection. You will also need to present a negative PCR or antigen (rapid) test that is no more than 72 hours old before departing to Iceland. Children born in 2005 or later are exempt from the rules at the border.

How to do it: From ￡6,500pp for six nights, all-inclusive, flights excluded (0808 280 8250; blacktomato.com).

For more inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Iceland.

Full-throttle Sri Lanka

For: age 12-plus

Much is said of Sri Lanka’s tranquil landscapes, its zen temples and mesmeric, mist-shrouded hills. Less so of the high-octane pursuits these varied landscapes afford, which Families Worldwide’s small-group Active Sri Lanka trip explores: whitewater rafting; cycling a coast road; venturing into caves; and trekking up a rock fortress. There are cooking classes too and, for downtime, you can always add on a beach stay or a safari in Yala National Park. Everyone will sleep well at night.

Entry requirements? Fully vaccinated travellers can stay at an any type of accommodation and no on-arrival PCR test is required. Children aged 12–18 years arriving in Sri Lanka two weeks after obtaining at least a single dose of Pfizer vaccine, will be considered as fully vaccinated.

How to do it: Eight-day Active Sri Lanka, Feb 13–20, from ￡945/￡695 child, excluding flights (01962 302062; familiesworldwide.co.uk).

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Sri Lanka.

Back in the saddle

For: age 10-plus

February is late summer in gaucho country. For a long-haul splurge, head to Argentina’s Central Sierras, where the self-sufficient Estancia Los Potreros has just launched a riding safari aimed at families. Days are exhilarating: riding through the vast landscapes, cooling off in waterfalls, spotting eagles, driving cattle, learning to lasso and playing games with bona-fide gauchos.

Entry requirements? Travellers must be fully vaccinated, must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight, and fill in an electronic ‘sworn statement’ form within 48 hours of travelling. Children who do not qualify as fully vaccinated can enter Argentina and no longer need to self-isolate.

How to do it: Seven-night Ultimate Family Adventure, ￡3,274pp full board, including activities, flights and transfers (020 3733 5715; theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk).

Walking in the Algarve

For: age 7-plus

It may not be sunbathing weather yet, but Portugal’s mild south is lovely for walking in February, when the hillsides are blanketed not with snow but almond blossom and wild flowers. Slow-travel specialist Inntravel reveals a more rustic side of the Algarve with its walking routes; pick and choose as you like. Accommodation is a converted quinta B&B with a pool, hot tub and boules in the gardens. A good chance to shift the excess Christmas pounds.

Entry requirements? You must complete an online passenger locator card and have evidence of full vaccination to avoid pre-departure tests (except children aged 11 or under).

How to do it: Inntravel’s seven-night Algarve’s Coast & Hills costs ￡695pp in half- term, including B&B, car hire, some meals, walking maps, excluding flights (01653 617001; inntravel.co.uk).

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in the Algarve.

Rock the kasbahs

For: age 6-plus

Morocco reopened to travellers in early February enticing us to rediscover its charm and mystique after so long apart, from the sensory overload of its medinas to the great empty spaces of its desert and mountains. Wix Squared’s new family-friendly Ultimate Moroccan Adventure travels around the country in luxury and car-free wherever possible: on foot, by bike, camel, horse and cart or hot-air balloon.

Entry requirements? You will need to provide proof that you have been fully vaccinated against Covid, with the second dose administered at least two weeks prior to travel, and a negative PCR test result before boarding your flight or ferry to Morocco. The PCR test itself was undertaken no more than 48 hours before boarding. Children under the age of six years old are exempt from the PCR testing requirement for entry into Morocco. On arrival to Morocco, you will be asked to present a completed a Public Health Passenger Form.

How to do it: Eight nights from ￡3,040pp B&B, including some meals, flights and activities (020 3808 6383; wixsquared.com).

Florida, loud and quiet

For: age 4-plus

For most seven-year-olds, the only thing more exciting than a trip to Legoland is a trip to Legoland Florida, especially if it involves a night at the pirate hotel. If you’ve got the stomach for more, there’s Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center nearby… Then take a road trip seeking natural highs: swimming with manatees, kayaking in opaline springs, spotting alligators and kicking back on Atlantic beaches. Florida is currently one of the few US destinations where children don’t need to be vaccinated to go into public buildings.

Entry requirements? Fully vaccinated British citizens can enter the US. Before boarding a flight to the USA, most passengers – regardless of vaccination status – are required to show a negative test result taken no more than one day before travel. Children 17 and under are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two years old do not need to take a pre-departure test.

How to do it: Audley Travel can arrange tailor-made self-drive tours of Florida (01993 460798; audleytravel.com) from ￡1,556 per person, based on a family of four travelling for seven nights.

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Orlando

Outlandish tales in Scotland

For: younger children, multi-gens

For those seeking adventure in Britain, Wilderness Scotland has a self-drive family break in the Outer Hebrides. Based on Harris, it is a mix of free time and expert-led activities, such as hikes to spot golden eagles, accompanied by tales of local legend. It’s Scotland’s Year of Stories, and diverse storytelling events will spark young imaginations.

Entry requirements? No.

How to do it: Seven nights from ￡450pp, departing Feb 12 (01479 420020; wildernessscotland.com).

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Scotland.

Time travel in Dubai

For: age 10-plus

The biggest, the deepest, the highest… Dubai deals in superlatives. Running until March 31, Expo 2020 Dubai (it was postponed due to Covid) is an extravaganza of arts, science and technology – architect-designed pavilions hosted by AI robots showcase ideas, interactive installations (from ball pits to tech games and light shows) and inventions for future living. Too much like school? The Ain Dubai Observation Wheel and immersive Museum of the Future both opened recently and teenagers can get IG-happy for the bling and rooftop pools.

Entry requirements? UK travellers to the UAE must present a certificate of a negative PCR test at check-in before departure, taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure. Travellers arriving in Dubai may be required to undertake a further PCR test on arrival and will have to isolate pending the result. Children under the age of 12 are exempted from the test requirement.

How to do it: Red Savannah offers a seven-night trip to Dubai from ￡3,285pp (￡2,995 under-12s), B&B in an executive sea view suite at Address Beach Resort, including flights, transfers and Expo 2020 passes (01242 787 800; redsavannah.com).

For more travel inspiration, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Dubai.

Farm fun in Feb

For: younger children, groups, multi-gens

Beside the standing stones in this magnetic part of the country, the family-run Farm at Avebury, Wiltshire, has just opened six exquisitely converted stables to stay in. Pop-up feast nights bring guests and locals together, and February brings newborns on the farm – it’s piglet-feeding time! Adventure company Mud and Guts leads kids around the estate and beyond, building dens, lighting fires and playing hide-and-seek around the stones, while grandparents can take themselves off to the National Trust property nearby.

Entry requirements? None.

How to do it: Two-bedroom stables from ￡336 for two nights; exclusive use (22 people) from ￡2,790 (07790 026363; thefarmatavebury.co.uk).

Cool Cornwall

For: all ages, multi-gens

Locals will tell you that Cornwall is at its best in winter – chiefly for the lack of tourists and traffic. The microclimate means February is usually milder than elsewhere in Britain, with more sunny days for blustery beach games and, for the hardy, cold-water swims and water sports. Beach Retreats has lots of fab properties in Cornwall, including Swell in Falmouth, just footsteps from the secluded Swanpool beach.

Entry requirements? None.

How to do it: Swell (sleeps 8), ￡1,340 a week in February half-term; (01637 861005; beachretreats.co.uk).

My oh Maya

For: tweens and up

Restriction-free Mexico makes an extremely appealing option for February sunshine, with its divine beaches and colourful culture a direct 10-hour flight away. The Yucatán peninsula is easy and safe for a trip with kids, and Journey Latin America’s good-value Mayan Yucatán and Coast private journey takes families around the ruins of Chichen Itza, swimming in cenotes, lunching in haciendas, snorkelling and sailing on the turquoise Riviera Maya.

Entry requirements? It is mandatory to register on the Mexico Vuela Seguro Platform before boarding your flight to Mexico, and to show the QR code upon arrival at the airport.

How to do it: Eight days, ￡1,850pp B&B, including excursions, flights and transfers (020 8747 8315; journeylatinamerica.co.uk).

Travel warning

There are restrictions in force governing international travel and things can change at short notice. For more information, see gov.uk/coronavirus; gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19; gov.wales/coronavirus

For more information and advice on holiday bookings, see telegraph.co.uk/tt-covidtravel

Reader Service: Planning to travel with your loved ones? Purchasing family travel insurance can help you get great cover for your trip.