The Mock Turtle

We haven't been outside the UK or away at all for longer than 2 days since 2017. Time and money has just been soaked up by other people and other things. I've been squirrelling away funds for a holiday next summer, but I need a break. I reckon if we went camping with Bambs in the summer, I can stretch the pot to a week away in February.

I've just had a look at Pip's October thread, but I think we might be looking for different things. It needs to be a package as I don't have the head space to plan flights, hotels and transfers. Mid to late Feb, working around other commitments. Quiet, but not an out of season resort, a coastal town maybe. Warm. Half board. About £1500 for two of us.

My head is in a weird place at the moment with everything going on with my family. The thought of revisiting the past makes me panic. There's places I've been with my parents in my teens and twenties to avoid. Of course they're the only places I can think of to visit. Any ideas would be hugely appreciated.

The no-go list is:
Menorca
Majorca
Lanzarote
Tenerife
Anywhere in the south of France
Benidorm (the first hotel on my first search results was where we stayed on our first holiday as kids, back in 1970-something. It hadn't changed at all.)

Madeira is also on the no list as it's one of the places our inlaws are very keen to 'show us' and I don't want them inviting themselves along.

Just suggestions of location to look at. Help?

Valencia?
Malaga?
Seville?

These are all cities obviously but there will be coastal areas nearby, and from memory Malaga is on the coast anyway. I think Valencia is too. Seville is inland but would still be quite hot in February.

Thanks Sal! Those are good calls, I'll have a look. I've got Palma or Mahon stuck in my head, and I think I want somewhere like that, but not either of those.

I assume Bristol would be your best bet to fly from? Tui do loads from there, often good deals to Cape Verde in Nov

For guaranteed warmth in February you might need to go further than Southern Spain. We had a long weekend in Granada for my birthday in early March once and first it pissed it down, then it was just cold. It was only vaguely warm and sunny on the last day. You couldn't sit out in the evening. It would definitely be a fab time to avoid the crowds in Seville but I wouldn't rely on the weather.

Since then I've gone away for my birthday twice more but chose Barbados for my 40th and then Hurghada in Egypt last year. Hurghada would fulfil the coastal bit easily enough and most places are AI but everything is very hotel-resort based, it's a bit (older) Brits abroad and there's no real sense of where you are or local culture/places to explore. It depends what you want exactly. I loved Barbados and you could definitely find what you describe there or in the Caribbean generally, but it may not be as budget friendly.

Cape Verde was a strong contender on our list last year.

You could look at Ibiza, Greece and Turkey.

My holiday plan is off anyway. :(

I wish I could help, but if anyone needs a break, it’s you.

Maybe Cyprus? Not sure it would be warm, but probably not actually cold.

Goa would be guaranteed warm (hot, actually) in Feb and cheaper than the Caribbean.

Egypt and Cape Verde are both warm and affordable for sure and you could also consider Morocco, Tunisia, Portugal or Dubai. Or one of the Canary Islands that are not off-limits - Gran Canaria is great in the winter.

I went to Tunisia in the 90's in February and it was hot enough to swim and sunbathe.

Cape Verde is beautiful and was hot and sunny when I went at the beginning of a January, but it is also quite windy. There's also not really any sightseeing if that bothers you.

Not sure if it would be in budget but my best ever winter sun was Mexico. I can't wait to go back one day.

Cuba was also brilliant, as was Mauritius.

Tui fly from Exeter in the winter (not 100% sure of the destinations) but is much less of a pain to get to them Bristol.

I thought Exeter airport had gone bankrupt and closed? Has someone bought it? That's good news if so!

No, there's Tui, Ryanair, Loganair and a couple of others. Are Lingus, Blue Islands .

The flights take off over our house do they're definitely open.

FlyBe went bankrupt.

Awesome news!

Thanks all! I'm distracting myself with looking at holidays and places suggested. Not sure I'm any further forward.

J has vetoed the whole of south Spain due to a traumatic trip with his ex (his stony face suggested it was unwise to pursue further). I've looked at Cyprus, managed to talk myself up to stretching the budget to All Inclusive or a fancy hotel, then up again to both All Inclusive AND a fancy hotel, and then back down again. I'm now looking at Portugal.

I suspect time, budgets and flights are going to limit us to Europe, though I'm now longing for tropical climes. Mexico! I realised that flight times are a factor as UK overnight stays will cut a chunk out of our (small) budget. Flights from Exeter only seem to go to the Canaries in Feb. We could go from Newquay, except the flights are to Malaga and Alicante. :lol:

I really miss being within spitting distance of Manchester airport.

Sorry about your half-term holiday, Pip - is the Midlife-Crisismobile to blame?

I don't think Portugal will be very hot in February tbh, it depends how hot you want but I was there in October once and it was only around 17c, plus it rained quite a bit.

That said, I'm in Lisbon right now and it's 28c!