Trying to book half term travel before the good dates disappear? Does “hot” for half term mean somewhere hot in october half term or is it just sales speak from the travel companies trying to fill seats? Using real weather recorded at proper weather stations across the world as opposed to simply reading from a travel brochure, the obvious choice for half term sun are the Canary Islands.
What Counts As Hot
"Hot” is a word most commonly used by travel companies to try and sell seats on flights. But when we talk about “hot” for half-term in October we’re talking about average high temperatures for the whole month. This can be a single figure for the whole month or an average of high temperatures over 30 years or more. This will give you a much better idea of what normal temperatures are like for the period of your holiday as opposed to a photo taken on one very hot day.
The Canary Islands Numbers
Figures are for average high temperature for Tenerife South airport over thirty years. These sorts of figures are what many families with young children look for when choosing between different destinations for the October half term break.
Why South Tenerife Wins
The biggest climate factor is that Tenerife has a massive central mountain range, down the middle of the island, that blocks clouds that travel up from the Atlantic to the north of the island. So, the south of Tenerife tends to be about 4C hotter than the north in October. And a huge factor for how warm or not a resort will be is the local climate. So, the sunniest part of the island, for example, is going to be the southern end of the island, like Playa de las Américas. It is warmer than Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, which is only about 20 minutes drive from Playa de las Américas.
The Costa del Sol Figure
1C, which is warm for the UK but far below the temperatures found in the Canaries. And remember that although September is dry in the Costa del Sol, October is wet. So what seems like a great half-term destination in late September can be pouring with rain in October.
Rain And Sunshine, Not Just Heat
Average high temperatures are only half the story. It is quite possible for destinations to be warm but overcast, with short sharp showers which may fall as heavy drumming rain. The average number of sunshine hours per day also needs to be considered. Generally the Canaries receive more sunshine in October than the mainland Spanish resorts.
Flight Time Is The Trade-Off
Flight time is an important factor for families with young children. 5 hours. When looking for half-term sun, the flight and the day you can book are as important as the destination itself. This article provides information on other popular autumn sun destinations and how they will fare in October, as well as any travel restrictions and conditions that may affect your trip.
Check Your Council’s Dates First
No use of school holiday dates will be of value if they are booked before school term and holiday dates for the child’s school have been confirmed. School holiday dates vary from local authority to local authority and can even vary by several days for years when there is an extra day added to half-term. School term and holiday dates for schools in England can be found on the gov.uk website.
Canaries vs Costa del Sol: The Comparison
Is the Canary Islands hot in October? Yes the Canary Islands are hot in October with average high temperatures of about 26 to 27C at the main resort airports.
Is Malaga warm in October? The average high temperature is about 24C, but be aware that Malaga receives more rain in October than in September.
The north of the island typically runs around 4C cooler than the south in October, as the central range of mountains on the island can block clouds that roll in from the Atlantic to cover the north in grey, wet weather while the sun shines brightly in the south.
5 hours from UK airports.
Remember to check your council’s half-term dates before booking too – they can vary by up to 7 days. There is more on where is hot in October half term at https://travelsnews.co.uk/luxury-holidays/the-tuesday-that-separates-heaven-from-a-car-park/.
They do not predict what the weather will be like for your half-term break this year. See for more on this.
