10 of the best holiday destinations to travel to outside of school holidays

Alongside the independence and freedom you have to achieve your goals, another major benefit of being retired is that you are no longer constrained to travelling in school holidays when your children can go.

Instead, you can travel whenever you like, and without the restraint of having to pick locations that are kid-friendly or suit all the different tastes in your family.

Crucially, you can also avoid the additional costs you incur when travelling in peak times from July to early September. In fact, according to GoCompare, you would face an 18% average increase in price when booking a package holiday during school breaks compared to the rest of the year.

That means, by travelling outside of this window, you can enjoy your ideal holidays while also making significant savings.

So, discover 10 of the best holiday destinations to travel to outside of school holidays.

We’ve picked a range of different places, from city breaks to lazy beach holidays, so there’s something for everyone here. And, we’ve included when it’s recommended to travel to get the best out of each location while avoiding the summer holiday crowds.

1. Annecy, France

Situated in the south of France, the alpine town of Annecy is best known for the stunning Lac D’Annecy, an incredible glacial lake spanning nearly 30 kilometres.

You can spend hours at the lake relaxing, swimming, or even enjoying rowing or water skiing. Meanwhile, the surrounding towns and villages have plenty to offer, from fine dining to casual cafes and classic French bakeries that you’d expect in such a setting.

Annecy’s peak season is typically through June to August, during which it can be difficult to find accommodation and the lake’s shores can be particularly busy.

Fortunately, booking a trip in April to May or late September to early October can help you get the best of the weather without the throngs of people.

2. Valletta, Malta

Valletta is the capital of Malta, an island situated just off the south coast of Italy. This little walled city was first constructed in 1500, and so there are plenty of fascinating historical sites to enjoy, including museums, palaces, and the stunning St John’s Cathedral.

Malta can be ideal from April to May or even October if you want to enjoy the sun without the extreme heat. That said, if high temperatures are what you’re looking for, June or mid-September could allow you to enjoy the heat while skipping the crowds.

3. Swiss Alps, Switzerland

The Swiss Alps are a favourite for holidaymakers around the world, offering beautiful landscapes and, of course, some of the best ski slopes available.

If skiing is your priority, the winter months can be preferable. December through March can help ensure the best snowfalls, and gives you a wide window to avoid the Christmas and summer holidays.

That said, you may want to enjoy some of the picturesque views of this incredible landscape in warmer weather, perhaps on a walk through the mountains or a road trip on those curvy alpine passes. In that case, June and September could be more suitable, offering comfortable temperatures and brighter skies without the crowds.

4. Lake Como, Italy

While you might first think of Rome or Sicily when considering travelling to Italy, Lake Como is well worth putting at the top of your list.

Much like Annecy, Lake Como is also an incredible inland body of water. Spanning an impressive 146 square kilometres, the area is situated in the north of the country, and is easily accessible from Milan. So, you could enjoy both the beautiful landscapes around the lake as well as enjoy the hustle and bustle of a city break.

May through June tends to be a popular time to travel as this is when the flowers and gardens in the area come to life. Then, late September also tends to be a favourite, offering warm weather as autumn approaches.

5. Scottish Highlands, Scotland

You don’t necessarily have to travel too far afield to enjoy an incredible holiday, as the UK is home to some of the most interesting and beautiful natural landscapes in the world. That’s why a holiday to the Scottish Highlands can be a perfect escape.

Whether you choose to walk in the mountains, visit some of the many castles, or even explore the world-famous Loch Ness, the rocky world of north-west Scotland offers a great outdoor holiday.

While springtime in May or an autumnal trip in September can be ideal for avoiding the crowds, there really are no guarantees for the weather in the Highlands! So, make sure you have a backup plan of a cosy pub and a fire in case you’re treated to some “traditional” Scottish weather.

6. Antalya, Turkey

Antalya is broadly known as the “capital of tourism” in Turkey, and the area is actually known as the Turquoise Coast, thanks to the depth of its flawless blue waters. This extreme beauty is why it makes sense to avoid the crowds by travelling in the off-season.

There’s plenty to do in this area of the world, including fascinating historical and archaeological sites to visit such as the Archaeology Museum and Hadrian’s Gate. And, there’s beautiful scenery to explore, including countryside and waterways.

April to mid-June in spring or September to mid-October in autumn can make for better times to travel, avoiding both the crowds and the hottest time of the year.

7. Nicosia, Cyprus

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is a classic tourist destination, and its capital, Nicosia, is a popular option for travel. It’s arguably one of the most interesting places in the world, as it is the only divided capital city in the world – the northern side being Turkish while the south is Cypriot.

It’s also a place rich with history. From the Cyprus Museum to the 16th-century Venetian walls, Nicosia offers plenty in terms of culture.

Thanks to its location, Cyprus enjoys warm weather all year round – winter “lows” are often still around 17 degrees Celsius! That means you don’t necessarily need to be there in the height of summer to enjoy warm weather. Instead, May to June and even late September to early October can provide plenty of sunshine while you avoid the school holiday crowds.

8. Orlando, USA

The USA has multiple cities and regions that are worth visiting, but arguably the best one to head to outside of school holidays is Orlando.

The city is home to some of the most famous leisure parks in the world, from the Universal Studios resorts to the magnificently impressive Walt Disney World Resort that Florida itself has become practically synonymous with. These tend to attract families, so finding time outside of holidays is key.

March to May can be a handy time to travel as the weather can be more reasonable than the summer highs. You can usually avoid the busiest tourist seasons then too – although be aware that US colleges and universities have a spring break in mid-May.

Similarly, late September to October can also be effective as temperatures and tourist footfall tend to drop with one another.

9. Marrakesh, Morocco 

The walled medieval city of Marrakesh is often on travel bucket lists, as it is an incredibly vibrant and culturally interesting city. In particular, the main bazaar known as “Jemaa el-Fnaa” is a site worth seeing, packed with stalls selling all kinds of authentic goods.

From June to August, temperatures in Marrakesh easily reach 40 degrees Celsius, down to a minimum of around 20 degrees. As a result, the height of the summer holidays can be swelteringly hot.

So, visiting in spring (around May) or autumn (late September into October) can be preferable, especially if 40 degrees sounds like too much to handle.

10. Sydney, Australia

You’ll obviously have to travel a little further afield for the final option on this list. But Australia makes an ideal travel location because, being in the southern hemisphere, you can enjoy the country’s hot weather outside of the British school holidays.

While there are many places you could go in Australia, Sydney is particularly iconic – no doubt images of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House come to mind. There’s plenty to do in Sydney, ranging from shopping in its metropolitan areas to exploring the Rocks, a historic neighbourhood that marks the city’s birthplace.

In terms of when to travel, September to November and March to May tend to be popular times for tourists to visit as these are the country’s spring and autumn. You can take the 24-hour flight out there for the summer between December and February, but just be aware that temperatures comfortably sit in the 30s and it can be quite humid, too.

Get in touch

If you’d like support organising your wealth so you can go on your dream holidays, we can help.

Email info@douglaswhiteltd.com or call 0151 345 6828 to speak to us today.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.