Looking for the best luxury family hotels for October half term? October half term really is the last opportunity for parents of school aged children to get some sun without having to travel long haul. I’ve rounded some of my favourite luxury family hotels for October half term all easily accessible from the UK.
If you don’t already know, every Friday I run a Q & A on my Instagram and the question I get asked most frequently is where can I have a ‘hot holiday’ for October, particularly October half term which is usually at the end of October.
Of course weather is never guaranteed at this time of year but you can certainly hedge your bets with some of these places which are some of the best family resorts in Europe or near Europe.
Best Luxury Family Hotels for October Half Term 2026: My Top Picks
Best for reliable October sunshine:Â Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife
Best ultra-luxury:Â Six Senses Kaplankaya
Best all-inclusive:Â Ikos Porto Petro
Best for younger children:Â Daios Cove
Best kids’ facilities: Parklane Cyprus
Best affordable luxury: Domes of Elounda
Best for something different:Â Kasbah Tamadot
For a full list read my best luxury family hotels in Europe recommendations
The Ritz Carlton Abama, Tenerife
Destination:Â Guia de Isora, Tenerife |Â Flight:Â approx. 4.5 hours |Â Late October:Â pleasantly warm but variable | Best for:Â Most reliable sunshine.
The Ritz Carlton Abama, Tenerife is the perfect place for out of season sun and is only around 4 hours from the UK. Tenerife enjoys warm weather long after the rest of Europe has cooled down. Average day time temperatures at 24 – 28 degrees. This is the best luxury family hotel for October half term that is most likely to see good weather! The hotel is located in GuÃa de Isora, one of Tenerife’s quieter and more relaxed areas, know for its luxury resorts.
This hotel ticks all the boxes, multiple restaurants with different cuisines including a two-Michelin star restaurant. There are beautiful beaches, family pool, huge rooms and a kids club for 4 -12 year olds. Plus the hotel itself is stunning architecturally.Â
SilverSpoon Tip: If you’re travelling with very young children or grandparents, I’d choose a room in the Citadel rather than the Villa area so you’re closer to the main restaurants and facilities.Â
Read my full review of Ritz Abama Tenerife
Six Senses Kaplankaya near Bodrum, Türkiye
Destination: Near Bodrum, Türkiye | Flight: approx. 4 hours | Late October: Warm and pleasant | Best for: Getting away from the crowds.
Six Senses Kaplankaya near Bodrum, Türkiye – October can be a really lovely time to visit Bodrum, especially as it will be warm weather without the intense summer heat and roughly 23–25°C.
Six Senses goes beyond traditional luxury, combining wellness, sustainability, nature and local culture with a genuine sense of place. What I love about Six Senses Kaplankaya is that children are included in that philosophy, rather than the hotel changing its identity to accommodate families.
The beautiful design blends in with the natural environment and everything feels so private and secluded. There’s an enormous 10,000-square-metre spa and nature-focused Grow With Six Senses kids’ club, everything feels considered for parents and kids. There are playgrounds and family-friendly beaches alongside sunset dinners, yoga, padel, spa treatments and beautifully designed spaces, so you never feel as though you’re staying at a hotel purely for kids. The food is an absolute highlight, with locally sourced ingredients, including produce from the hotel’s own garden, and the quality is excellent for children too.
Evenings are about long dinners, sunsets and slowing down rather than big shows, loud entertainment and a party atmosphere. The kids’ club focuses on hands-on experiences such as ceramics, cookery and candle making, with no screens as part of the everyday programme, and the beaches, pools and activities give children plenty to do.
SilverSpoon Tip: This should be your top choice for a wellness venue, the spa is one of the biggest in Europe!
It’s also the perfect choice for privacy and getting away from the crowds, we basically had the pool to ourselves and never had to fight for sun loungers.
Ikos Aria, Kos, Greece
Destination: Kos, Greece | Flight: approx. 4 hours | Late October: pleasantly warm but variable | Best for: luxury all-inclusive
Ikos Aria is a fantastic choice for October half term if you’re looking for an easy luxury family holiday with everything taken care of. Located on the southwest coast of Kos, the resort combines beautiful Aegean views with Ikos’ signature all-inclusive concept, making it particularly appealing for families who want a relaxing break.
For children there are kids’ clubs for different ages, multiple pools, a splash pad and a long sandy beach, while parents have excellent restaurants, spa facilities and plenty of space to relax. We had a hard time getting our kids off the splash pad, though the convenient placement near the ice cream parlour helped! I think ‘all-inclusive ice-cream’ might be Noah’s favourite phrase.
The unlimited all-inclusive offering includes à la carte dining, premium drinks and activities, so there’s very little to think about once you arrive and your holiday is a breeze!
Kos still has warm weather in October, although as with all Greek islands at this time of year, sunshine isn’t guaranteed. I think Ikos Aria works particularly well for October half term because there’s enough going on at the resort that you’re not entirely reliant on perfect beach weather.
Silverspoon Tip: We hired a boat for the day and sailed around the Greek islands which was a highlight of our holiday! For more privacy and a high level of service upgrade to deluxe level.
Read my full review of Ikos Aria.
Domes of Elounda, Crete, Greece
Destination:Â Crete, Greece |Â Flight:Â approx. 4 hours |Â Late October:Â pleasantly warm around 22 – 25 degrees |Â Best for:Â affordable luxury
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection – Located in Crete, Greece’s largest island. Domes of Elounda is a great family-friendly hotel option. October can be a lovely time to visit Crete; we went ourselves last year and, although we had some cooler periods, temperatures were mostly around 25°C.
Domes of Elounda has the feel of a Cretan village, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space and a very natural aesthetic. It’s understated but still feels luxurious. FYI Domes was very hilly so not the best choice for people with mobility issues.
Our ‘Haute Living’ suite was really spacious with a large bedroom and separate living area. We had a terrace and our own private pool. There are multiple pools, private beach and an amazing view of Spinalonga Island. Parents will love the St Tropez-inspired Vilebrequin La Plage, CORE (an outdoor hub including exhibitions, installations, popups, and street food trucks) and the refined spa.
For kids there’s a kids club, watersports, tennis and football academies and evening entertainment.
There are several restaurants at Domes of Elounda. Tholos is the main buffet restaurant, Makris offers refined Greek cuisine, Vilebrequin La Plage serves Mediterranean dishes, Antonino’s is the signature Italian restaurant, while CORE is a relaxed plaza concept with deli stalls and food trucks.
SilverSpoon Tip: Upgrade to Haute Living if budget allows – we loved having the extra space and our own private pool, and the other added benefits.
Also make time for a trip to Spinalonga, there’s an incredible view of the island from the hotel and it’s one of the most interesting places to visit around Elounda.
Daios Cove, Crete
Destination:Â Crete, Greece |Â Flight:Â approx. 4 hours |Â Late October:Â pleasantly warm around 22 – 25 degrees |Â Best for:Â Younger children
Daios Cove is also in Crete, but it feels quite different to Domes of Elounda, with a smaller, more boutique atmosphere.
The resort is architecturally stunning with a design that blends seamlessly into the landscape. The resort hugs the cove, offering stunning views of the Aegean Sea from almost every angle. The hotel design was inspired by water and earth and the rustic brickwork blends into the cove with the resort sprawling across the hillside. The design uses natural materials including wood, marble and stone to create a minimalist look that still feels luxurious.
We had booked a suite in ‘The Collection’ which makes up the hotel’s best selection of rooms and we had a premium one bed suite with sea view and private pool. The hotel heats the pool and can provide a safety gate on request. There is one main pool with a small baby pool inside it, adults pool and indoor pool at the spa. There’s a lovely big beach, water sports, and a programme of local excursions. The spa is a real jewel in the crown here and parents will love it.
Why Daios Cove works so well for families
Daios Cove offers a Children’s Club for ages 4–12, included in the room rate, plus a crèche for children aged four months to four years at an additional cost. I was particularly impressed by the nursery staff; the crèche is run by Worldwide Kids Co, with qualified childcare professionals working to UK standards. There’s also a Scott Dunn kids club.
As part of the Residents’ Club we were staying on an all inclusive package. There are five restaurants including Pangea the buffet, Taverna is the hotel’s Greek / Cretan restaurant with a beautiful view overlooking the cove, Ocean Restaurant is the hotel’s most fine dining restaurant, The Beach House is a rustic beach front space with Mediterranean-inspired dishes and RHO is the hotel’s raw concept and is for over 14s only.
I haven’t been myself but Ikos has a new hotel in Crete this year so Ikos Kissamos is another option there.
SilverSpoon Tip: There are some accessibility issues with this hotel. The resort is very hilly and there is no lift to the beach which can be difficult with a buggy.
If you love family holidays to Greece, read my full post on the best luxury family hotels in Greece
Parklane, Cyprus
Destination:Â Limassol, Cyprus |Â Flight:Â approx. 5 hours |Â Late October:Â Warm and sunny around 25 – 27 degrees. The sea is still warm. |Â Best for:Â Younger children
Parklane Hotel Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus – Ticks all the boxes for family-friendly luxury. With 222 rooms, 34 suites and 18 villas, plus a spa, beach, four pools, six bars and restaurants and a shopping village, Parklane is a large resort that still manages to maintain excellent service. We loved the Nammos restaurant and the excellent shopping, which gives the resort a more glamorous feel than many traditional family hotels. The children loved the kids club which is the biggest in Europe and had its own water park. Cyprus really is a top choice for winter sun near the UK in October, I’m actually looking at booking myself for this year.
SilverSpoon Tip: If you’d like an evening out without the children, ask about babysitting. When we stayed, the babysitters were members of the kids’ club team, so our children already knew and trusted them.Â
Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Destination:Â Atlas Mountains, Morroco |Â Flight:Â approx. 3.5 hours |Â Late October:Â Warm and dry 24 – 28 degrees |Â Best for:Â Something different!
Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco – Richard Branson’s amazing retreat in the Atlas Mountains is one of the world’s most amazing hotels, consistently included in ‘best of’ lists. The rooms are beautiful and unique and while we stayed in a Berber Tent, you can also stay in a Riad. The mountain views are spectacular, and the authentic Moroccan cuisine and beautiful gardens make the hotel feel completely different from a traditional beach resort.
The hotel includes Kasbah Tamadot Kids – a club that welcomes kids of all ages For children under 12 there are garden treasure hunts, Moroccan crafts, junior cooking classes and nature walks. The childcare team tailors each experience to the child.
Teenagers can enjoy guided hikes, tennis matches, cooking lessons plus explore local culture.
SilverSpoon Tip: Combine a stay here with Marrakech which is only 45 minutes away. I recommend staying in Villa des Orangers, a luxury riad.
Read my review of Villa des Orangers
Check out my tips for travel in Marrakech
Ikos Porto Petro, Mallorca
Destination:Â Nr Palma, Mallorca |Â Flight:Â approx. 2.5 hours |Â Late October:Â Warm 21 – 24 degrees. Less reliable weather |Â Best for:Â All-inclusive
Ikos Porto Petro – We loved staying at Ikos Porto Petro , part of the renowned Ikos group. There are five pools, most of which are family friendly, six restaurants, two beaches and an amazing kids and baby club. Best of all, it’s ultra all-inclusive even for champagne.
There are plenty of organised activities for children, including arts, games and theatre, alongside adults-only spaces such as the pool and spa. What I love about Ikos Resorts is how flexible and hassle-free the whole experience feels. It may be a slight risk in October but daytime temperatures in October are 22 – 27 degrees.
SilverSpoon Tip: Books restaurants and kids club in advance as they book up quickly. If you upgrade to deluxe level you can book all restaurants, standard level only allows 3.
Will you be booking any of these luxury family hotels for October half term?
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