October half-term trips

We know the 6 week summer holidays have only just come to an end, but we're sure that for many parents out there, the last month-and-a-half has left you feeling more frazzled than fresh.

You may have been lucky enough to enjoy a family trip abroad, filled with sun, sea and plenty of family fun. However, many of you may have ended up stuck in the office, unable to get time off or, worse still, unable to afford a family holiday during peak season.

So, if the October half-term hols are already on your mind, we've had a look around and found some of the best places to get away for an autumn break with the kids.

Close to home

For some, the word holiday means passports, international travel and days spent in a gloriously sunny foreign land. For others, it just means time away from the usual routine and doesn't matter whether it's in the UK or not.

For a family break that doesn't involve the stresses of Customs and Passport Control, you could look at a week in a fully-equipped tent on a farm right here in the UK.

Feather Down farms have locations all over Britain, including Gloucester, Cornwall and Lancaster; if you book a week at one of their sites take along wellies and all your outdoorsy gear and spend your time enjoying the glorious British countryside.

More information: At a Feather Down farm you get back to nature, you can cook in your tent with a wood burning stove or make use of their outside cooker.

Adventure time

If lounging next to the pool in the autumn sun sounds like your idea of hell, then you should look into an adventure holiday.

Canoeing in the Ardéche, camel trekking in Egypt or heading off on safari in Borneo can become a reality if you look in the right places.

Of course, holidays like these don't come cheap, so maybe something to look into saving for next year. For more information about adventure trips for 2015 visit Family Adventure Holidays.

For adventurous types who have already saved and just need to make the booking, visit The Adventure Company to find the perfect trip for you.

More information: An 8-day trip to Andorra including cycling, rafting and hiking will cost you about £595 per person.

Rest and relaxation

The first school term is always a busy one and can leave both parents and children in need of a break. If a perfect slice of R&R is what you're after then you may want to look at an all-inclusive beach holiday.

Majorca is still pretty warm in October with temperatures hovering just below 20°C, an all-inclusive trip to a resort like Cala Egos with hotels right on the beach and lots of pools and restaurants to choose from would allow you all to enjoy some well-earned peace and quiet.

More information: With an online discount from Thomas Cook, a 7-day, all-inclusive holiday to the Marina Skorpios hotel in Cala Egos would cost £1,378 for a family of 4.

Just for you

You love your kids, they are lovely little angels (sometimes) and you always miss them terribly when you're away from them but, you know what they say - absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Sometimes a break away without the kids is exactly what's needed, so if your children are lucky enough to be off on a school trip or staying with the grandparents this October, you can take advantage of the time and book a break for two.

If a long, chilled-out break is needed, then an all-inclusive trip for 2 to Mexico will leave you feeling hot, hot, hot, as average temperatures in October are 27°C!

For a shorter, mid-week break, you can't beat the UK for beautiful B&Bs and country hotels. What could be more peaceful than a couple of nights spent in a luxury spa, hidden in the North Yorkshire moors?

More information: Visit Mr & Mrs Smith to find the perfect hotel for you and your other half.