Why you should take the kids to Crete in October half term

Those of us who are enlivened by the rapidly ascending darker nights, brisker air and long days indoors, it is safe to say are in a minority. The majority want the vibrant spirit of the summer to live on, to prolong the darker and colder winter months from encroaching. There is one way to extend the joy of the summer – travel to Crete in October half term.

A decisive decision we know but with almost guaranteed blue skies, warm breezes and exciting kids clubs still in full swing, a family holiday to Crete this autumn would go a long way in beating those winter-approaching blues.

In an article published in the Daily Mail about the merits of holidaying to Crete, travel writer Jeremy Daniels, succinctly writes that Crete is the first place that himself and his family have come back from and not felt like they’d needed a holiday to get over their holiday.

Going on holiday with children, dragging them away from their familiarities and routine can be fraught with tension. In fact it is safe to deduce that many parents who have taken children on holiday feel like they need another holiday on their return.

This is when Crete in October could prove handy.

Unlike the severely hot weather of the Greek islands in the summer, the autumn is refreshingly cooler, meaning that kids won’t become tired and grumpy due to heat exhaustion. On the other hand, unlike when holidaying in the likes of Wales or Devon at October half-term, on Crete kids won’t be overcome with boredom due to persistent rain. In short, at this time of year Crete’s weather conditions are typically perfect for nurturing a happy, active family holiday.

Waterparks galore

Unlike in many of the more seasonal European holiday hotspots, which tend to close up shop and become an immediate ghost town come September, many of Crete’s top attractions stay open well into the autumn and none so more than the island’s legendary waterparks.

With the children in tow, Crete has three main waterparks, WaterCity near Iraklio, Acquaplus at Hersonissos and Limnoupolis not far from Hania. All three of these top aqua attractions provide a fun day out for all the family and in mid to late October are void of the queues that weave round the park in the summer.

With Minoan sites dotted around the island, gorges so stunning they’ll take your breath away and prime beaches that provide a safe haven for the family to enjoy a full day by the seaside, all wrapped up in an emerald vista of tree-covered mountains veiled by a blue sky, yes it’s safe to say that you could do a whole lot worse than take the kids to Crete in October half term.

If you are thinking about visiting Crete in October, have a look at Vintage Travel’s collection of luxury villas in Crete.