October half term is a very popular time for school trips abroad – in many places the weather is still positively balmy (at least in comparison with the UK!). Plus, travelling during half term means students don’t miss any vital lessons and cover doesn’t need to be arranged.
But what are this year’s October half term travel trends? Let’s take a look:
You’re using the half term to get your students talking!
The vast majority of you are taking your students on language trips over half term, with many choosing to spend a week at a specialist language school.
Popular choices of destination include Montpellier and Nice in the South of France, where the weather is usually still pretty glorious.
Salamanca tops the list of Spanish destinations over half term, perhaps due to its reputation as the city where the ‘purest’ Spanish is spoken. And Andalusia, where you can still see the influence of the Moors, is also pretty popular!
German groups have mostly opted for Berlin – a dynamic city with a youthful vibe and heaps of history to discover.
And our furthest-flung languages trip this half term will be to Canada, where Trinity School will explore Quebec and the role of the French language in Canadian culture!
You’re stepping back into some of the most difficult periods in recent history!
There are lots of you heading out on school history trips this October half term! Most are either visiting the WW1 battlefields, or the museums and concentration camps in Germany and Poland, to learn about the Nazis and the Holocaust.
Both are heavy subjects to explore during half term but this is actually a fantastic time to visit France, Belgium, Germany or Poland.
As we know, northern and central Europe can get very cold over winter. And although this can make these destinations more atmospheric, the milder weather in October allows students to concentrate on what they’re there to see, and not how cold they are!
And you’re discovering the power of geography in Iceland!
Iceland is by far the most popular destination for geography groups this October half term. October is a great time to visit this incredible island country, as it’s right in between the summer and winter season, meaning there are generally less tourists around.
The days will still be long enough for you to get everything in, but at night the skies will be starting to darken, meaning you may have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
What’s the furthest you’re travelling over October half term?
Bedford Girls’ School are heading off to India this half term for business studies, while both Alleyn’s School and Bancroft’s School are heading out to Japan for geography and art, respectively.
Want to see how everyone gets on?
We’ll be retweeting photos from trips throughout half term, so join us on Twitter to see what’s going on!
Not booked a trip for next October half term yet?
There’s still time, but you’ll need to be quick if you want the pick of transport, accommodation and activities! Contact us today to start planning!
