Three family trips work in winter: a Canaries week in the sun, a short Lapland trip for the Santa years, and a UK lodge when you cannot face an airport.
Cite this page: Atravel.uk, “Family winter deals: where to go with children in 2026–27”, updated 12 November 2026. https://atravel.uk/family-winter-deals/
Family winter travel is decided by two things: the school calendar and how much luggage you are prepared to carry. That narrows the field quickly.
Half-term is the expensive week and the one that sells out first. If you can move the trip by a week in either direction, you will pay substantially less for the same holiday.
The three family options, compared
| Trip | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Canaries in February half-term | Guaranteed mild weather, pools, beaches | The most expensive week of the winter; book by early December |
| Lapland, two or three nights | Children between about four and ten | Serious cold — proper kit is essential, and it is not cheap |
| UK lodge or holiday park | No-fly trips, mixed ages, dogs | Weather; a heated indoor pool is the difference between a good and a wet week |
Lapland with children: the practical bit
The Santa trips are two or three nights, usually flying from a regional airport on a charter, with the thermal suit included. It is the one trip where paying for the package is usually right: the kit, the transfers and the activities are the hard parts to arrange separately.
Age matters. Under four, the cold and the darkness are hard work and the memories are for you rather than them. Between five and nine is the sweet spot.
Ski with children
Book the ski school before you book the accommodation. Beginners' lessons in the big resorts fill up for half-term by October, and a family that arrives without them spends the week on the nursery slope unsupervised.
For a first family ski trip, a smaller resort with a dedicated beginner area beats a famous one with a long transfer. Andorra and the French valley resorts are cheaper than the big names for a reason that does not matter to a seven-year-old.
Booking order that saves money
- Flights first for half-term, because that is what sells out and what you cannot substitute.
- Accommodation second, with free cancellation if the price is close.
- Transfers and car hire last, once you know the flight times. A family transfer booked for the wrong arrival time is money burnt.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lapland worth it with a three-year-old?
Usually not. The cold and the dark are hard at that age; five to nine gets the most out of it.
When should I book February half-term?
By early December for the Canaries, and by October for ski lessons and Lapland.
Which is cheaper: a UK lodge or a Canaries week?
A UK lodge for a family of four, usually — but only outside school holidays and only if you drive.
Where to book
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Read next
- Deals by airport
- Winter sun
- The full winter guide
- Deals under £200: the weeks that fit a tight family budget.
- Pay monthly deals: spreading a half-term trip across the year.
- Last-minute winter deals: why half-term rarely gets cheaper late.