There has been so much snow in December with forecasts for more in January; what will the UK’s usually snowy month of February have in store for us?  Embrace it or escape it, in February you could relax on a gorgeous sandy beach in Zanzibar, Tanzania or ski in the French Alps, enjoy a spa break in London or the culture and beaches of Thailand.

February brings with it the first school holidays since Christmas which for many will take place during the third week (week commencing 15 February 2010), and of course there is Valentine’s Day on Sunday 14th February which is actually the same day as the Chinese New Year; otherwise February is a relatively quiet month for travel!

The Indian Ocean islands of the Zanzibar archipelago off the coast of Tanzania in east Africa, are a real exotic get away holiday location. With two main islands, Unguja (known as Zanzibar) and Pemba, plus many smaller islands, tour the spice farms, visit the Jozani Forest, marvel at the colourful underwater life, relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches or join a group for an exciting safari.

The best time to holiday in Thailand, Southeast Asia, is between November and February as the temperatures are neither high nor low, day or night.  The most popular destinations to travel to in Thailand are Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. A cultural delight, Bangkok is sprinkled with around 400 beautiful Buddhist temples with The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo complete with a treasure of Thai art and the Emerald Buddha. About 120 miles southeast of Bangkok is the sweeping beach resort of Pattaya with the main beach of Amphoe Bang Lamung stretching for three miles and offering extensive sporting and holiday facilities, shops, clubs, restaurants and cheap budget accommodation to luxury all inclusive hotels. The island of Phuket, the largest in Thailand, is joined to the mainland by a causeway and is around 800 miles south of Bangkok. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, Phuket is encircled by palm fringed sandy beaches with views of the glorious clear sea or inland rolling hills.

Closer to home, how about a trip to the lovely Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic? Fly directly into Funchal Airport and you will discover that there is a huge choice of brilliant hotels particularly in Madeira’s capital of Funchal, from the prestigious Reid’s Palace and luxurious Royal Savoy to delightful quintas (manor houses) to cheap apartments. Stroll along the levadas, explore the sub tropical gardens, museums and excellent shops, or take a cable car from Funchal to Monte.

By October British summer time is generally over! The temperature has dropped but the variety of places to visit hasn’t decreased, you just have to be a little more inventive!

European beaches are generally very quiet as the weather can be a little unpredictable, but if you choose a city break destination that is close to a beach, then you may enjoy the best of both worlds; quiet beaches if the weather is warm and dry, and cultural visits and shopping if it is too chilly or wet!  Barcelona and Malaga in Spain both boast historic cities by the sea, or how about Faro in Portugal or Athens in Greece both of which are short distances from beaches and islands, or you could head to the south of France to Nice or Cannes? See our separate blog on more October City Breaks.

If you are thinking of travelling further afield during October, then how about Hawaii, may be with a stop off in either Los Angeles or San Francisco?  A tropical paradise, the island of Kaua’i is north of Ahu where Honolulu is located.  Giant ficus trees, the beautiful Hanakapi’ai Falls, colourful flowers, dramatic rainforest; an island perfect for surfers and walkers!

October holidays exploring the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is perfect, staying either in Brisbane or on Hayman Island – or both!  Visit the Koala Sanctuary, take a jeep safari along the Gold Coast, relax on one of the world’s most fabulous beaches on the Whitsunday Islands, snorkel, scuba dive, bungy, kayak…

If the other side of the world is too far, Africa is of course warmer than Europe although October can be very wet especially in Morocco; however the hot and sunny climes of the Red Sea resorts in Egypt such as Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada and Taba boast a very low annual rain fall and can generally be relied on for warm weather, although there may be strong winds.   Should you prefer to holiday in October away from well know resorts, then consider Tanzania and the islands of Mafia or Zanzibar.

Closer to home, and with the October half term holidays approaching, renting a cottage in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales is worth considering.  Take t-shirts and jumpers, flip flops and wellies, and always waterproof clothes, but if you’re strolling in the Brecon Beacons or dipping your toes in the sea along the Cornish coast, there will always be plenty to do, especially if you take the car or hire car!