The Easter school holidays are a fantastic time to get away with the kids, with two full weeks allowing you to travel further than you can in the half terms and often benefit from greater availability and better prices than in the main summer school holidays. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite destinations for Easter 2023.
April is considered one of the best months for visiting this increasingly popular Indian Ocean archipelago famed for its diving and snorkeling, with glorious sunny days ideal for marine and beach activities, little rain, and starlit evenings brilliant for making the most of overwater restaurants and other alfresco dining spots.
Where to stay: Siyam World, a new-in-2021 all-inclusive island getaway with villas sleeping up to 16, great for family gatherings.
This lively and ever-evolving UAE is also at its peak in April, when it's sunny but not too hot – skies are clear and temperatures balmy, making it ideal for making the most of Dubai’s compelling mix of beaches, water sports and water parks, shopping malls and souks, creek tours, theme-parks and desert adventures, including falconry and dune-bashing.
Where to stay: Atlantis the Palm, the ocean-themed icon and home to Atlantis Aquaventure, the world’s largest water park.
Best visited from November to April, when it’s at its driest, warmest and sunniest, the ‘Land of Smiles’ welcomes families with everything from white-sand beaches to elephant encounters. A twin-centre holiday in Bangkok and Koh Samui gives you the chance to explore the compelling capital before going into a more leisurely mode on the country’s 2nd-largest, rainforest-clad island with its family-friendly beach resorts.
This tropical dreamscape experiences its driest weather, lowest humidity and most comfortable temperatures up to around mid-April. And whether you’re looking for a party-loving island such as Jamaica or Barbados or something more low-key – perhaps Grenada – there’s a Caribbean island perfect for all families.
Where to stay: Aboard one of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's stunning family-friendly vessels. Their Southern Caribbean Cruise departing 8th April is an obvious choice for exploring the region, with the option for your Travel Counsellor to package the trip with flights and a pre-cruise stay in Fort Lauderdale.
With average temperatures of 23°C, much less cloud than March, around eight hours of sunshine a day and pleasant temperatures for swimming in the sea, this ever-popular Canary Island has long been justifiably popular with families. Among highlights are whale- and dolphin boat trips (April is often the best month to spot sperm whales here) and riding the cable-car or hiking up Mount Teide.
Where to stay: GF Victoria, an all-suite hotel with cutting-edge contemporary design and standout features such as a bodyboard wave pool.
April is a brilliant time to visit Florida, with longer, brighter days and warmer weather (around 27°C) but without the crowds of high season. Many of the-famous theme parks in and around Orlando host seasonal activities, and parks also start to stay open until later in the evening. Among the top attractions are Walt Disney World Resort with its four theme parks and two water parks, Universal Orlando Resort and Legoland Florida Resort, but you might also consider the Florida Keys, seaside resorts such as St Pete (St Petersburg)/Clearwater, Fort Myers (gateway to Sanibel and Captiva islands) and the Everglades National Park.
Where to stay: ChampionsGate Villa Complex for your own space and all the facilities you need to be self-sufficient.
To book your Easter family holiday or cruise, call your Travel Counsellor today.
This twenty eight night journey is designed for travellers who want to see Australia and New Zealand in depth, following a clear route that links cities, coastlines and standout natural landscapes. Beginning in tropical north Queensland, the trip moves through Australia’s east coast and iconic regions before crossing to New Zealand for alpine scenery, lakes and fjords, finishing in Christchurch.
This ten night journey through KwaZulu Natal is suited to travellers who want to see more of South Africa beyond the main tourist trail. It brings together mountains, battlefields, wildlife and coastline in one well paced trip. With flights from Dublin, a hire car and carefully selected lodges throughout, the route moves easily from the Midlands to the Drakensberg, on to historic sites and safari, before ending by the sea near Durban.
This thirteen night journey brings together the buzz of Japan’s cities and time by the coast in central Vietnam. You move from neon streets and high speed rail to lantern lit evenings and relaxed days near the beach, with a strong balance of food, culture and downtime. Private transfers, well located hotels and key rail and flight connections are all arranged, so each stage runs smoothly while still giving you the freedom to explore on your own.