I love teaching. I also LOVE our schedule and each and every school vacation. Dreaming about where to go on my next holiday is my favorite afterschool activity! Teaching at an international school with so many other countries so close, I get to hear a lot of travel tips from my colleagues each vacation, as all of us return from various adventures. Now that it’s my 12th year of teaching, I’m ready to share my favorite destinations for each school vacation: February, April, summer, October/Thanksgiving, and December!
Since I’ve lived most of my life either in the U.S. or in Europe, I’ve chosen my favorite school vacations from those two places.
I’ve also included the best home bases I’ve found in my travels, because sometimes the best school vacations are when you’re in one fantastic spot for two weeks, a month, or the whole summer vacation. If you have children or just like sleeping in the same bed and getting into routines, these home bases might be a great mix of stability and adventure!
Table of Contents
February Break
Whether your school calls it midterm, midwinter, crocus vacation, ski week, or just February break, it’s a very welcome break during a couple of the coldest/rainiest/darkest months of the year. For me, February break is a time to get some sunshine! Here are tips depending on where you live to avoid jet lag and expensive flights, but if you’re able to find a cheap flight and can sleep well, please do check out the suggestions for the other side!
February Break from Europe
Okay, living in Europe, you have lots of fun options. If you’re someone who likes skiing, northern lights, and snow, then February’s a great time to go to Switzerland, Austria, Norway, or Iceland. But I want sunshine, so I’m not the best resource for cold! I’m looking for places that are warmer and sunnier than the Netherlands in February, not for snow. Of course, you also want to be able to see the tourist sites and have places open for meals, so it can’t be someplace that shuts down completely in the winter.
The Mediterranean climate of southern Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece are all much warmer than Northern Europe…but they could have rain. You could get lucky, and they could be dry when you’re there, but it also could rain. If you accept that risk, they can be great options. My husband Victor and I went to southern Spain for February break, and we had sunshine each day and loved Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, and the white hill towns of Ronda and Arcos de la Frontera. I’ve also gotten lucky in Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra, and the Algarve). If you can wait to book more last minute when the weather is more accurate, that would help too!
For sunshine and destinations that are open but not packed, February vacation is a great time to go to the desert, as deserts are far too hot in the summer, you’ll avoid rain, and it’s still warmer than most of the Northern hemisphere. These would be my top destinations for February break from Europe:
- Southern Spain, southern Portugal, southern France, Italy, and Greece! Sun, history, archeology, food, and adorable towns. All are easy to rent a car and drive from one little town to another. Rick Steves’ website and guidebooks are great resources here.
- Canary Islands for “European” sunshine.
- Morocco! Dry, sunny, with fascinating cities, beautiful nature, delicious food, and affordable tourist infrastructure. I went as a single woman in a group trip with G Adventures, which made my trip there easy and comfortable- and I met lovely other people too. Note: the link takes you to my affiliate link, so if you use that, you pay the same price as otherwise but I make a commission. That’s how I can make a bit of money from the articles I write.
- Egypt: Incredible pyramids, mummies, and other archeology, a brand new museum about to open to house all their treasures, snorkeling in the Red Sea, cruises down the Nile, captivating ancient and modern cities, and affordable tourist infrastructure. I went with a friend who had lived there and spoke Arabic, but if I went back it would be either with a group trip like G Adventures or with my husband. It didn’t feel like the easiest place to travel alone. We hope to go together when their new museum is actually open, and then I’ll post exactly how to do it!
- Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and snorkeling in the Red Sea, deserts and archeology and a safe, stable country. We just went here during our February vacation (2024), so the article linked here is very current. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend it!
- Mauritius and the Maldives: If you can find an affordable flight, then these places have incredible snorkeling/diving and are warm and tropical. If you can get there, what an incredible break from winter! Mauritius also has lovely hikes and mountain views, and both can be quite affordable once you’re there. We had excellent snorkeling here. You can stay at guesthouses on local islands in the Maldives instead of the “honeymoon” super expensive private islands, and at both places you can have excellent snorkeling right off your hotel. These were some of my favorites when I lived in Sri Lanka: Tropic Tree (most affordable), Aveyla Manta (manta rays! hundreds!), and TME retreats, where it’s possible to see whale sharks (though I didn’t). Stay tuned in the future for guides for both of these places!
February Break from the U.S.
It’s the dry season for Mexico/Central America/northern South America, so if you’re coming from the U.S. or Canada, February is the perfect time to head a bit south. You’ll get sunshine, warm weather, and animals in the biodiverse hotspots of Costa Rica and Colombia, and incredible archeology, food and museums in Mexico.
- Costa Rica: Can’t get better than Costa Rica for wildlife and ecotourism. It’s worth the money to support these incredible national parks and the animals they protect. For families, elderly, couples, friends, people of all ages, Costa Rica has something for you.
- Colombia: This biodiversity hotspot has incredible wildlife as well, and it’s extremely affordable. If you want to hike the Lost City, December- February is the driest time of the year. We went with Expotur, and they were great. Cartagena, Medellín, Minca, small ecolodges all over like this one we loved– you can experience rainforests, plains, mountains, and all sorts of animals in beautiful settings all over Colombia. Just in Minca alone, a tiny little town, we loved both here and here.
- Mexico: Fascinating archeology, fantastic food, affordable prices- Mexico has it all. Mexico City and Oaxaca are the cities I’d recommend the most, while small towns like San Cristobal de las Casas and Campeche are adorable, walkable, and with lots of side trips possible. You could happily spend a whole week in Mexico City or Oaxaca, with pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, museums, archeological sites, and incredible restaurants. Here’s my guide to planning your trip to Mexico!
- Guatemala: Archeological sites like Tikal, natural wonders like the dozens of different volcanoes (some very active- we saw lava!), beautiful colonial cities like Antigua, and very affordable prices everywhere make Guatemala an appealing destination.
- Belize: For snorkeling/scuba diving, Belize is the best in the Americas, and February and April are both good times to go.
- Caribbean islands: If island life is calling you, this is a great time to go! Cuba is one of the most culturally interesting places I’ve ever been, as the trade embargo has deep effects on what is available in all ways. You can still go as an American, but it needs to be with a tour group. Look for one with an interest of yours- I went with a salsa group, but you can also go with bike tours, baseball trips, or scholarly trips like this one my parents went on.
Spring Break
Oh, this one is probably the easiest of them all. April is lovely in most of the Northern Hemisphere, most of the time. Of course you should still bring some outfits for different temperatures- a warm jacket, a raincoat or umbrella, a summer dress- but most of the time, it should be good travel weather.
Spring Break from Europe
This is a great time to stay in Europe and enjoy your own neighborhood! It’s the best time of year to visit The Netherlands– go enjoy the tulips! It’s also lovely in the Mediterranean, while the flowers are in bloom and it’s not as hot and crowded as it will be in the summer…but towns are all open and ready for visitors. Go to Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey…basically anywhere in Europe that’s not really far north/really high in the mountains- Scandinavia and the Alps might still be snowed in. Enjoy!
Spring Break from the U.S.
All the places from February break are still good for April break! It’s getting drier around Cuzco and Machu Picchu, so it’s possible to go to Peru during this time as well. A major consideration in all of Latin America is Semana Santa- Easter week.
Antigua, Guatemala, has incredible Semana Santa celebrations that we loved, though they would be too intense if you don’t want crowds and small children might be overwhelmed/hard to keep track of. Good Friday is even bigger than Easter, so plan many months ahead of time if you choose a destination famous for its Semana Santa celebrations like Antigua.
Many American college students go to the Yucatan in Mexico for spring break, so avoid that area unless you want to have higher prices and lots of parties.
American national parks in desert areas, like Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Zion, the Grand Canyon, etc., might have wildflowers and should have reasonable temperatures during this vacation, so it’s a nice time to go there too.
Summer Vacation!
With more time, summer vacation can be a great opportunity to explore more off the beaten track, as millions of northern hemisphere residents are off at the same time. If your school year ends early, like late May, then go straight to Europe- European schools aren’t on vacation until the end of June or even mid July.
I would not recommend going to southern Europe in mid/late July or anytime in August, as it is too hot and crowded to enjoy the beautiful scenes in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, France, Croatia, etc. If you can get there in May/June, go and enjoy, or if you’re able to travel in September/October, perfect, but otherwise you’re likely to end up very sweaty and frustrated with long lines, hot temperatures and hot tempers.
If you want to travel in July/August, far northern Europe is an excellent choice as that is the only time of the year you’re able to enjoy those countries without snow and when everything is open- Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Baltic states, Iceland, etc. That’s when the ferries are running on full schedules, the open-air museums are open, and festivals are in full swing- yes, there will be other people then, but you’ll also get to enjoy all the sights. Of course, if you want to avoid crowds, go any other time and you’ll have the tourist spots to yourself!
Similarly, American national parks in mountain areas have their peak season but also only season with open roads and everything accessible, like Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Glacier, and other parks in cold weather areas.
It’s the rainy season in most of Mexico and Central America, so it’s not a good time to go there, and winter is coming in South America. However, in the area around Machu Picchu, it’s the dry season, so this is a great time to hike the Inca Trail! Peru’s desert and rainforests will also be accessible now. Bolivia’s salt flats will be dry, making travel accessible, but it is winter and will be extremely cold (freezing temperatures). It’s a beautiful time to go to the deserts of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, and southwestern Argentina- cold but dry.
Overall, summer vacation is a good time to go to places that might otherwise be impossible to access because of the snow.
Summer is also when camping outdoors is enjoyable in most of the northern hemisphere, making longer, affordable vacations easier. Campsites within the U.S. are easy to navigate with the national park’s website, and camping around Europe is what Europeans normally do with their families- so it’s extremely family-friendly, affordable, and easy to navigate if you rent a car.
If you want to travel for several weeks, I’d highly recommend driving and bringing camping gear- you could splurge on a hotel a couple of times a week, but camping can be a fun and easy way to make it possible to travel for a long time without spending much money. Campsites in Europe have hot showers, laundry facilities, toilets with paper and soap, and often pools, kitchens, and other facilities.
October Break/ Thanksgiving Break
October Break from Europe
This is a great time of year to go to southern Europe, when winter has started in northern Europe but you can still get lovely weather in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Croatia, etc.- without the horrible crowds and deadly heat of the summer. In the wine growing regions, it’s harvest season, with fall colors and lots of tasting opportunities. Some smaller towns might be quite sleepy, but all major sites will be open and less touristy.
It’s also a pleasant time of year to go to the Middle East, with Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Egypt etc. all with sunny weather and very likely dry skies still. It’s a much cheaper time to travel to most of these destinations, as well as more pleasant with fewer crowds and heat than the summer. It might be helpful to go with G Adventures, especially if you’re a woman. I loved my trip to Morocco with them, and they’re very affordable.
Thanksgiving Break from the U.S. and Canada
Desert national parks in the U.S. like Death Valley and Joshua Tree can still be lovely, if you bring warm clothes for the desert nights.
There are nonstops from the West Coast to New Zealand, and late November would be a great time to go- before the New Zealanders and Australians are on summer vacation, but while the Great Walks are all fully open. Here’s my guide to planning your trip to New Zealand!
Patagonia would also be lovely, if you can get down there, with the same lack of crowds and beginning of summer coming, and stops in Buenos Aires and Bariloche could make for an unforgettable vacation.
If you love shopping and adorable little towns, you can even see some Christmas markets in Europe already- some open up the weekend after Thanksgiving, when you can get the Christmas markets without as many crowds as come in December.
The Caribbean is also a great destination during your Thanksgiving break- not too far away or time zones, lots of sunshine, and new cultures to get to know.
Winter Vacation
You have some wonderful choices over winter break: you could go for a white Christmas, embracing the snow, cold, and holiday traditions…or you can escape to sunshine and avoid winter!
If you have time, while it is a long and expensive flight from both Europe and the U.S., winter break is an excellent time to go to Southeast Asia: it’s the dry season and not too hot in the fascinating, delicious, extremely safe and welcoming countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. If you can go, that would be the most memorable destination I could recommend during this vacation. Once you have paid for the flight, the rest of your trip will be unbelievably affordable and good quality!
It would also be the best time to go to New Zealand, while it is a long flight from anywhere. With some planning, it can be affordable as well, and if you want to go on spectacular multiday hikes, I don’t know a better spot! Here’s my guide to planning your trip to New Zealand!
Winter Break from Europe
If you want to go with the seasons, then stay in Europe and enjoy the Christmas markets, the festive lights, the mountain towns covered in snow, the opportunities to ski, ice skate, and wear your winter clothes. Almost every country in Europe nowadays has a Christmas market somewhere, and local ice skating rinks are all over. Amsterdam has a light festival each year that you can view walking or with special boat tours, and an ice skating rink in front of the Rijksmuseum and at the old Olympic Stadium, for example.
Skiing is possible all over Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy, and cross-country skiing is popular in Scandinavia. You can try to catch the Northern Lights in Scandinavia and Iceland in cozy cabins with fireplaces and hot chocolate- lots of ways to enjoy the season!
Of course, some people (like me!) want to see the sun. In that case, southern Europe and the Middle East are still good bets…though it is possible that it might rain, and nights will get cold, so it is risky. If possible, stay at least a week so that a couple of days of rain don’t ruin your vacation.
Winter Break from North America
If you want skiing, winter break is time to head to the mountains. If you like hiking and driving in snow, the national parks that are not in deserts are generally deserted in the winter, so if you can handle the weather conditions, it could be a beautiful time to see some of the most crowded national parks almost alone- Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc.- if you have a car that can get you there.
If you want sun, this is the beginning of the dry season in Mexico and Central America, so it’s again a great time to go to Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Belize, and the Caribbean for sunny destinations with loads of food, culture, and wildlife to explore. The desert national parks can also be beautiful at this time of year, though the nights will be very cold.
If you have the time and money during your school vacation to fly farther, Christmas markets in Europe are charming, and Southeast Asia would be my highest recommendation for largest variety of culture in a small, affordable area during winter break.
Best Home Bases for School Vacations
I know some people don’t want to pack up and change hotels every few days. Maybe you want to have your routines, like cooking your own groceries or sleeping in the same bed, or figuring out your route to the best gelato. Maybe you’re traveling with young children, or want to learn a new language, or want to immerse yourself in daily life like a local.
Or maybe the goal is to spend quality time with a large family, and it’s simpler to stay in one place. Maybe you can work remotely, and want to stay in one place with a stable wifi connection, a kitchen and laundry, and explore on the weekends. If so, these are some of the cities I’ve been to that I would love to spend a month or two!
I didn’t list places in Europe or North America assuming that you probably live in one of those areas already. If you can afford a place to stay for a month somewhere in the Netherlands or San Francisco, I’d highly recommend them too of course, and hopefully my articles about my two home towns will help you plan your time there.
- Mexico City: Infinite exciting food to try, world class museums, many day trips, lovely neighborhoods- this is a spot if you love city life! Of course it would be better if you learn some Spanish.
- Oaxaca, Mexico: Smaller, but still fantastic restaurants, great museums, pedestrian-friendly, lots of great day trips, great spot for people who love city life but want something a bit smaller. Still better with some Spanish, though would be a great spot to take Spanish classes.
- San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico: Very small town, several pedestrian-only streets, much cooler climate- good for people who don’t want a big city and don’t want hot weather. Lots of Spanish classes available.
- Antigua, Guatemala: Small town, but lots of nature day trips and weekend trips possible nearby. Good for people who want as much nature as possible while having the comforts of a tourist-friendly town. Another great spot to take Spanish classes.
- Cuzco, Peru: Small, touristy town, but world-class museums and unbelievable day trips and weekend trips possible, including of course Machu Picchu. You could arrange an incredible nature or archeological or both day trip every day for weeks and not repeat yourself, and go on multiday hikes for weeks. People will try to sell you stuff in the town center, but outside of the main square, it’s quiet and peaceful, with world class food, nature, and archeology. Very doable without Spanish.
- Ubud, Bali, Indonesia: Small, touristy town- with nature and hiking trails throughout the town, and all of Bali a 2-3 hour drive away, with snorkeling, hiking, cycling, massages, and all sorts of wellness everywhere- as well as incredible culture performances from fire dances to ballets every night. For culture, food, and affordability, Ubud is hard to beat. Here are my Bali recommendations!
- Bangkok, Thailand: If you can handle megacities, with the pollution and noise that comes with them, then it’s hard to top Bangkok. It has so many cultural sites to see, incredible and affordable street food on every corner, excellent public transportation, massages and cultural events everywhere, and weekend trips to beaches, mountains, national parks, or anything else you are interested in- and nonstop flights everywhere in Asia.
- Luang Prabang, Laos: A gorgeous small town along the river, Luang Prabang is packed with beautiful monasteries and saffron-robed monks. This spiritual capital of Laos has stunning nature all around, a peaceful, laid-back atmosphere, and tasty and affordable food. If you want a relaxing, low-key home base, this would be it. We stayed here and loved it.
- Kaikoura, New Zealand: With snow-capped mountains on one side and an underwater canyon in the bay on the other side, you can see seals, dolphins, and whales here with snow in the background. It’s a tiny town, so this is for people who want to be in a small village with gorgeous hiking, kayaking, swimming, cycling, and other outdoor sports around.
- Te Anau, New Zealand: This tiny town is the gateway to Fiordland, with 3 of the most famous Great Walks starting here and countless day hikes. It has everything you need for backpacking and hiking, and you could go on a different hike every day for months. Check out my recommendations for New Zealand.
Hope you have many ideas to start planning your next school vacation! Not sure how to make your itinerary? See if any of my pre-made plans work for you! Have fun!
