Travel agents and tour operators are warning that February school holiday dates are 'almost' booked up already for next winter 2015-16.
Of course they would say that, but industry expert and boss of specialist operator to unspoilt French ski villages connected to giant French ski areas, Peak Retreats (www.peakretreats.co.uk), Xavier Schouller, confirms that the main British half term week is also the main week for several other countries.
"February half term for French schools run from 6/2 to 5/3 with most areas (the whole of France except Paris) having theirs' from 13/2 (which is the main UK holiday week). A few other smaller European countries like the Danes will be off then too so it will be a mega busy week," says Xavier.
In terms of the other main school holiday periods… "Christmas and New Year are the same school holiday dates across Europe which means they'll be busy," Xavier explains, adding, "At Easter Belgium (and despite being a small country they usually send more people than the UK at that time of year) join Germany and the UK for holidays from 26/3. This will be the best week for anyone in the UK with kids: about 50% of the price of half-term, still decent snow conditions in most resorts, normally sunny and longer days and it won't be busy on the slopes or in the resort. For departures on 2/4 (UK second week) only one area of France (Marseille + the North) + Belgium will be on holiday so it shouldn't be mega busy either."
In a separate development the company Travelzoo surveyed 2,000 state school parents on the impact of fines for taking their children out of school outside official school holidays in order to save money,
The survey found that more than half of UK parents were prepared to lie in order to avoid the fines but that over 64,000 fines were issued in the year from September 2013-2014.
"It's clear that the current system isn't working," said Louise Hodges of Travelzoo, who added, "The fining system is messy, confusing and makes law-abiding families feel like criminals."