Book early for school holidays
There are limited school holidays in the ski season so book early as the best family friendly resorts will get booked up with many already booked. Supply will be further squeezed for families by the fact that nearly all of Britain's schools to take their break over the same week February 14-21.
The Easter school holidays in 2009 are late and not as attractive for a family ski holiday (UK Easter school holidays are around the 6th April). The Irish Christmas, Easter and February half term holidays coincide with the ski season in Canada & USA as well so watch this.
Here are an outline of the Irish school holidays, UK school holidays and the French school holidays in the ski season.
School holidays 2008/2009
Christmas 2008 - All schools will close on 23rd December 2008 which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 7th January 2009.
February 2009 mid-term break - Post-primary schools will close from 16th to 20th February 2009 inclusive. Primary schools will close from 16th to 17th February 2009 inclusive or 19th to 20th inclusive. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break).
Easter 2009 - All schools will close on 3rd April 2009 which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 20th April 2009.
Christmas 2009
All schools will close on 22nd December 2009 which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 7th January 2010.
February 2010 mid-term break
Post-Primary schools will close from 15th to 19th February 2010 inclusive. Primary schools will close from 15th to 16th February 2010 inclusive or 18th to 19th inclusive. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break).
St Patrick's Day - Wednesday, 17th March
Easter 2010
All schools will close on 26th March 2010 which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 12th April 2010.
Uk school holidays2008/2009 and France school holidays 2008/2009
Ireland school holidays in ski season
Christmas 23rd Dec to 7th January 2009
Mid-term break from 16th to 20th February 2009
St Patrick's day Tuesday, 17th March
Easter 3rd April to 20th April
England school holidays in ski season
Christmas 22nd December to 2nd/5th or 6th January 2009
Midterm break 16th to 20th February 2009 and standardized like us
Easter 6th April to 20th April.
France school holidays in ski season
(This has a bearing on the French resorts in particular)
Christmas 20th December to 4th January 2009
Midterm 7 February - 9 March and they are zoned taking two weeks each. The Parisian holidays which are the real ones to avoid will be 14 February to 1st March so this also overlaps with the Irish midterm.
All in the key is to get booking now.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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