Spooktacular Getaways: Halloween Family Holidays

With its spooky charm and festive spirit, Halloween isn’t just about trick-or-treating; it’s an extraordinary time for Halloween-inspired family breaks. Here’s why: 

• Timing With UK’s Half Term: In the UK, the children’s half term in 2024 starts just before Halloween. Making it the perfect time for families to combine the school holidays with the spooky season.
• Cost-Effective Travel: Opting for Halloween breaks during this season can be more wallet-friendly, with many airlines, hotels, and attractions offering discounted rates. So make sure to check for any special 2024 October offers.
• Guaranteed Entertainment For Kids: From pumpkin carving workshops to ghostly storytelling sessions, there are often many engaging activities to keep your young ones enthralled.

Halloween, celebrated every 31st of October, is rooted in the ancient tradition of All Hallows’ Eve, a night marking the eve of All Saints’ Day. Homes are transformed with pumpkins and cobwebs, while children (and even adults!) eagerly await the chance to go trick-or-treating.

The UK is steeped in history and legends, making it perfect for a spooky adventure. These are our top cities offering a thrilling Halloween experience in 2024:

• Edinburgh: Scotland's capital is renowned for its historic castles, narrow alleyways and ancient vaults. During Halloween, the city comes alive with ghost tours, eerie explorations of the underground city and tales of infamous grave robbers Burke and Hare.
• York: Often referred to as the most haunted city in Europe, York’s cobbled streets are perfect for ghost walks, where guides regale visitors with tales of the city’s haunted past.
• Bath: Bath transforms during Halloween with lantern-lit ghost walks and the Roman Baths offer eerie nighttime tours, allowing visitors to explore the ruins in torchlight.
• Liverpool: With its rich maritime history, Liverpool’s haunted docks and ghostly sailor tales make it a Halloween favourite. Look out for the spooky Hope Street Shivers and haunted ship tours.
• Bristol: Explore Bristol’s maritime past with ghost ship tours and pirate-themed Halloween events. The city’s haunted underground cellars are also a must-visit during Halloween.

Tripp’s Recommendation: 

Our Voyage collection is ideal for trips around the UK. Its soft shell makes it easy to fit in the car or train, and it comes with an internal mesh pocket, packing straps, and an external zip pocket.

For a frightfully fun family adventure, these top three UK theme parks pull out all the stops with Halloween events packed with thrills, chills and festive entertainment.

• Alton Towers Scarefest: A Halloween tradition, Alton Towers’ Scarefest features haunted mazes, thrill rides in the dark and live scare zones for the ultimate spooky experience. Learn more here.
• Chessington World of Adventures’ Howl'o'ween: Perfect for families, this event features themed rides, creepy creature encounters and live shows that ensure a spooktacular time for all. Discover more here.
• Thorpe Park Fright Nights: For those seeking intense scares, Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights offer horror-themed rides, live-actor mazes and adrenaline-packed experiences. Experience it here.

Tripp’s Recommendation: The Horizon range is perfect for theme park adventures. Lightweight and durable, it has an internal zip-around divider to keep everything organised and 4-dual wheels for ease of mobility.

For those looking to explore Europe this Halloween, these destinations offer a perfect mix of spooky history, enchanting atmospheres, and thrilling seasonal experiences to make your trip truly unforgettable.

• Limoges, France: Limoges, known for its medieval history, transforms into a hub of Halloween festivities every October, making it a spooky yet charming destination.
• Copenhagen, Denmark: Throughout October, Copenhagen hosts various family-friendly Halloween events, particularly at Tivoli Gardens, where the park is transformed with thousands of pumpkins, spooky decorations, and light displays. Kids can enjoy themed rides, gentle ghost stories, and fun activities like pumpkin carving.
• Venice, Italy: Explore Venice’s haunted corners with ghost tours through ancient palazzos. The city's canals and eerie tales make it a unique Halloween destination.

Tripp’s Recommendation: The Retro II range is stylish and robust, offering ample storage for all your travel essentials.

The US is a treasure trove of haunted locations, from the Queen Mary ship in California to ghost towns in the Wild West. If you're venturing stateside, here’s our top picks:

• Salem, Massachusetts: Known for its infamous witch trials, Salem is a Halloween hotspot with family-friendly events like haunted houses, magic shows and walking tours that dive into its rich history. The city comes alive with festivals, parades and spooky celebrations, making it perfect for a Halloween getaway.
• Orlando, Florida: Home to Disney’s Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, Orlando offers a fun, family-focused Halloween experience. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, special parades and fireworks while dressing up in their favourite costumes.
• Sleepy Hollow, New York: The town made famous by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow offers a variety of Halloween events, including haunted hayrides, lantern tours and storytelling. It's a charming, spooky place for families to enjoy the autumn season with just the right amount of eerie fun.

Tripp’s Recommendation: Our new Travel collection is sleek and spacious, with an integrated TSA lock for added security – perfect for American adventures.

These locations offer spine-tingling experiences for adventurous adults:

• The Catacombs of Paris: Dark tunnels beneath Paris holding the remains of millions.
• Island of the Dolls, Mexico: A secluded island filled with haunted dolls.
• Bran Castle, Romania: The legendary home of Dracula, this historic fortress is steeped in vampire folklore and is said to be haunted.
• Aokigahara Forest, Japan: Known for its dense trees and eerie atmosphere.
• The Stanley Hotel, USA: The inspiration for The Shining, this historic hotel is said to be haunted.

Tripp’s Recommendation: The Holiday 8 collection is durable and versatile, and with nine colour choices, you can bring some boldness to your spooky global adventures. 

Halloween is not a public holiday in the UK, but it is widely celebrated with events, parties and activities throughout the country.

For a spooky international adventure, consider destinations like Bran Castle in Romania, the Catacombs of Paris, or Venice, Italy, which offers eerie ghost tours during Halloween.

October is a great time to visit places like Tuscany, Italy, for its autumn landscapes, or New England, USA, for its famous fall foliage and Halloween celebrations.

Cities like Edinburgh, York, or Prague are perfect for an October city break. They offer rich histories, atmospheric streets and seasonal events like Halloween festivals.

October half term in the UK typically falls in the last week of the month, with most schools breaking up from October 21st to October 28th, 2024.

Although Halloween is not a federal holiday in the USA, it is enthusiastically celebrated through events, trick-or-treating and parties.

Halloween 2024 is set to be filled with mystery, magic and unforgettable memories. Whether you're exploring haunted locations, ghost towns, or enjoying a themed event at a theme park, now's the time to pack your suitcases and embark on a spooktacular adventure!