By Sébastien Brunet, travel advisor at Partez en Voyage | Published November 2026
In short: how do you plan a family trip during the school break?
To travel stress-free during the school break (la relâche scolaire), book early, set your total budget before choosing a destination, pick a hotel that suits your children's ages, check the transfer time from the airport, prepare every family member's documents and plan for travel insurance. The best trip is not necessarily the cheapest one: it is the one that offers the best balance between price, quality and your priorities.
The 12 tips at a glance
- Set your dates and stay flexible if you can.
- Set your budget before choosing a destination.
- Don't wait until the last minute.
- Choose the hotel based on your children's ages.
- Think about the beach, but don't rely only on photos.
- Check the transfer time from the airport.
- Don't automatically choose the biggest resort.
- Plan a few activities, but leave some free time.
- Prepare your documents before leaving.
- Think about travel insurance.
- Pack the little things that make the trip easier.
- Remember that the school break isn't only about price.
The school break is often one of the most anticipated times of the year.
For children, it is a well-deserved pause after several months of school. For parents, it is a chance to unwind, spend time together and, why not, head south for a few days of sun.
But travelling during the school break also comes with its share of challenges.
Prices can be higher, hotels fill up quickly, the best flights go fast and the most popular destinations are in particularly high demand.
So how can you make the most of that week without turning trip planning into a headache?
Here are a few tips I regularly give to families who want to travel during the school break.
1. Start by setting your dates... and stay flexible if you can
The first thing to know is that the school break doesn't necessarily fall on the same dates for everyone.
Depending on the school, the school service centre or the region, the dates can vary.
And that difference of a few days can sometimes have a major impact on the price of a trip.
If you have some flexibility, compare different departure and return dates. Leaving a day earlier or coming back a day later can sometimes open the door to much better options.
The same goes for the length of the stay.
A seven-night trip is very popular, but a six- or eight-night stay can sometimes offer better value depending on availability.
So it's a good idea not to treat your dates as completely fixed from the start.
2. Set your budget before choosing a destination
This is probably one of the most important tips.
It's easy to start looking at the most popular hotels, the beautiful rooms with an ocean view and the resorts that seem to have absolutely everything you could wish for.
The problem?
You quickly fall in love with a hotel that is well over your planned budget.
I therefore recommend deciding first how much you really want to invest in your vacation.
And above all, think about the total cost.
The price of the package is only part of the equation. Depending on the trip, you also need to consider insurance, airport parking, spending money on site, excursions, tips and the little extras.
Having a realistic budget from the start lets you search in the right category and avoid a lot of disappointment.
3. Don't wait until the last minute
For the school break, this is especially important.
Families travel in large numbers during this period, and the best options can disappear quickly.
Waiting in the hope that prices will drop can sometimes work, but it is also a gamble.
And when you travel with the whole family, the problem isn't only finding a price.
You need to find flight seats for everyone, a suitable room, the right dates and a hotel that meets the family's needs.
The bigger the group, the faster the possibilities shrink.
Planning early therefore mostly means having more choices.
4. Choose the hotel based on your children's ages
A hotel can be wonderful for a family with young children and much less interesting for a family with teenagers.
It's something I always consider when I compare all-inclusive resorts.
With young children, you may look for a suitable pool, a kids' club, a playground, a beach with a gradual entry or simply a resort that is easy to get around.
With teenagers, the criteria can be completely different.
They may want water sports, activities, a lively pool, games, an interesting beach or enough freedom to enjoy their vacation without their parents constantly at their side.
And let's be honest: when teenagers are happy, parents usually have a better vacation too!
To go further, also read our article How to Choose the Best All-Inclusive for Your Vacation in the South.
5. Think about the beach... but don't stop at the photos
For many families, the beach is one of the most important criteria.
And that is perfectly understandable.
But a photo taken in perfect conditions doesn't necessarily tell the whole story.
The colour of the water, the waves, the width of the beach, the currents and the presence of sargassum can vary depending on the destination and the time of year.
If your absolute priority is a beautiful beach, you need to look a little further than the hotel's photos.
The area where the resort is located can also make a big difference.
It's something I take particularly into account when I suggest options to a family.
6. Check the transfer time from the airport
After several hours of travelling with children, the transfer to the hotel can feel much longer than it really is!
A hotel 30 or 40 minutes from the airport can be especially appealing for a family that wants to start its vacation quickly.
Conversely, some more remote resorts can be perfectly suitable and offer an experience that justifies the trip.
You just need to be aware of it before booking.
When I compare options for a family, transfer time is therefore one of the things I look at, along with price and hotel quality.
7. Don't automatically choose the biggest resort
Bigger doesn't always mean better.
Some huge resorts offer an impressive number of restaurants, pools and activities.
For some families, that is exactly what they need.
For others, it can become tiring.
If you travel with young children, for example, a hotel where everything is easy to reach can be much more enjoyable.
And if someone in your family has reduced mobility, the size of the resort and the distance between the room, the restaurants and the beach become even more important.
So ask yourself what suits your family rather than simply picking the hotel with the most restaurants or the most pools.
8. Plan a few activities... but leave some free time
A common mistake when travelling as a family is trying to do everything.
Excursion in the morning.
Beach in the afternoon.
Special restaurant in the evening.
And why not another activity in between?
After a few days, everyone is exhausted.
The school break is precisely a chance to slow down.
If you want to go on an excursion or explore the area, choose a few activities you are truly interested in. But also keep some days with no plans.
A quiet morning by the pool can sometimes become one of the best memories of the trip.
And above all, let the children enjoy a vacation that doesn't look like their school schedule.
9. Prepare your documents before leaving
Passports, insurance, travel documents, required authorizations, reservations...
The last thing you want is to discover something is missing the day before departure.
I always recommend checking every family member's documents well before the trip.
And remember that requirements can vary depending on the destination and the family situation.
If you are travelling with children and both parents are not travelling together, for example, extra precautions may be needed.
A little preparation at home can save a lot of stress at the airport.
10. Think about travel insurance
It's a subject nobody particularly likes to bring up when preparing a vacation.
We would rather talk about the beach, the sun and cocktails!
Yet travel insurance remains an important thing to consider.
With children, an unexpected medical situation can quickly complicate a trip. Good coverage can also protect against certain other unforeseen events, depending on the policy you choose.
The goal is obviously not to leave thinking about the worst.
It is simply to know that a solution is in place if something doesn't go as planned.
11. Pack the little things that make the trip easier
The big decisions matter, but sometimes it's the small details that make the difference.
- A bag of snacks for the flight.
- A change of clothes in the carry-on.
- The usual medications.
- Headphones.
- A tablet or a few activities to keep the children busy.
- A small bottle of water bought after security.
These are simple things, but when you travel with children, they can make the journey much more pleasant.
And above all, avoid putting something you will absolutely need on arrival in your checked luggage.
12. Remember that the school break isn't only about price
You often hear that you absolutely have to find "the best deal" to travel during the school break.
But the best price isn't necessarily the best trip.
If you save a few hundred dollars by choosing a hotel that doesn't suit your family, you may regret it all week long.
Conversely, paying a little more for a flight at a reasonable hour, a hotel better suited to children or a better room can sometimes make an enormous difference.
The goal should be to find the best balance between price, quality and your priorities.
What if you let an advisor handle the search?
Planning a family trip takes time.
You have to compare flights, hotels, rooms, transfers, inclusions, conditions and sometimes dozens of different options.
And as the school break approaches, availability can change quickly.
That is exactly where a travel advisor can help.
My role is not simply to give you a price.
I can help you determine which destinations fit your budget, which hotels suit your children's ages and which details could affect your experience.
I can also help you compare two options that look very similar on paper but actually offer quite different experiences.
And above all, I can save you time.
The best school break is the one where nobody watches the clock
At the end of the day, that is probably what we are looking for when we travel as a family.
Being able to get up without an alarm.
Having a relaxed breakfast.
Spending the day at the pool or on the beach.
Doing an activity when we feel like it.
Eating together.
Laughing.
And above all, creating memories that the children — and the parents — will keep for a long time.
The school break goes by quickly. So if you decide to go, take the time to choose your destination and hotel carefully.
Not necessarily the most luxurious.
Not necessarily the cheapest.
But the one that best suits your family.
And if you don't know where to start, that is exactly the kind of search I can do with you.
Frequently asked questions about family travel during the school break
When should I book a trip for the school break?
As early as possible. Many families travel during the school break, and the best options can disappear quickly. You need flight seats for everyone, a suitable room, the right dates and a hotel that meets your family's needs: the bigger the group, the faster the possibilities shrink. Planning early mostly means having more choices.
Is the school break the same week everywhere in Quebec?
Not necessarily. Depending on the school, the school service centre or the region, the dates can vary, and a difference of a few days can have a big impact on the price of a trip. If you are flexible, compare different departure and return dates, as well as the length of the stay.
How do I choose a hotel based on my children's ages?
With young children, look for a suitable pool, a kids' club, a playground, a beach with a gradual entry or a resort that is easy to get around. With teenagers, the criteria change: water sports, activities, a lively pool, games, or enough freedom to enjoy their vacation.
What documents should I prepare before travelling as a family?
Passports, insurance, travel documents, any required authorizations and reservations. Check every family member's documents well before departure, because requirements vary by destination and family situation. If both parents are not travelling together with the children, extra precautions may be needed.
Is travel insurance important when travelling with children?
Yes, it is an important thing to consider. With children, an unexpected medical situation can quickly complicate a trip, and good coverage can also protect against certain other unforeseen events, depending on the policy. The goal is simply to know a solution is in place if something does not go as planned.
Why use a travel advisor for the school break?
Planning a family trip means comparing flights, hotels, rooms, transfers, inclusions and conditions. A travel advisor can identify destinations that fit your budget, hotels suited to your children's ages and the details that will affect your experience. An advisor can also compare two options that look similar on paper and save you time.
Dreaming of a sunny getaway for the next school break?
Dreaming of a sunny getaway for the next school break? Write to a travel advisor at Partez en Voyage. Together we can look at the options that fit your family, your dates and your budget.
Contact us: our advisors are available Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About the author
Sébastien Brunet is a travel advisor at Partez en Voyage, a travel agency in La Prairie, on Montréal's South Shore, helping families and travellers across Quebec.
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