Meadow Keeper's Cottage, near Rye, East Sussex

Set on a 40-acre farm, between two wildflower meadows, this idyllic little holiday home is the perfect base for a taste of country life – children can become junior farmers, helping out at animal feeding time.

The "cottage" itself looks like it's been lifted straight from a children's storybook and put on wheels. Hand-made by a local craftsman, it's as cute as can be with flowers in boxes under blue-framed windows, a wooden door and wood-burner indoors to keep you toasty.

Not one for a large family or older kids but perfect for young ones, with a double bed and two singles that double up as benches, a fold-away dining table between them and indoor cooking area. The loo and (wood-fired) shower are outside.

The wide stretches of beach at Camber Sands are only nine miles away and Bodiam castle, which also looks like it's been lifted from a fairytale with its crenellated towers and drawbridge.
• £660 for six nights from 10-16 February (sleeps four), 01275 395447, canopyandstars.co.uk

Walking in the Lake District

If you've got kids who need to burn off energy every day, how about a dedicated walking holiday? This group trip features a choice of three child-friendly walks a day ranging from an easy option at six miles to a full 13-mile hike. In the evenings, activities are geared towards children; there's also a games room.

The four-day trip, departing 13 February, costs £279 per adult (saving £50), with children (aged 11 to 17 and sharing with an adult) paying £194 each (under-11s go free), including full-board at the company's Derwent Bank Country House on the shores of Derwentwater through HF Holidays. (0845 470 8558, hfholidays.co.uk)

A cottage in Wales

Sheepskin (01865 764087, sheepskinlife.com), which specialises in luxury homes – the majority of which are in Wales, is offering 10% off its larger properties this half-term, including Wayside, near Dolgellau in Snowdonia, a charming cottage with an open-plan living area and cosy sofas around a wood-burning stove, looking out over a valley of fields and forests. It sleeps six and costs £1,328 for the half-term holiday (including the 10% discount), arriving on 10 February.

Alternatively, Bantwen, a traditional cottage in Carmarthenshire, is on offer through Under the Thatch (underthethatch.co.uk); it sleeps six and costs just £224 for four nights starting 13 February.

A country retreat in eastern Spain

A family-friendly holiday doesn't have to mean booking into a large resort with a kids' club and loud entertainment. There's a growing number of excellent small, independently-run places that will appeal as much to tired parents as their sprogs. Step up Caserío del Mirador, a collection of five apartments set among olive groves in rural eastern Spain.

Run by Johnny and Sarah Robinson, parents to Charlie, it caters brilliantly to children, without feeling like a nursery. Outside there's a pool, sand pit, ride on tractors, art materials, a big box of Lego and plenty of toys; a play area (swing, see-saw and slide, climbing frame), plus a small menagerie of pets – rabbits, two goats, a Shetland pony and pot-bellied pigs.

The apartments are spacious and tasteful, with a kitchen dining area and sitting room, as well as all the baby paraphernalia you could need. A welcome pack of basic provisions is supplied to keep you going before you reach the shops, but you don't have to self-cater all the time. Breakfast is brought to your apartment every day; and you can pay for lunch or dinner (€20-€35 a head, kids eat adult meals half price) to be eaten in your apartment or with other guests around a communal table. Freshly prepared children's meals are served at teatime for €7.50.

We can't guarantee that it will be hot in February, but it should be warm enough to spend your days outside.

Low season weekly rates from £850 (one-bedroom family suite) to £1,300 for a two-bed family apartment for five). In February there is a special rate of £100 to £160 per night per apartment, including complimentary kids' meals at teatime.
• +34 965 973 024, villajalon.com. Fly to Valencia or Alicante airports

A villa in Lanzarote

If it's sunshine you're craving, head for the Canaries. Everyone knows the island has its grotty side but pick the right base and you can avoid all that and enjoy the sunshine. The Cortijo de Cabreron (pictured), a four-bedroom country cottage with a pool, is surrounded by an expanse of open countryside but is only 4km to the sandy beaches of the Costa Teguise. Internal features include thick stone walls, colourful ceramics and paintwork. A week starting 12 February costs £995. Also £995 for the week is Villa Cactus, a three-bedroom cottage (sleeps six) with solar-heated pool in the village of La Asomada.
• 01954 261431, vintagetravel.co.uk. Return flights and car hire extra

Snowboarding in the Swiss Alps

Got older children who have caught the snowboarding bug? Then head to Laax, in Switzerland, which has four snowparks, as well as Europe's only indoor freestyle academy, and 220km of slopes. Younger children are also well catered for at one of three Snow Wonderlands (pictured), ski schools centred around a magician character who tells stories about nature and life in the mountains in between practice sessions, and a creche (€83 a day from 9.30-4pm, with food) in half-term.
• Rancho self-catering apartments (bookable through laax.com or call +41 81 927 7777), near the base station at Laax, would suit a family of four; half-term prices from CHF2,162 (£1,500) per week (sleep four) from 12 February

Apartment on the Red Sea

Eygpt's Red Sea coast is one of the best bets for sun-loving families at this time of year, and i-escape.com's new kids' collection features the Sea Star Apartments in Dahab – a great alternative to the big chain hotels. There are six apartments spread over three houses, each with a communal roof terrace (note: with low walls), and in the quieter end of town, close to plenty of restaurants for evenings when you don't want to self-cater.

Run by Sian and Tim, who are more than happy to help book airport transfers, activities or diving lessons for older children. Enjoy Eel Garden beach 100m away, or hire snorkel gear, kayaks or arrange horse-riding.
• From €55 per ground-floor apartment per night, or €60 first floor

Beach hut in Goa

Yab Yum is another i-escape.com recommendation, a collection of little Tellytubbies-style, grass-roofed dome huts on the edge of Ashwem fishing village in northern Goa. A path leads from the beach into the garden where the domes are dotted among the palm trees. There's a kids' tipi filled with toys, and a paddling pool; for grown-ups there are on site massages and yoga classes (baby-sitting can be arranged while you are being pampered). Breakfast of yogurt, fresh fruit, stone-oven baked bread and eggs is included in the room rate and is brought to your room, and there are countless beach restaurants to choose from.
• Family domes with a double bed and two singles from £75 per night

Skiing discounts

February half-term is usually one of the most expensive weeks in the calendar for skiing holidays, but this season prices should be slightly cheaper – and resorts slightly quieter – because the British school holidays fall earlier than the rest of Europe. Members of the Ski Club of Great Britain (skiclub.co.uk) have access to discounts with 45 tour operators, including a guaranteed 10% discount.

Call Neilson (0845 070 3460, neilson.co.uk) and say you're a ski club member. It has seven-nights' self-catering at La Muzelle Apartments in Les Deux Alpes, France departing 11 February from £619 per adult and £569 per child (saving £240 for a family of four). Price includes return flights from Birmingham, transfers and accommodation. Ski Club members can also get discounts on equipment hire and tuition.
• Family membership costs £90 for two adults and unlimited children under the age of 24 (as long as everyone lives under the same roof). To join call 020-8410 2000 or go to skiclub.co.uk

City, surf and trekking in Morocco

Morocco: once the go-to country for boho escapism, now a firm family favourite. This trip takes in two days' guided trekking with mules in the Atlas Mountains, including a night spent at a village gite (tired children can ride a mule), two days in Marrakech getting your fill of snake-charmers, food stalls and all the bustle of the souks, while staying at a lovely riad such as Dar Vedra, then three days in a family-run small surf camp in Imessouane, who provide dedicated lessons for children over five. The price – £415pp excluding flights – is based on a family of four staying full-board except for two nights' B&B in Marrakech, and includes two surf lessons (for over-fives) a day.
• Book through Tourdust (020-3291 2907, tourdust.com)

• Prices and availability correct at the time of going to press