October creates an interesting question for families planning the school holidays:

Instead of simply choosing a hotel and staying there for a week, why not make the journey part of the holiday? Pick up a rental car and give the family the freedom to explore.

Here are five October road-trip ideas.

The Canary Islands: Chase the Sun

If sunshine is the priority, the Canary Islands are difficult to ignore.

Tenerife and Gran Canaria in particular offer much more than beaches and resorts.

In Tenerife, drive through completely changing landscapes towards Mount Teide, discover traditional villages and stop at viewpoints along the way. Gran Canaria offers similarly dramatic contrasts between its coastline and mountainous interior.

Distances are manageable too, making them particularly suitable for families.

Athens & the Greek Coast: History Meets the Beach

October gives families an opportunity to experience Greece without the intense heat of midsummer.

Start in Athens and introduce the children to one of the world's great historical cities before collecting a car and heading out.

The Athens Riviera stretches south from the capital, while a longer road trip could take you towards Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon.

You can combine ancient Greece, seaside restaurants and some wonderful coastal driving in the same holiday.

Barcelona & Catalonia: City Break Meets Road Trip

Barcelona has enough attractions to fill an entire half-term by itself, but having a car opens up another possibility.

Turn your city break into a Catalonian adventure.

Spend a few days discovering Barcelona before heading out towards the coast, mountains and historic towns.

This type of holiday works particularly well for families who can't agree on what they want. Mum and Dad can have culture and restaurants, the children get attractions and beaches, and everyone gets an adventure.

Southern Spain: One Last European Road Trip

Andalusia is another excellent choice for families wanting warmer weather without spending the entire holiday at a resort.

Fly into Málaga, pick up a car and suddenly you have an extraordinary collection of destinations available.

Málaga, Marbella, Ronda, Granada and numerous traditional white villages can all become part of the itinerary.

Instead of asking "What are we doing today?", simply choose another destination on the map.

Family holidays don't have to revolve around getting from the airport to a hotel and staying there until it's time to fly home.

October half-term is an opportunity to do something different.

Choose a destination. Pick up the keys. Load the luggage. And explore.

Because sometimes the places your children remember most aren't the destinations you planned to visit.

They're the ones you discovered along the way.