Term time v school breaks: Is the difference in holiday prices really that big?

Sunset in Tenerife Credit: PA

A father has won a High Court battle to overturn a council-imposed fine for taking his children out of school for a family holiday.

Campaigners have hailed it as a "victory for common sense" and say it could pave the way for parents to save hundreds of pounds a year - but is the difference in price between term time and school holidays really that significant?

In short - yes. For some destinations, the difference can be several hundred pounds per person.

ITV News examined three of the biggest travel companies - Thomas Cook, Thomson and Virgin Holidays - to compare the costs.

Via their websites, we asked each for quotes on a seven-night sunshine holiday for two adults and two children, aged 10 and eight; one at the end of May, one in July - the middle of the summer break - and one around October or November.

Here's what we found:

Thomas Cook

The costs of travelling to the Canary Islands with Thomas Cook in (L-R) May, July and November Credit: Thomas Cook

The Canary Islands in Spain, staying at the Mirador del Atlantico:

  • May 27 - £1,394 (£348pp)

  • July 22 - £2,430 (607pp)

  • Nov 25 - £1,096 (£274pp)

Rhodes in Greece, staying at the Mitsis Rodos Maris:

  • May 27 -£1,880 (£470pp)

  • Jul 22 - £2,226 (£556pp)

  • Oct 21 - £1,322 (£330pp)

Thomson

The costs of travelling to Tenerife with Thomson in (L-R) May, July and November Credit: Thomson

Los Cristianos in Tenerife, staying at the Labranda Oasis Mango:

  • May 26 - £531 (£133pp)

  • Jul 22 - £1,629 (£407pp)

  • Nov 28 - £757 (£189pp)

Paphos in Cyprus, staying at the Kephalos Beach Village:

  • May 25 - £1,342 (£336pp)

  • Jul 23 - £4,466 (£1116pp)

  • Nov 23 - £916 (£229pp)

Virgin Holidays

The costs of travelling to Disney World, Florida, with Virgin Holidays in (Clockwise L-R) May, July and November Credit: Virgin Holidays

Disney World, Florida, staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge:

  • May 28 -£5,833.85 (£1,458pp)

  • Jul 22 - £6,870.37 (£1,718pp)

  • Nov 26 - £3,116.80 (£779pp)

New York, New York, staying at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel:

  • May 27 - £3,378.73 (£845pp)

  • July 22 - £4,694 (£1,174pp)

  • Nov 25 - £4,160 (£1,040pp)

* All prices correct at time of publication