May half-term holiday: One holiday, three ways

Choose between one active (Malta), one beach (Algarve) and one UK (Scarborough)

Active: £949, Intrepid Travel

We targeted three companies to ask for their best offer on a family half- term holiday, departing in late May. Prices are per person, based on two adults and two children travelling together.

Intrepid Travel: Active, £949

Includes flights from Heathrow to Malta with Air Malta on 23 May, a week's B&B at Hotel Plevna in Sliema and Hotel San Andrea in Xlendi, plus cycling on Gozo island, snorkelling off Comino and experiencing a shepherd's life (0808 274 5111; intrepidtravel.com).

Thomas Cook: Beach, £293

Includes easyJet flights from Belfast to Faro in the Algarve on 23 May, plus seven nights at the three-star Clube Alvorferias, in Alvor, a self-catering one bedroom apartment 15 minutes' walk from a sandy beach (0844 412 5970; thomascook.com).

Superbreak: UK, £93

Includes four nights' B&B at the three-star Royal Hotel & Spa in Scarborough, arriving 26 May. As well as beaches, local attractions include Scarborough Castle, Flamingo Land theme park, and North Bay Railway (01904 717 362; superbreak.com).