Even when the weather is behaving itself in Britain, it can be very tempting to steal away to a place with guaranteed warmth. There are still some deals for the school holidays, and there’s also time for a getaway before the high season really kicks in. If you’re planning ahead for an October holiday in the sun, have a look at some of these ideas.
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France
If you want to stop the world for a while, try the slow pace of life aboard a small cruiser as it chugs through the waterways of southern France. Waterways Holidays has a week’s rental of a Sedan 1010 along a wildlife-rich route that starts in the Camargue and carries on westward towards Narbonne, via Sète and the Etang de Thau. Seven nights in the boat, which sleeps eight, costs £2,124 and includes fuel, two bikes, cleaning and maps, for a 16 July departure.
Austria and Hungary
Enjoy summer on the Danube from the vantage point of two wheels on a lazy cycle from Vienna to Budapest. As you follow the mostly flat and traffic-free path, you’ll pass stately castles, orchards, vineyards and imposing fortresses. Inghams has a seven-night, self-guided Treasures of the Danube holiday from £859pp for departures throughout July. The price includes flights, B&B accommodation, bike rental, saddlebags, airport and luggage transfers, maps and route notes. You can rent an electric bike for an extra £65pp.
Canada
For an unforgettable family adventure, head to Quebec where you can combine city sophistication in Montreal and Quebec City with active fun in the mountains and lakes. Canadian Sky has a 12-night tour taking in Montreal, activities in Mont Tremblant, Quebec City and the chance to go whale-watching in the St Lawrence estuary at Tadoussac. The starting price of £1,639pp includes flights, accommodation and SUV rental.
Italy
Right down in Italy’s toe is Calabria. It’s less well known than other regions but it still manages to have some of the country’s loveliest beaches. Just 15km north of Calabria’s most attractive town, Tropea, is the four-star Hotel San Giuseppe, which has its own private beach as well as an outdoor pool overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Long Travel has seven nights’ half board throughout July from £1,050pp, including flights and car hire.
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Crete
While the summertime crowds will have disappeared from Crete in October, the warmth of the sun and sea will be sticking around for a while yet. Enjoy Greece’s largest island from the small hamlet of Kato Zakros, a short drive from the Zakros Gorge and ancient Minoan palace. Cachet Travel has a week’s apartment rental at stylishly rustic Terra Minoika overlooking the beach from £939pp, departing 11 October. The price includes flights, car hire and breakfast.
Oman
If you can’t choose between Oman’s dramatic mountain-fringed coastline and its endless empty desert, mix the two on a seven-night holiday offered by Inspiring Travel Company. Spend the first six nights at Shangri-La’s Al Bandar Hotel, which sits in its own private sandy cove about 30 minutes’ drive from the capital, Muscat. Then head to the desert for a night in a luxurious version of a Bedouin-style tent on the Wahiba Sands. The starting price of £1,799pp for a 10 October departure includes flights, all transfers, breakfast at the hotel and half board in the camp.
Seville
With temperatures still hovering around the mid-20s, October is an excellent time to visit Seville. If you’re there on the 5th, you can catch the start of the autumn cultural season with Noche en Blanco, when museums, theatres and other cultural centres are open until the wee hours. Get a fabulous view of Seville’s historic centre from the rooftop terrace of Hotel Inglaterra, where Classic Collection has a three-night break from £499pp departing 7 October. The price includes flights, transfers and breakfast.
Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk
