Awesome autumn bargains: As nights draw in and winter looms, there’s no better time for a sunny break. We’ve done the hard work and found some sensational deals to lift the spirit
- Here, we pick the best bargains leading up to Christmas, from far-flung beach breaks to cultural short hops
- Jet off to the Caribbean with BA Holidays – it’s offering an all-inclusive stay in The Bahamas from £1,639 pp
- Thomas Cook is offering seven nights’ B&B from £199pp at Cook’s Club, a beachfront resort in Turkey
Summer is over and a long (and expensive) winter is on its way. But all is not lost if you sneak in a quick autumn escape — and there are plenty of tempting offers available, from far-flung beach breaks to cultural short hops.
So here’s our round-up of the best holiday bargains leading up to Christmas…
SHORT-HAUL SUNSHINE
RELAX ON RHODES: SAVE £715
Respite: Summer is over and a long (and expensive) winter is on its way, but all is not lost if you sneak in a quick autumn escape. Tui is offering seven nights all-inclusive in a resort in Rhodes from £687 per person. Above is the island’s pretty town of Lindos
From 14th-century palaces to ancient ruins and Ottoman-era mosques, there’s so much to see in Rhodes. And the Greek island is not short of great beaches, either.
HOW TO DO IT: Tui (tui.co.uk) is offering seven nights all-inclusive at Atlantica Holiday Village Rhodes from £687 pp, including flights, departing on October 12.
CHARMING CANARIES: SAVE £400
A trip to the resort town Playa Blanca, pictured, promises coastal charm. Tropical Sky is offering seven nights at the nearby Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa from £659 per person
October temperatures in Lanzarote hover around the mid-20s, and a trip to the resort town Playa Blanca promises coastal charm and views of the spectacular volcanoes of Timanfaya National Park.
HOW TO DO IT: Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.co.uk) is offering seven nights half-board in October at Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa from £659 pp, including flights.
CUT-PRICE CYPRUS: SAVE 20%
Explore Larnaca’s beaches, bars and medieval churches this autumn with a stay at Cavo Maris Beach Hotel with BA Holidays. Pictured is the city’s Church of Saint Lazarus
Sunny Cyprus is a reliable holiday spot well into October and November. Larnaca, on the south coast, with its beaches, bars, scuba diving and medieval churches, is a brilliant base.
HOW TO DO IT: BA Holidays (ba.com) offers seven nights’ B&B at Cavo Maris Beach Hotel in October from £649 pp, including flights.
HOP TO MAJORCA: SAVE 23%
AluaSoul Carolina is an adults-only resort a short walk from Font de Sa Cala’s Blue Flag beach (pictured) on Majorca. Love Holidays offers four nights’ B&B from £339 per person
On the shores of the Mediterranean, AluaSoul Carolina is an adults-only resort a short walk from Font de Sa Cala’s Blue Flag beach. It’s also only two miles from the remains of the walled fortress Castell de Capdepera.
HOW TO DO IT: Love Holidays (loveholidays.com) offers four nights’ B&B from £339 pp, including flights. Book online for a break from October 21 and use the code HALFTERM to claim the discount.
BLISSFUL BEACHES
MAURITIAN DREAM: SAVE 40%
Get to know Port Louis, pictured, the intriguing capital of Mauritius on a Caribtours’ seven-night break to Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas. It’s priced from £1,349 per person
Mauritius is home to the classic Indian Ocean charms of white-sand beaches and dazzlingly clear waters — but the island has an interesting interior, too, including rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails, diverse wildlife and an intriguing capital in Port Louis.
HOW TO DO IT: Caribtours (caribtours.co.uk) has seven nights’ B&B at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas from £1,349 pp, including flights. Book between November 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
DUBAI DASH: SAVE 38%
Emirates Holidays offers three nights at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina from £1,579 per person (stock image)
There’s no danger of a dip in temperatures during an autumn break in Dubai. The city is constantly moving and changing thanks to endless new attractions opening, from theme parks to restaurants, hotels to man-made beaches and towering skyscrapers.
HOW TO DO IT: Emirates Holidays (emiratesholidays.com) offers three nights half-board at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina from £1,579 pp, including flights. Book by October 5 for dates in November.
MALAYSIAN TRAIL: SAVE £900
The Malaysian archipelago of Langkawi is locally known for its pretty beaches and jungle wildlife. Explore it for yourself with Trailfinders – it’s offering 12 nights’ B&B at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa from £1,929 per person
Langkawi might not be familiar to many, but this archipelago off Malaysia’s north-west coast is locally known for its pretty beaches, jungle wildlife, mangrove forests, waterfalls and caves with spectacular limestone formations.
HOW TO DO IT: Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) is offering 12 nights’ B&B at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa in November from £1,929 pp, including flights.
COOL CANCUN: SAVE £388
Palm-lined paradise: The Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun resort in Mexico is halfway between Playa del Carmen (pictured) and Cancun. First Choice is offering seven nights on November 16 from £1,768 per person, including flights
The Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun resort is half way between the palm-lined beaches and coral reefs of Playa del Carmen and the buzzing nightlife of Cancun on the Mexican Caribbean Coast. The resort offers plenty of activities, from dance classes to cocktail-making days.
HOW TO DO IT: First Choice (firstchoice.co.uk) offers seven nights all-inclusive from £1,768 pp, including flights, on November 16.
CARIBBEAN CALLING
BASK IN BAHAMAS: SAVE 40%
BA Holidays is offering seven nights all-inclusive at Breezes Bahamas from £1,639 per person, including flights. Above is nearby Goodman’s Bay beach
Not much can trump the feeling of jetting off to the Caribbean as the rest of the UK languishes in short, grey days. And the beachfront Breezes resort is a great spot from which to explore the Bahamas.
HOW TO DO IT: BA Holidays (ba.com) is offering seven nights all-inclusive at Breezes Bahamas from £1,639 pp, including flights. Book by October 5 for selected dates in November.
BARBADOS BUZZ: SAVE 40%
The heady mix of rum bars, great music, firm culinary traditions and a fascinating history makes Barbados the perfect Caribbean introduction.
HOW TO DO IT: DialAFlight (dialaflight.com) is offering seven nights all-inclusive from October 25 at the Colony Club from £1,399 pp, including flights.
ST LUCIA SUN: SAVE £850
Tropical Sky offers seven nights all-inclusive at St Lucia’s Landings Resort & Spa from £1,729 per person. Visit picturesque Rodney Bay, above, while you’re there
A woman sells fresh mangoes in a St Lucia market
The beachfront Landings Resort & Spa is on St Lucia’s north-west coast and offers spacious apartment-style accommodation. Rodney Bay, Fort Rodney and Pigeon Island National Park are all nearby.
HOW TO DO IT: Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.co.uk) offers seven nights all-inclusive at The Landings from £1,729 pp, including flights. Book by October 30 for dates until January 2.
LUXURY JAMAICA: SAVE 40%
Sandals is the classic Caribbean all-inclusive retreat — and for good reason. Unlimited water sports, nightly entertainment and scuba diving are among the many extras included in its packages. The Sandals Ochi resort is in the Jamaican northern port town of Ochos Rios, close to lush tropical gardens and waterfalls.
HOW TO DO IT: For October breaks, Caribbean Warehouse (caribbeanwarehouse.co.uk) is offering seven nights all-inclusive from £2,199 pp, including flights.
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY
DIVE IN TO EGYPT: SAVE £241
Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt, is a resort town overlooking the beautiful Ras Muhammad National Park — a favourite with divers. The deserts of the Sinai Peninsula are nearby and the town centre has a promenade lined with palm trees.
HOW TO DO IT: EasyJet Holidays (easyjet.com) is offering seven nights all-inclusive at Aurora Oriental Resort on October 15 from £715 pp, including flights.
PLAY IN PORTUGAL: SAVE £307
Spend the October half-term break in Porto Santo, above, part of the Madeira archipelago. Tui has seven nights all inclusive at Hotel Pestana Porto Santo from £624 per person, including flights
This half-term break to Portugal’s Porto Santo island includes one free place for a child (based on two adults and one child travelling). This island is part of the Madeira archipelago and is famed for being the home of Christopher Columbus.
HOW TO DO IT: Tui (tui.co.uk) has seven nights all-inclusive at Hotel Pestana Porto Santo from £624 pp, including flights on October 17.
GO FOR GREECE: SAVE £672
First Choice has seven nights all-inclusive at the Atlantica Holiday Village on Rhodes from £801 per person. Pictured is nearby Kolymbia Beach
There are plenty of activities on offer at the Atlantica Holiday Village Rhodes, including a water park, a lazy river and children’s clubs offering everything from football to swimming and drama.
HOW TO DO IT: First Choice (firstchoice.co.uk) has seven nights all-inclusive at the Atlantica Holiday Village from £801 pp, including flights on October 15 and a free child’s place.
DELICIOUS MAURITIUS: SAVE £372
Club Med is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to family holidays. There are endless included activities for children, plus adults-only areas for some much-needed relaxation. And settings don’t get much better than the Mauritian coast.
HOW TO DO IT: Club Med (clubmed.co.uk) has seven nights all-inclusive at La Pointe aux Canonniers from £1,067 pp on October 15.
PACKAGE TOURS
WILD IN AFRICA: SAVE £445
G Adventures is offering an eight-night trip exploring Namibia, Zambia and Botswana (the country’s Chobe National Park is pictured) on October 15 from £1,334 per person
This eight-night trip takes in some of the highlights of Namibia, Zambia and Botswana, including the Chobe National Park, the Kalahari Desert, exploring the Okavango Delta by canoe and finishing in Victoria Falls.
HOW TO DO IT: G Adventures (gadventures.com) has eight days from £1,334 pp on October 15.
FOODIE ADVENTURE: SAVE £400
Responsible Travel’s 12-day tour of Sri Lanka, which starts from £1,226 per person, begins in Negombo (pictured)
This 12-day small group tour takes in Sri Lanka’s spice and fish markets, plantations and open kitchens. The trip starts in Negombo and finishes in the capital, Colombo, taking in fishing villages, abandoned forts, ancient temples and heady street markets.
HOW TO DO IT: Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.com) runs the 12-day trip from £1,226 pp on selected dates in October, November and December.
A WEEK FOR UNDER £300pp
TURKISH FEAST
The beachfront Turkish resort of Cook’s Club is a short walk from Alanya’s famous Red Tower (pictured). Stay for seven nights from £199 per person with Thomas Cook
Cook’s Club is a beachfront resort in Turkey, a short walk from Alanya and its famed Bar Street, medieval castle and Red Tower. The hotel itself has a traditional hammam, evening entertainment, plenty of watersports and a choice of restaurants.
HOW TO DO IT: Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) has seven nights’ B&B from £199 pp, including flights, in October.
ALGARVE GOLF GETAWAY
Jet2Holidays is offering a stay at Parque Mourabel Oasis Village from £214 per person in Portugal’s Algarve region (pictured)
The beaches of Portugal’s Algarve might become rough and wild during the autumn months, but this wonderful stretch of coast is lined with plenty of charming restaurants and bars to relax in, as well as some busy little towns. The area is popular with fans of golf, too.
HOW TO DO IT: Jet2Holidays (jet2.com) has seven nights self-catered at the Parque Mourabel Oasis Village from £214 pp, including flights on November 3.
PRETTY MALTA
Malta’s Paradise Bay Resort is near the eye-catching seaside village of Mellieha (above). BA Holidays is offering seven nights at the hotel from £218 per person
Paradise Bay Resort is on the Maltese north coast, not far from the pretty seaside village of Mellieha. The hotel has plenty of facilities, including two pools, a tennis court, a sauna and a gym.
HOW TO DO IT: BA Holidays (ba.com) is offering seven nights, room-only, at Paradise Bay Resort from £218 pp, including flights, on November 28.
TENERIFE TREAT
From charming towns to warm beaches and a spectacular national park, Tenerife is an appealing option at any time of year. The Allegro Isora resort is on the island’s east coast and has plenty of facilities, including three swimming pools, three bars and a wellness centre.
HOW TO DO IT: Love Holidays (loveholidays.com) has seven nights all-inclusive at the Allegro Isora from £254 pp, including flights on October 20.
WHERE THE POUND IS STILL SOUND
The above graph compares how much (or less) your pound buys in popular holiday destinations around the world
TRUST IN TURKEY
Sterling is stronger than a year ago against the Turkish lira.
EXCHANGE RATE: 56 per cent up year-on-year.
OUR RATING (out of five): £££££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: Seven nights at the Royal Dragon Hotel, Side, from £456 pp all-inclusive with Manchester flights (tui.co.uk).
HUNGARY FOR LESS
The pound has held against the forint and is even up a bit, so try Budapest.
EXCHANGE RATE: 9 per cent up year-on-year.
OUR RATING: ££££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: Return Stansted flights from £42 (ryanair.com); stay at the Mamaison Hotel Andrassy from £83 B&B (mamaisonandrassy.com).
STEADY IN LAPLAND
Sterling is stronger against the Swedish krona year on year. So, try Lapland in the run-up to Christmas for a spot of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
EXCHANGE RATE: 3 per cent up year on year.
OUR RATING: £££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: Three nights at Akerlund Hotel from £742 pp B&B with Heathrow flights (sunvil.co.uk).
RAND IS STILL GRAND
Ok, the pound is down a little against the South African rand, but it still buys a lot.
EXCHANGE RATE: 31 per cent up in the past decade.
OUR RATING: £££££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: Seven nights at La Splendida hotel, Cape Town, from £1,333 pp B&B (virginholidays.co.uk).
BET ON THAILAND
Sterling is down on the Thai baht this year. Yet it is up a lot on its 2019 level.
EXCHANGE RATE: 10 per cent up on 2019.
OUR RATING: ££££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: 13 nights at the Karon Hillside hotel, Phuket, from £1,264 pp with Heathrow flights (travelrepublic.co.uk).
LOVE THE LEV
Bulgaria is the place to ski, despite the pound’s 3.7 per cent fall against the lev.
EXCHANGE RATE: Has held for five years.
OUR RATING: £££££
WHAT YOU CAN GET: Seven nights at St George’s Lodge Aparthotel in Bansko, from £488 pp self-catering with Gatwick flights (inghams.co.uk).
- Sources: postoffice.co.uk; XE.com
By Tom Chesshyre
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