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Enter shoulder season with a holiday in October and say hello to some real budget-friendly trips. If you thought September was good, in October the prices get even better. At this time in the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves are turning red and orange, while the south is settling into spring.
Turkey is still looking toasty, and Greece keeps the mid-20s average temperatures coming. If you’re looking to get away with the family, there’s another half term this month to plan for. But if it’s just you and some mates, you’ll be better off avoiding this week to bag a cheaper deal.
Best destinations for October holidays
These are the spots you should pick to make the most of this month.
Morocco’s a bit of Europe and Africa in one. The huge, golden-sand stretch in Agadir wouldn’t look out of place on a beach break to Spain. But that’s mixed in with the bustling souks and palaces of Marrakech, and the fish markets in the chilled-out village of Taghazout.
This group of Spanish isles is way closer to Africa than Spain. This works to their advantage – guaranteeing plenty of sun for their batch of beaches.
Holidays to Turkey go heavy on the sandy stuff, with a sprinkling of spice markets, temples and age-old cities thrown in for good measure.
Balearic Islands holidays cover four corners, with buckets of beaches, nightlife big-shots, traditional towns and Instagram-worthy natural assets.
Holidays to Cyprus tick all the right boxes, from beautiful beaches and ancient history to a serious party scene.
Busking mariachi bands, jungle-clad ruins, chilli-fuelled enchiladas – Mexico's got a standout personality no matter which way you look at it.
Cheap Holidays this October
Why book October holidays
SHOULDER SEASON CENTRAL
FALL FOR AUTUMN
HAPPY HALF TERM
Top City Breaks nexts October
This season’s hottest city breaks, right here…
Munich’s full-blown Bavarian – and proud. The whole place is drenched in tradition, from its architecture to its grub.
Catalonia’s capital is a smorgasbord of bustling street markets, Gothic architecture, blonde sandy beaches, tapas bars, and widescreen, tree-lined boulevards.
If you put 2,000 years of history, a string of beaches and a buzzing town square into a blender, you’d be served up a city break holiday to Lisbon.
Berlin’s up to its elbows in historic sites – most are reminders of its rocky 20th century. People flock from far and wide to peek at the remaining sections of the capital’s iconic Berlin Wall.
As far as city breaks to Portugal go, Porto is one of the big boys. It’s the right-hand-man to the capital, Lisbon, and rules the roost in the north of the country. And while Lisbon lives life in the fast lane, Porto pootles along at a more leisurely pace.
If Athens aligned to a star sign we reckon it’d definitely lean towards Libra. Greece’s capital is super well-balanced – it’s one of the only places where you can follow up a high-end shopping spree with a wander around ancient ruins.
FAQs
For Europe, think south for the last of summer. So, Morocco, the Canary Islands, the Balearics, Cyprus, Greece or Turkey. If you fancy something long haul, it’s a prime time to pick Mauritius – it’s in between its winter and rainy seasons, so say hello to the perfect warm and dry climate. Jamaica is also hotting up right about now and Cancun in Mexico is emerging from its wettest month in September.
It’s spooky season at the end of this month, so keep an eye out for any Halloween celebrations. The USA take this holiday seriously and Spain has a three-day celebration starting on the 31st with Dia de las Brujas or ‘Day of the Witches’. Italy, Poland and Romania all have their own take, too. And don’t forget about Oktoberfest in Germany…
To make the most of the cheaper prices this month, if you’re not travelling with kids, try to avoid the half-term week. The rise of people going on holiday in that short period will hike the costs a bit, even if it’s not quite as much as summer.
Morocco is always a pretty affordable destination and it’ll be past the real summer peak by this time, so the sun won’t be as strong. Even Croatia is a good pick. While the weather might not call for beach days here at this time, the cities are much less crowded to explore. The same goes for European beach cities in general. Places like Barcelona, Lisbon and Athens should see a drop in prices, as it’s not necessarily prime beach weather, but that makes exploring nicer with fewer crowds.
