As we move into fall (and shoulder season) it’s time to take advantage of the cheaper flights and hotels both near and far. In October, you’ll find often unbeatable deals on flights and hotels, so here’s where to travel this fall:
Key West
For those who love Halloween, you can’t do much better than Key West. The Conch Republic is a ten-day extravaganza known as Fantasy Fest, which has been seen every year since 1979. This one is for the adults, so expect satirical and sometimes sexy costumes, with organisers picking a theme for inspiration. This year it’s Ballot Box Barbarians combined with Political voodoo.
Visitors can do the superhero 5km run, check out the pet costume parade, and then enjoy a parade for humans on the last Saturday before Halloween which draws crowds of more than 70,000.
Tuscany
It may not be beach weather any longer, but that doesn’t stop Tuscany from being a great destination for fall, with harvest season producing olives for oil, chestnuts for roasting and grapes for wine. There are many different programs which allow you to stay at farmhouses and learn how the farms work, or you can stay at a resort and enjoy some of the local harvest events.
New Orleans
This is considered to be the most haunted city in America, and damp New Orleans is also at its driest during October, making it the perfect spot for Halloween. Expect to enjoy a theatrical Halloween here, with a costumed parade by the Krewe of Boo, or have a more laid-back holiday with the New Orleans Film Festival which has been going strong for 27 years.
San Francisco
Go to San Francisco in summer and you’re likely to be a little disappointed with the weather. September and October are usually the exceptions to this rule though, and the weather will often remain warm and dry. There are a few new hotels to choose from in the city, including Buchanan which is located in the Western Addition, and surrounded by the Victorians that the city is so well known for. Visit in time for the San Francisco Jazz Fest which is a more vibrant and less snooty alternative to the Monterey Jazz Fest.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a great place to go if you’re hoping to hold on to summer for a little longer. Daily temperatures are often in the 80s in the fall, making it a beach-friendly spot in the Mediterranean in October. Visit Paphos which is in the west and makes a great base, and was recently received a title as a European Capital of Culture by the European Union. This town is a historic settlement that dates all the way back into ancient history, and the Thalassa Hotel is a tribute to the past of the region, which is known as the birthplace of Aphrodite.
Head out to the countryside and you’ll find teeny villages surrounded by almond groves and pine forests.
