Santorini and Cyprus are among the 15 best destinations for sunny and warm holidays in October, according to telegraph.co.uk.
The British newspaper notes that “finding the right destination at the right time is not always straight forward. Tropical weather can be fickle, and there is more to finding the best climate than simply heading south.”
Its guide to the best destinations for October sun, with various options depending on how hot you like it (from 19 to 35 degrees Celsius) include:
19C-24C
Costa Brava
Average daily high: 19C
Anyone who believes the sum total of Catalonia’s appeal is in the bars and eateries of Barcelona reckons without the Costa Brava, 100 miles of coastline from the pretty port of Blanes up to the French border. Here, on Spain’s north-eastern shoulder, are some of the country’s most unspoilt beaches, as well as popular resorts such as Cadaques, L’Escala and Lloret de Mar.
Amalfi Coast
Average daily high: 21C
You can forgive any area its Narcissus tendencies when it looks as beautiful as the Amalfi Coast. Italy’s most fabled stretch of seafront is forever in love with its own reflection in the Gulf of Salerno. But then, it has much to admire: towns such as Positano, Ravello, Scala and Amalfi itself; and Capri, that gorgeous island, twinkling at the end of the Sorrentine peninsula. It’s all glamorous, beguiling, seductive.
Essaouira
Average daily high: 22C
This outpost on Morocco’s west coast flirts with the 20C mark during the European winter, rarely soaring above or dipping far below. A relative newcomer to the British market – the first direct flights launched in early 2015 – it is a pretty prospect whose crumbling 18th-century medina makes for evocative photos. But its keynote appeal is its long curving beach, superb for kite and windsurfing.
Santorini
Average daily high: 22C
The beauty of this sliver of the Cyclades archipelago is a literal case of rising from the ashes. Once upon a time, Santorini was the ancient civilisation of Thira, until a colossal volcanic eruption (probably in the 16th century BC) semi-obliterated the island. What remains is a wonder: steep cliffs plunging to the Aegean; the elegant towns of Oia and Fira perching on the lip; balconies, verandas and restaurants gazing west into the sunset.
French Polynesia
Average daily high: 24C
This cluster of 118 islands scattered across the South Pacific lies a considerable distance from European shores. But those that make the journey are rewarded with incredible beaches, palm trees and lovely hotels. Tahiti and Bora Bora are perhaps the most famous outcrops, but every one of these isles tells its own tale.
25C-29C
Cyprus
Average daily high: 25C
The third largest island in the Mediterranean is short on neither beaches nor history. It has been inhabited for over 12,000 years. This explains the wealth of ancient sites that shimmer in its hot weather – not least Nea Paphos and Kourion. These supply substance to the sunshine. For many holidaymakers, Cyprus is all about the seafront. It caters to this idea ably in the likes of Limassol, Paphos and the busy bars and nightclubs of Ayia Napa.
Lanzarote
Average daily high: 25C
The Canary Islands are Europe’s most reliable options for winter sun, rarely dipping far below 20C. The fourth biggest and easternmost member of the group, Lanzarote, offers relaxed holidays in the three resort areas dotted on its south coast, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen. But it also offers bars, restaurants and a local vibe in the capital Arrecife, as well as visual drama in the volcanic landscape of Timanfaya National Park.
Queensland
Average daily high: 26C
Australia’s second largest state – so big that it shapes the entire north-east corner of this vast country – is a place that revels in fine weather. You only need to look at some of the names on the map, where the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast flank the capital Brisbane, to realise this. But there are plentiful natural wonders beyond the beach, not least the Daintree Rainforest as well as the incomparable Great Barrier Reef.
Mauritius
Average daily high: 27C
One of the planet’s greatest examples of volcanic hotspot converted to island paradise, Mauritius is a popular option with British holidaymakers. That its main rainy season runs stubbornly and concurrently alongside the European winter, generally from December to March, does little to damage affection for the destination. Partly this is because, with temperatures around the 30C mark during this window, Mauritius is as hot as it is humid.
Las Vegas
Average daily high: 28C
There are few more reliable destinations for an escape into the heat than Nevada’s most famous city. True, Las Vegas can dip as low as 15C in December, but the vibe in a metropolis of charismatic casinos, huge hotels and brilliant bars is rarely less than hot. You can, of course, bet it all on black (or red) in this den of hedonism, but galleries, museums and restaurants also abound in a place of often unappreciated depth.
30C+
Hawaii
Average daily high: 29C
The United States’ celebrated mid-Pacific archipelago comprises eight main islands. Hawaii (“the Big Island”) has the volcanic titans Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Oahu has the state capital Honolulu. Kauai has the sheer cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. Maui has west-coast beaches (great for surfing) at Lahaina and Kaanapali. All enjoy temperatures in the lower 30s, whatever the month.
Bali
Average daily high: 31C
Indonesia may be a country of vast, unfathomable size, but there is little confusion as to what its most famous island offers. Bali is a pure holiday destination, swaddled in sunshine and as popular with Europeans as Australians (though considerably nearer for the latter). Beach resorts abound in Kuta and Seminyak, while those seeking a retreat from it all can slumber in the five-star enclaves in the interior at Ubud.
Zanzibar
Average daily high: 31C
Contrary to opinion, the famed portion of Tanzania that sits in the Indian Ocean is not a single island but a cluster, with Pemba joining Unguja – the main outcrop, usually known as “Zanzibar” – as a chunk of low-slung land lapped by turquoise waters. Here is a place of discoveries, if you want them, not least the Omani heritage of the capital Stone Town. But if you want a beach, the islands’ hot sands, 30C temperature and chic resorts will always delight.
Northern Territory
Average daily high: 33C
A vast expanse of land that dominates some of the upper and central portions of Australia, the Northern Territory is a true place for wanderers. Both the Outback wonder of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the crossroads town of Alice Springs lie in the NT, while The Ghan rail link runs through its heart. But this place of dust and drama can also deliver cityscape cool. Its north-coast capital Darwin is an up-and-coming destination.
Abu Dhabi
Average daily high: 35C
The biggest of the United Arab Emirates does not, perhaps, have quite the glamour factor of its immediate neighbour Dubai. But it nevertheless makes for a fine refuge from the British winter, with temperatures cresting the 30C mark. Add in Abu Dhabi’s attractions, not least the beaches, stylish hotels and high-end restaurants of Yas Island, and you have a destination that really knows how to please guests.
Read more here.
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