Whether you’re considering a luxurious long-haul trip or a bit of sun closer to home, October can be the ideal month for a beach break. In Europe, there are off-peak prices, sun without the scorch and fewer crowds to contend with — making it easier to enjoy cultural festivals or wildlife encounters. Shoulder season should hopefully bring down the cost of flights and accommodation too.
If you’re heading further afield there are numerous places to recharge those solar batteries to survive the long, dark months of winter — particularly when the sparkle of Christmas seems a long way off. And it’s achievable for families too thanks to half-term. We’ve rounded up the top destinations for a relaxing beach holiday in October to extend the sunshine that little bit longer.
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1. Exmouth, Western Australia
Ningaloo is a paradise of Western Australia
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Twenty years ago, Exmouth was an outpost town sitting off the tourist radar at Australia’s northwestern tip. Then word spread of the whale sharks that visit Ningaloo Reef offshore, ushering in eco-minded investment. Direct flights from the UK will take you to Perth, with internal flights serving nearby Learmonth airport. Or you have the option of a road trip via the Coral Coast Highway. Once there, you can laze on long sweeps of white sand with temperatures in the high twenties, and kayak and snorkel around the reef to spot the incredible marine life. Best of all, tours will help you get up close to these gentle giants of the ocean.
Make it happen
Stay at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, a safari camp in dunes just metres from the water and enjoy plenty of glamping perks alongside ocean views.
• Best things to do in Australia
2. Ibiza, Spain
Cala Gracio beach at Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza
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This is the islanders’ favourite month: the full-on frenzy of summer partygoers fizzles out, yet the bars and restaurants of Ibiza remain open for the final nightclub closing parties until mid-October. Meanwhile, cultural offerings such as art exhibitions and traditional music performances provide a different form of evening entertainment. Beaches are quiet, accommodation is cheaper and the slightly cooler temperatures make hiking and cycling more manageable.
Make it happen
The five-star, all-inclusive TRS Ibiza Hotel is a good base — it’s just for adults and has direct access to Cala Gracio beach.
Read our full review of TRS Ibiza Hotel
3. Fethiye, Turkey
Seek out Butterfly Valley for its beach and boat trips
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Easily accessible thanks to direct flights from the UK to Dalaman airport an hour’s drive up the coast, Fethiye is one of the main hubs of the Turkish Riviera and a foolproof option for families. Use it as a base to explore the region’s pine-forest-clad mountains on bike rides, lounge on the broad sandy sweep of the stunning Oludeniz beach and blue lagoon, and discover Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi) aboard a traditional gulet boat trip. You can also hike parts of the Lycian Way, which is studded with ancient rock tombs.
Make it happen
Belcekiz Beach Club is a well-established, affordable family hotel directly behind Oludeniz beach.
• Best things to do in Fethiye
4. Malta
White Tower Bay on the northern tip of Malta
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Lying in the Mediterranean just south of Sicily, Malta offers time-warp architecture and a mix of sandy and pebble beaches. These range from the popular Mellieha Bay to the lesser-known natural swimming spot of St Peter’s Pool near Marsaxlokk, and Fomm ir-Rih Bay, reached only by hiking. October daytime temperatures are in the mid-twenties, so it’s the ideal time to explore archaeological sites, when the stones aren’t pumping out heat. And don’t forget Malta’s sister islands of Gozo and Comino.
Make it happen
The four-star Gomerino Hotel in Valletta has a rooftop pool deck with views of the Grand Harbour.
• Best beaches in Malta and Gozo
5. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar’s Prison Island is perfect for a beach holiday
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This tropical island off the coast of east African nation Tanzania serves up a spicy dose of sunshine. June to October is a dry season where temperatures reach the mid-thirties before the cooling short rains that start typically in November. Snorkelling and diving are popular here — and so too spotting migrating humpback whales on boat-based safaris. Blissful beaches on the north coast such as Nungwi and Kendwa cater well for water sports, while southeastern stretches such as Bwejuu are better suited to soaking up the Indian Ocean scene of white sands and swaying coconut trees.
Make it happen
The boutique, family-run Kijani Beach Villas is a good choice, with yoga and spectacular sunrises.
• Best safari camps and lodges in Tanzania
6. Albanian Riviera, Albania
Gjipe is one of many great beaches on the Albanian Riviera
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With temperatures hovering around 23C even in October and beautiful beaches, including white sand stretches, the Albanian Riviera is a stellar choice for those seeking an affordable dose of autumn sunshine. Spanning the southwestern coast, it sits facing the heel of Italy’s boot, just above Greece — and the region has been likened to that country 30 years ago thanks to laid-back beach bars and the less-crowded Ionian Sea. The most developed towns are Ksamil and Dhermi, but if you’re seeking undeveloped quiet opt for Buneci or Uji I Ftohte.
Make it happen
Wizz Air and Ryanair both fly to the capital Tirana, and the five-star La Brisa hotel right on the beach in Dhermi offers contemporary cool that’s also family-friendly.
7. Uppuveli, Sri Lanka
Uppuveli beach is reason alone to visit Sri Lanka
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October in Sri Lanka marks the transition period from the southwest (yala) to the northeast (maha) monsoon. But here’s an insider tip: if you visit the east coast in early to mid-October the rain may not have fully arrived yet; coming only in short bursts, usually in the evenings or overnight, leaving much of the day dry and warm, with the mercury hovering between 23C and 34C. The area around Trincomalee Bay, one of the world’s great natural harbours, is home to several quiet and beautiful beaches, including Uppuveli and Nilaveli. These slower-pace, lesser-visited wide stretches of sand with gentle waves are the ideal place to swap internet surfing for snorkelling and exploring old forts.
Make it happen
Uga Jungle Beach sits inside a ten-acre reserve near the coastal village of Kuchchaveli. Its 49 rustic cabins are cocooned between mangroves and beach, and it’s 15 minutes from Nilaveli.
8. Algarve, Portugal
Porto de Mos beach at Lagos in the Algarve
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This popular southern region has been a family holiday destination for decades thanks to its 3,000 annual hours of sunshine, affordable world-class hotels and more than 100 Atlantic-facing beaches. By October, the summer throngs in the Algarve have dissipated so you have more space to spread out. All the better for taking the family to explore the Benagil sea cave, or for a spot of whale or dolphin-watching.
Make it happen
Stay at the hip W Algarve, a five-star not far from Evaristo beach.
9. Jamaica
Seven Mile beach at Negril, Jamaica
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It doesn’t get more laid-back than Bob Marley’s birthplace. This Caribbean idyll, characterised by verdant mountains fringed by golden beaches, is where Ursula Andress emerged from the sea in the James Bond film Dr No. It’s also home to Seven Mile beach, one of the Caribbean’s best stretches of sand — although the locals prefer Winnifred beach in Portland or the unspoilt Treasure beach. Be assured that any off-season rain showers in Jamaica are short-lived, leaving plenty of opportunity for sunbathing. Bear in mind that October is still within hurricane season in the Caribbean so do take out travel insurance, but if you’re looking to keep costs down it’s also a more affordable time to visit.
Make it happen
Round Hill Hotel & Villas has a golden beach and sweeping bay views, plus boutique rooms designed by Ralph Lauren.
• Best things to do in Jamaica
10. Crete, Greece
Balos beach at the northwestern tip of Crete
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With an epic 650-mile coastline, Greece’s largest island serves up a wide array of beaches safe for swimming, not to mention seafront tavernas grilling flavoursome seafood. October arrivals in Crete can enjoy temperatures around 20C during the day, ideal for lounging, and making outdoor activities like hiking that bit easier. Visiting outside peak season allows you to explore the pink-sand Elafonissi beach without the crowds and join the local feast day of St Demetrius.
Make it happen
Luxurious, minimalist Minos Beach Art Hotel is a faultless place to stay.
11. Sayulita, Mexico
Sayulita in Mexico dials up the usual beach resort colour palette
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The buzz around Tulum is dying down — and its replacement is Mexico’s bohemian surf town of Sayulita on the Riviera Nayarit. With buildings bright as an artist’s paintbox, this walkable hippy hangout suits those in search of whale-watching, snorkelling, horseback rides along the beach, surfing and snacking on exceptional street food. October marks the sweet spot between the end of the wetter months and the more crowded period of November to April.
Make it happen
In line with the anti-traditional luxury ethos of the town is Local Tribe de Mexico, a beachfront boutique series of repurposed shipping containers complete with jungle spa.