Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter
Last Minute Sun Intro
You don’t have to travel south of the Equator to pretend it’s still summer, when there are plenty of warm-weather options just a few hours’ flight away no matter where you might be in the northern half of the world. What’s more, as high season turns into low, prices follow suit.
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Cyprus:
Cyprus: Unsurprisingly, one of the Mediterranean’s most southerly islands is also one of its warmest, with summer stretching languorously into mid-November. Once you’ve experienced the cultural curiosity that is the half-Greek, half-Turkish capital of Nicosia, the only question is whether to focus on beaches, ancient ruins or mountain adventures. Or a combination of all 3. [Photo: Ira Goldstein, via Commons]
1/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Marbella, Spain:
Marbella, Spain: As autumn abbreviates the days along Spain’s popular Costa Brava, a bit further south in the Costa del Sol, beach-goers can still enjoy an average 9 hours of sunlight per day. Marbella, with its charming old town, Moorish forts and upscale beach resorts set against the Sierra Blanca mountains, offers the ideal union of culture and repose. [Photo: Tomas Fano, via Commons]
2/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Napa Valley, California:
Napa Valley, California: The grapes are ripe for the harvest, and everything – from sunlight to changing leaves – assumes an enchanting shade of gold. This is the perfect time and place to soak up the last rays of summer over a glass of Chardonnay. [Photo: Brocken Inaglory, via Commons]
3/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Aruba:
Aruba: Hurricane, shmurricane! While the rest of the Caribbean waits for the stormiest part of the year to come to an end, Aruba, situated south of the hurricane belt, continues to enjoy sunny skies and balmy days cooled by the trade winds. Plus it’s the shoulder season, so expect better prices on hotels and flights, as well as shorter waits at happy hour.
4/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Algarve, Portugal:
Algarve, Portugal: The Atlantic waters are cold pretty much year round, but we can’t say the same of this seaside destination. Temperatures peak in July and drop steadily until February, but it’s usually still warm enough in October to enjoy the stunning limestone coves that made this region famous. If it’s too cold for swimming, try kayaking, dolphin-watching, mountain biking or take a jeep safari. [Photo: Bruno Carlos, via Commons]
5/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Atlas Mountains, Morocco:
Atlas Mountains, Morocco: Still hot for some trekking, but don’t like the cold? October is an ideal time to visit Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, which can be reached in just 2 hours by car from Marrakech. Hire a mule and a guide, then head off in exploration of this tranquil corner of the earth, home to the indigenous Berber people in their tight-knit villages made of mud. Temperatures hover in the mid-20s during the day, but bring a jacket – it does get chilly at night. [Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, via Commons]
6/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Canary Islands:
Canary Islands: From the rich history of Tenerife to the volcanic beauty of Lanzarote, the spectacular windsurfing of Fuerteventura and the adventurous trekking to be had in Gran Canaria – not to mention beaches, beaches, beaches – Spain’s offshore paradise has a siren call for every type of traveller, and a long summer to boot. [Photo of Fuerteventura]
7/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Austin, Texas:
Austin, Texas: There’s always something fun afoot in this free-spirited town, but carrying a tune is what the unofficial Live Music Capital of the World does best. This month, visitors can soak up some Texas sun while taking in the Austin City Limits Music Festival (2-4 and 9-11 October), where headliners include Foo Fighters, the Weeknd, and Florence and the Machine. [Photo: Steve Hopson, via Commons]
8/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Lycian Coast, Turkey:
Lycian Coast, Turkey: No longer hot but not yet chilly, October is a choice time to visit this Turkish treasure. Aside from miles of spectacular beach (they don’t call it “the Turquoise Coast” for nothing), there’s also great diving, canyon hiking and wildlife viewing, with sea turtle habitats and several rare species of butterfly. And if ancient rock tombs sound cool to you, you’re in the right place.
9/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Malta:
Malta: We bet this tiny Mediterranean nation doesn’t cross your mind often, but maybe it should. Its strategic location between Tunisia and Sicily has attracted a long line of conquerors for millennia, as evidenced by prehistoric temples, grand medieval fortresses and walled cities. Then there’s the wild coast of Gozo, the fantastic year-round diving spots and the Maltese food and wine, as well as a lively yachting scene – all of which can be enjoyed well into autumn.
10/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Amalfi Coast:
Amalfi Coast: One of Italy’s most photogenic coastlines isn’t saturated in just sunshine during the summer months. Beat the crowds – and the heat – by visiting charming towns like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in mid-autumn, when ferries are still running and the cliff-top roads that take drivers’ breath away (for their beauty and hairpin turns) are no longer clogged with cars. [Photo: Jessica Keller]
11/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Orlando, Florida:
Orlando, Florida: The days are still long and warm in the ultimate fun park destination, yet the family set has long since packed their mini vans and headed homeward. A stress-free, crowd-free visit to the world’s most iconic shows and attractions? Maybe this is the Happiest Place on Earth, after all.
12/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Dodecanese Islands, Greece:
Dodecanese Islands, Greece: Further south than the popular Cyclades, the Dodecanese are prime for the picking in mid-autumn. If it’s a more authentic atmosphere you’re looking for, eschew package travel destinations like Rhodes and Kos in favour of the fishing towns of Kalymnos, the take-it-easy vibe of Leros, the vibrant harbour of Symi, the spiritual history of Patmos and the abounding nature and lonely beaches of Tilos. [Photo: Jebulon, via Commons]
13/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Jordan:
Jordan: Though many areas of the country are subject to searing summers and bitter winters, there’s a small window between the two in which milder temperatures and occasional rains bring sun-baked landscapes back to life. A visit in autumn allows you to take in breathtaking sites like the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, the ancient city of Petra and the granite cliffs of Wadi Rum in comfort. [Photo: Oliver Clarke, via Flickr]
14/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
Dubai:
Dubai: If it’s endless hours of guaranteed sunshine and beach weather you’re after, Dubai is the place to be. Hot but not stifling, this is the time to get out and about to see what Dubai has to offer, from scuba diving to swimming with dolphins, hitting the race track and shopping, shopping, shopping. Then retire to with a cool drink on the beach or by your resort’s (doubtlessly fantastic) pool. [Photo: Imre Solt, via Commons]
15/16
Travel
Last Minute Sun: Where To Catch The Last Rays Before Winter.
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