The best destinations for a beach vacation in October — considering the weather, the absence of tourist crowds, affordable airfare, and accommodation options. Where to vacation in autumn to have a warm sea, rich excursion program, affordable prices, and a variety of accommodation choices.
Below are the countries and destinations that I would choose or have chosen in different years for an October vacation. We always travel as a couple, without the help of travel agencies, so I chose the destinations with this in mind. We are not interested in Egypt and Dubai, so they won’t be included.
October is the best month for travel and beach holidays for many reasons. At this time, the rainy season ends in most Asian countries, the weather is excellent in California and Mexico, and in Europe, it is no longer too hot, but still without rain and cold. Many popular islands are freed from summer vacationers, and airfare prices drop to reasonable levels.
Below is my tried-and-true top destinations for an autumn vacation in October.
Cyprus
If someone suddenly asks me and asks for a quick answer, I would name Cyprus as the optimal destination for a holiday.
Cyprus is perfect for a beach holiday, with air temperatures in October at +26–29°C. The water is 24–25°C. In addition to the sea, there are hikes in the Troodos mountains, authentic villages, Mediterranean cuisine, wineries, ancient cities, and incredibly beautiful coastal spots.
In October, I would choose Paphos, where there is a balance between a seaside holiday and traveling around the island. If you only need beaches, feel free to choose Ayia Napa or Protaras-Paralimni.
Find accommodation in the Paphos area >>
Find accommodation in Ayia Napa >>
Find accommodation in Protaras >>
Be sure to rent a car; it’s easy and very cheap. You’ll see more, spend less time and money. Plus, it’s just comfortable since public transport in Cyprus is poorly developed.
- Where to stay in Cyprus and in which area
- Car Rental in Cyprus, personal experience
- Cyprus: wine route from Paphos
- Cyprus by car in seven days: route and places to see
Canary Islands — Tenerife or Gran Canaria
Given the geography, October is ideal for a vacation in the Canaries. This time of year, the ocean is warmest, there are fewer people compared to August, moderate prices, and convenient flights from European countries both by low-cost and traditional airlines.
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There’s plenty to do in the Canaries. In addition to great beaches with golden and black sand, there’s amazing nature both on the coast and in the mountains. The infrastructure is well developed — lots of accommodation, excellent roads, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets.
- How to independently travel to the Canary Islands, detailed plan
- Car Rental in Tenerife, Canary Islands
- Where to stay in Tenerife, choosing an area for a vacation
- Where to stay in Gran Canaria: top 8 areas for a vacation
Malta
Malta is the best option if you want to combine the sea and walks through ancient cities. There aren’t such luxurious beaches as in Cyprus. But instead, there are incredible cliffs, turquoise sea, and ancient cities. Malta is a different planet compared to the continent and other Mediterranean islands. If you haven’t been yet, October is the best time.
Find accommodation in Malta >>
Weather in October is 24–26°C, the sea is +22°C, no rain or very little, prices are lower than in summer, and there’s a wide selection of accommodations.
- How to independently travel to Malta: detailed plan
- Where to stay in Malta: 9 best areas and hotel recommendations
Seychelles
The Seychelles are a year-round destination, but in October, the waves are smaller, and there’s almost no rain. There are no crowds of tourists; they usually come in November, before the New Year, and in January.
A vacation in Seychelles will not be more expensive than a vacation in Western Europe. It’s not necessary to stay in expensive hotels — a villa will be an optimal option at a price of 80–100 euros per day, with a sea view, balcony-terrace, and kitchen.
Find accommodation in Seychelles, Mahe >>
Getting to the Seychelles is easy from any major European city. Qatar and Emirates, in particular, fly there.
- How to independently travel to Seychelles
- Seychelles, Mahe – complete guide to the island
- Top 15 Things to Do on Praslin Island, Seychelles
- Car rental in Seychelles, personal experience
USA, California
I’ve been to the United States several times, in California in particular. I consider October the optimal time of year for travel to this part of America.
California has plenty of great beaches, including those with calm and warm water (like Laguna Beach). But the best format for a vacation here is a road trip.
Rent a car and alternate between national parks, the ocean coast, and beach-sea relaxation.
Find and book accommodation in Los Angeles >>
The only downside is that it’s more expensive than, for example, Seychelles or Europe, but it’s definitely worth it. And if you can afford such a trip at least once in your life, there’s no better time than October.
- Best road trip route through California
- What to See and Where to Go in Los Angeles, Useful Links
- Where to stay in Los Angeles, California: 8 best areas
Mexico, Baja California
The Baja California Peninsula in Mexico is well-known to Americans as a place for quality and affordable beach holidays. In summer, this part of Mexico has rains, and in winter — crowds of tourists. October marks the beginning of the dry season, with no rain, no tourists, temperatures of 30+°C, a warm ocean, and white sand beaches.
At the southern tip of the peninsula is a place called Los Cabos. In fact, it’s two cities — Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The latter has retained more of the traditional Mexican charm, and here are the most stylish hotels and many great restaurants.
We haven’t been here yet, but we’ve been planning a trip to Mexico for a long time.
Find accommodation in Mexico, Los Cabos >>
Turkey, Fethiye-Oludeniz
I’m not a big fan of Turkey, but I like Fethiye much more than Antalya or Alanya. In summer, it’s quite hot in this part of Turkey, with temperatures easily reaching +40°C. In October, you can expect comfortable +27–28°C, a warm sea, and lots of delicious food. Plus, Turkey is the cheapest destination among all listed.
Fethiye is rich in natural attractions — in addition to great beaches, there are caves, waterfalls, and hiking trails. In Oludeniz, you can paraglide, yacht, or dive.
If you rent a car (which I recommend), it’s worth driving to the town of Kas and spending at least a couple of days there. It’s a few hours toward Antalya.
Other destinations in October
Besides the above, I recommend considering places like Provence (France) in October — objectively the best month for this part of France. It may already be a bit chilly for swimming in Nice, but what incredible villages in the mountains, food, wine, autumn colors, and the atmosphere in general. I hope you understand what I mean.
October is the last call for the Greek islands; it’s still warm and you can swim. It’s also warm in Malaga, Spain — the air temperature will be around +25°C, and the water about +20°C. In general, Malaga is like a smaller version of Barcelona, a very lively seaside city with a small but charming old town.
Useful links:
- Hotel Bookin — Booking.com
- Flight tickets — Aviasales
- Car rental — Local Rent
- Travel insurance — Hotline Finance
