There are two ways to look at this time of year. The first goes something like
this: “That’s that, then. The summer holidays are virtually over. Swimsuits
off, thermals on, heads down until Christmas. After you with the cyanide.”
And the second goes like this: “Lighten up. Nobody goes to the Med in August
anyway, unless they’re tied to the school holidays or they’re a total chump
- it’s overcrowded, overpriced and overheated.
"September and October are the time: much better value, no hordes of
schoolkids and perfect weather.”
You might have guessed that we take view number two. But where to find that
perfect weather? Not gas mark five, but not autumnal either - just a proper,
can-I-take-this-T-shirt-off blast of summer to warm our bones all the way
through to spring.
Forget France. Too unreliable. Ditto northern Spain, Tuscany, Croatia -
anywhere mountainous or too bracing-sounding. The destinations below,
though, are just what the thermotherapist ordered, with temperatures ranging
from balmy to baking. See you at the beach bar. Unless stated, package
flights are from London. Contact tour operator for other departure options
GREECE
What’s the weather like? Depends where you go. The northern
Aegean’s a bit dodgy, but you’re safer further south - Naxos averages 25C,
with hardly any rain until late October. And Crete is pretty much perfect:
high 20s, clear skies with the odd (spectacular) nighttime storm.
What’s on offer? In Crete, it’s all about character. Take the
Villa Veneto, a seriously gorgeous 17th-century Venetian house outside the
village of Hromonasteri. It’s got the sense of history (3ft-thick walls;
vaulted, beamed ceilings; exposed stone), but luxury too (air-con, posh
kitchen, pool, hammam). It sleeps eight, for which you’d pay £2,500 in
August, when it would be too hot to sit on the lovely terrace. Go on
September 16 and a week is £1,650, with Vintage Travel (0845 344 0420, www.vintagetravel.co.uk
). That’s for the villa only: grab a charter flight to Chania with
FlyThomasCook (www.flythomascook.com
) or Thomsonfly (0870 190 0737, www.thomson
fly.com ).
If it’s just the two of you, try Rebecca’s House, a quirky little one-bedroom
cottage in Platan-yas, east of Chania. It’s at the top of the village, a
steep 100yd climb along an alley just wide enough for two donkeys to pass
(it’s the sort of place where they still measure things in donkeys). The
reward is a spectacular view back over the village and down to the sea,
500yd away. It’s comfy rather than flash, with a pretty terrace, and Rebecca
herself will pop by with home-baked cheese pie. A week’s rental is £345 from
September 16, £220 in October, with Freelance (0845 094 8871, www.freelance-holidays.co.uk
); flights as above.
Crete’s historic sites are a nightmare in high summer but a treat in October.
Andante’s Bare Bones tour (01722 713800, www.andantetravels.co.uk
) departs on October 7, taking in the 3,500-year-old Minoan palace of
Knossos, but also finding time for Gortyn, Archanes, Armeni and a walk
through the spectacular Samaria gorge. The eight-day trip costs £1,100pp,
including transfers, B&B in hotels and a specialist guide.
If you want glamour, make for Mykonos and the elegant Villa Okyroe, all carved
marble floors and teak day beds, with a jaw-dropping view over to Delos from
the infinity pool. It sleeps eight at a pinch (the fourth bedroom is fine
for two little ones), and a week’s rental from September 13 is £880pp, with
Wimco (0870 850 1144, www.wimco.co.uk
). As a tempter, they’re chucking in a complimentary posh dinner, too.
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com ) and XL (0871
911 4220, www. xl.com ) fly direct.
Corfuis just cool enough for a serious walk, which is what you’ll get on a
two-week group trip along the Corfu Trail, a 130-mile path that skips the
spoilt bits and sticks to the ancient landscape of olive groves, vineyards,
whitewashed monasteries and blue lagoons. No luxury here - you’ll stay in
some pretty rustic places - but you’ll eat and drink well, and watch the
harvest coming in. Departing on September 13, it’s £1,055, with Explore
(0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk ),
including guide and some meals.
Also in Corfu, literary nostalgics can rent Lawrence Durrell’s old place. He
wrote Prospero’s Cell in the White House, by Kala-mi beach, and the
top-floor apartment is now available, with inspiring views across the bay to
the mountains of Albania. There’s a taverna downstairs these days, but it’s
pretty quiet and the food’s excellent. Sleeping eight, it costs £420pp with
CV Travel (020 7401 1026, www.cvtravel.co.uk
) for the week from September 15.
North Cyprus is usually gorgeous in October and the temp of 28 C , Deserted beaches and quiet roads lead you around the coastline ending in the Karpas, almost deserted and like turning the clock back thirty years.
Or you can have a busyier time in Nicosia or Kyrenia with loads of bars and clubs.
Fred Rees, Haverfordwest, UK
If you want to check weather for Sept/October anywhere, logon to www.weather.com This covers airports all over the world and as well as a forecast for 10 days , gives average temperatures and rainfall for the whole year Italy is fine but not in the mountains. Try Marche.Under 300m alt if possible
c chapman, macerata, italia
You can't say forget France, how about St Tropez and the Med coastline it's been 31 degrees down here!
www.SaintTropezSite.Com
Rosie Croxlea, St Tropez, France
How about the States? The East coast can practically guarantee very warm weather in September but without the summer crowds. Watch out for hurricane warnings in Florida but more northerly beaches are lovely. The price is right...the shipping is great...New England is full of historic sites..ENJOY
Mary-Anne Helms, Princeton NJ, USA