If you’ve never cruised before or you’re a cruise connoisseur, where can you cruise in October?

Should you wish to stay close to home and don’t fancy a holiday stuck permanently on one beach, then how about cruising the Mediterranean?

Costa Cruises still have availability during October embarking in Venice then cruising to Greece and Croatia for their “Adriatic & Aegean” cruise. A double inside cabin for seven nights, based on two people sharing, starts from £469 per person. If you’d rather Italy, Tunisia, Spain and Provence in France, then prices start from £569.00 per person. Flights are extra (see their website for details).

For a cruise holiday in October travelling further afield, consider Virgin Holidays Cruises who are offering a nine night “Mexican Riviera Cruise” on Princess Cruises’, Sapphire Princess; including Virgin flights from Heathrow Airport to Los Angeles, with one night at the Hyatt Long Beach and 7 nights in an inside cabin prices start from £849 per person. There is no reason to stay on the ship when you could enjoy cliff diving at La Quebrada, partying in Cabo San Lucas, any number of water sports and fishing along the Mexican coast, exploring the island of Catalina or strolling through Acapulco!

Want to travel in style, then how about a Royal Caribbean Cruise around the Canary Islands departing on 10th October 2009 from Southampton on the “Independence Of The Seas” staying in a stateroom for £8,606.00 per person? Wait a few weeks until later in the month however and the price is currently showing at £2,432.00 per person leaving on the 21st October.

By October British summer time is generally over! The temperature has dropped but the variety of places to visit hasn’t decreased, you just have to be a little more inventive!

European beaches are generally very quiet as the weather can be a little unpredictable, but if you choose a city break destination that is close to a beach, then you may enjoy the best of both worlds; quiet beaches if the weather is warm and dry, and cultural visits and shopping if it is too chilly or wet!  Barcelona and Malaga in Spain both boast historic cities by the sea, or how about Faro in Portugal or Athens in Greece both of which are short distances from beaches and islands, or you could head to the south of France to Nice or Cannes? See our separate blog on more October City Breaks.

If you are thinking of travelling further afield during October, then how about Hawaii, may be with a stop off in either Los Angeles or San Francisco?  A tropical paradise, the island of Kaua’i is north of Ahu where Honolulu is located.  Giant ficus trees, the beautiful Hanakapi’ai Falls, colourful flowers, dramatic rainforest; an island perfect for surfers and walkers!

October holidays exploring the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is perfect, staying either in Brisbane or on Hayman Island – or both!  Visit the Koala Sanctuary, take a jeep safari along the Gold Coast, relax on one of the world’s most fabulous beaches on the Whitsunday Islands, snorkel, scuba dive, bungy, kayak…

If the other side of the world is too far, Africa is of course warmer than Europe although October can be very wet especially in Morocco; however the hot and sunny climes of the Red Sea resorts in Egypt such as Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada and Taba boast a very low annual rain fall and can generally be relied on for warm weather, although there may be strong winds.   Should you prefer to holiday in October away from well know resorts, then consider Tanzania and the islands of Mafia or Zanzibar.

Closer to home, and with the October half term holidays approaching, renting a cottage in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales is worth considering.  Take t-shirts and jumpers, flip flops and wellies, and always waterproof clothes, but if you’re strolling in the Brecon Beacons or dipping your toes in the sea along the Cornish coast, there will always be plenty to do, especially if you take the car or hire car!

One of the funniest “travel” things anyone ever said to me was “Company XXX has got their brochure wrong! Halkidiki should be a Greek Island not on the mainland!”  Well for anyone who has an understanding of the geography of Greece, they will know that Halkidiki or Chalkidiki is most definitely located on mainland Greece, and in fact covers a large peninsula in the north of the country between the Strymonikos and Thermaikos Gulfs which  incorporates three smaller peninsulas (like a hand and three fingers).

If you haven’t explored Halkidiki before, then you won’t be aware of how important it is to know which peninsula you are staying on as each has its own character, although all are renowned for their fantastic beaches which cover most of the areas 550 km of coast line with nearly 50 of the Halikidiki beaches awarded the EU’s Blue Flag award.

The most popular holiday peninsula is Cassandra or Kassandra which is closest to the city of Thessaloniki and located to the west.  The beaches are either of a fine sand, or shingle and sand mix, but all offer good facilities with cafes, shops, bars and restaurants nearby.  Hanioti is a family favourite and visitors will discover a pleasant maze like town centre which will fulfil every holiday need, as well as boasting a long stretch of Halkidiki beach.  There are quite a few hotels in Hanioti in Halkidiki and also a huge number of low rise apartments and holiday homes, so is quite a favourite with the Greeks and Russians.

For larger resort hotels head to the area around historic Kriopigi and the cosmopolitan resort of Kallithea on the Kassandra peninsula.  Young groups of holidaymakers will love the nightlife in this area, as buses run to the outdoor nightclubs between the towns.  Do spend an evening or two in Athitos if you’re looking for a more authentic break, as the winding hill side streets lead to fabulous views over the gulf towards Sithonia, and there is a choice of great Greek restaurants too!

Sithonia is the central peninsula in Halikidiki.  Currently greener than Kassandra following forest fires on the first peninsula in 2007, the towns aren’t generally quite as touristy as its neighbour. Neos Marmaras is about 125 km from Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki and boasts 20 km of beach backed by pine trees where the sea is crystal clear.  Neos Marmaras is a great base to stay with plenty of town facilities available including tavernas, bars, clubs, boutiques, supermarkets and a scuba diving school.

A living museum and the spiritual centre of Greece as well as being the monastic centre of the Greek Orthodox Church, Mount Athos or Agio Oros is the third and most eastern peninsula of Halkidiki.  Only the top third of this peninsula is accessible to visitors – male and female, with Ouranoupoli the last resort (and popular stop off for boat tours) you can visit.  No female, human or animal is allowed south of Ouranoupoli and into the holy area of Mount Athos, which is dominated by many beautiful monasteries where monks reside. Whilst males are allowed over the religious border, authority must be obtained in advance from Athens or Thessaloniki, and visitors are known to be carefully monitored during their stay. All is not lost though, if on holiday in northern Greece, make sure you take a break from your day on a Halikidiki beach and enjoy a boat excursion along Mouth Athos’ coast where you will see many of the stunning, large monasteries from the water’s edge.

British Airways fly directly from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki International Airport Macedonia which is just eight miles from the city centre, and car hire (prebooked with easyCar of course) can be collected at either the airport or from downtown Thessaloniki.  There are a number of charter airlines that fly from various UK airports too during the summer.

The sun is still shinning (may be not in the UK!), the children have returned to school, generally holiday prices have gone down, so where in the world do you go on holiday in September?

If you don’t want to travel too far, how about a city break in the UK?  London, Edinburgh, Liverpool or Bath; these locations offer plenty of opportunities to relax, shop or explore in your hire car and Premier Inn offers excellent deals on hotel accommodation the length and breadth of the UK.

How about America in the fall?  As the leaves start to change from the summer greens to autumnal shades of browns in late September, why not fly with Virgin Atlantic Airlines to the east coast of the USA and then pick up your Boston car hire with easyCar and discover the delights of Vermont, travelling through St Johnsbury, Lydonville and Lake Willoughby or New Hampshire? Or there is Colorado state, with its many ranches and activity holidays?

The temperature in Greece is perfect for late summer holidays in September with islands such as Santorini and Mykonos quieter, cooler and ideal for hassle free driving, and with holidayhypermarket.co.uk you will discover a wide range of deals to suit your budget.

Walking holidays are always popular in September, and the Alps in France, Italy and Switzerland, and the French Pyrenees are the perfect locations to trek and explore. Headwater part of TUI also offers cycling and adventure holidays at a numerous locations throughout the UK, Europe, the Med, Africa & the Middle East, as well as around the Caribbean and North and South America.

Greece in the spring and summer is divine!  Cool azur waters, stunning stretches of beaches and hidden coves, white washed mountain side villages and elegant costal hotels and a story-rich history. But where will you go for this year’s holiday to Greece?

You will find that the large islands of Rhodes, Crete and Corfu offer endless holiday choices. For partying how about Kavos in southern Corfu or for a more authentic Greek holiday, how about Agia Pelagia in northern Crete?  There are long sandy beaches, perfect spots for water sports, endless historical visits and everywhere is family friendly.  How about flying to Rhodes, grabbing your rental car at the airport and staying in Ixia on the north coast for lots of windsurfing and visits to Rhodes Town, followed by a drive down to famous Lindos on the south east coast, towered over by its Acropolis?

If you enjoy driving or are looking for quieter beaches and interesting Greek towns, why not take a fly drive holiday to Kefalonia?  Start in the south where the beaches are sandy around Skala and Mounda, then follow the western coast to the tiny villages of Lourdata and Trapezaki; pop into the main town of Argostoli, then either drive round to the red beaches of Xi on Kefalonia’s peninsular or north to the delightful village of Assos followed by the port town and yachting haven of Fiskado?

Wherever you holiday in Greece, on the mainland or on one of the islands, you discover such variety in your stay – guaranteed if hiring a car to explore! Quiet coves and hidden bays, sailing and kitesurfing, party towns and long stretches of beaches, peaceful resorts and bustling cities – whatever you require from your holiday, you are bound to find it in Greece!