Where We'd Send You in October
October is one of our favourite months to plan a trip. Europe empties out, parts of Asia move into their best weather of the year, and autumn light does something no filter can. Six places we'd book right now — and where we'd stay in each.
Villa Igiea, Palermo — for the last of the Mediterranean
Villa Igiea, Palermo, Italy.
Sicily, Italy. Warm autumn days, brilliant food, and a slower pace once the summer crowds have gone. Villa Igiea is a Belle Époque villa above the Bay of Palermo, restored by Rocco Forte with its original Art Nouveau interiors intact — and the gardens, laid out by Ernesto Basile, are worth the stay on their own.
Sicily, Italy. Warm autumn days, brilliant food, and a slower pace once the summer crowds have gone. Villa Igiea is a Belle Époque villa above the Bay of Palermo, restored by Rocco Forte with its original Art Nouveau interiors intact — and the gardens, laid out by Ernesto Basile, are worth the stay on their own.
Royal Mansour, Marrakech — for sun, culture and a long weekend
Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco. ·
Marrakech, Morocco. October brings comfortable temperatures for the medina, the gardens, and the city's exceptional hotels. The Royal Mansour isn't a hotel so much as a private village of riads, built by hundreds of Moroccan artisans within its own walled grounds — every riad with its own courtyard, plunge pool and rooftop terrace.
One&Only Le Saint Géran — for a proper beach holiday
One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius.
Mauritius. Warm weather, lower humidity, and an easy combination of beach, spa, food and time outdoors. Le Saint Géran sits on its own peninsula on the east coast, with beachfront suites on both sides of the point — and Rasoi by Vineet is reason enough to book a table even if you're staying elsewhere.
Four Seasons Hotel Amman — for history, landscape and a bigger journey
Four Seasons Hotel Amman, Jordan.
Jordan. October is one of the best windows for the country: cooler days for Petra and Wadi Rum, without winter's chill in the evenings. Four Seasons Amman is a central, well-run base in the capital, with views over the city and one of the better spas in the region — ideal for a night or two either side of Petra and the Dead Sea.
Six Senses Bhutan — for mountains and something completely different
Six Senses Bhutan, Thimphu to Paro.
Bhutan. Clearer autumn skies, Himalayan landscapes, and one of the loveliest times of year for a carefully paced journey. Six Senses Bhutan is five separate lodges across five valleys — Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Paro — designed as a circuit rather than a single stay, so the trip moves with you.
Mayflower Inn & Spa, Connecticut — for autumn at its best
Mayflower Inn & Spa, Connecticut, USA.
New England, USA. Fall colour, country inns, coastal drives and seasonal food, with the route timed around the foliage. The Mayflower is an 1894 shingle-style estate on 58 acres of Litchfield County woodland, now part of Auberge Resorts — quiet, deliberately unfussy luxury, and the spa is one of the best in the Northeast.
The best October destination depends on the trip you actually want. How long you have. Who you're travelling with. The pace you want. What matters most once you get there. That's where we start.
