Nice locations for October? (Europe?)

frivolous_fay

I still have plenty of holiday to use up this year, I'm running out of time but juggling O/H's deadlines! :rolleyes: I may be able to satisfy his preference for a city break with a couple of nights in Paris... but I may go crazy if I don't see the beach at least once this year

I think I might be able to drag him away from his desk for a week in October... but trying to find somewhere that will still be 'nice' then is proving discouraging

I'm no sun bunny but I'd like to be able to swim in the sea without freezing... and not have to wrap up warm! September in Rome was nice, although just a little hot for me... to give you an idea of how warm I like it

Greece and Mallorca are out... we can fly from London, Luton by preference.
O/H tells me Nice is lovely, but that I wouldn't like the beach (?)

Please help, otherwise I'm going to end up doing what we did last year (picking up a Sunday supplement, reading an article about how great Mallorca is, booking, and getting a big disappointment )

TIA...


Edit: culture and scenery a bonus, but not essential

davetrousers

Canary Islands maybe?

frivolous_fay

davetrousers wrote: »

Canary Islands maybe?

Could you suggest a particular area / island? I just wikied it, and I confess the names 'Lanzarote' and 'Tenerife' sent cliched chills down my spine!

Francophile

Cyprus is lovely in October and not so crowded.

will-he-payitoff

Why was mallorca disappointing, where did you go?

davetrousers

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Could you suggest a particular area / island? I just wikied it, and I confess the names 'Lanzarote' and 'Tenerife' sent cliched chills down my spine!

The 4 main Canary Islands are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the most popular, and Fuerteventura is generally the quietest.

Yes some of your cliched chills are well founded, the main resorts are most likely to cause some of these chills, as there can be quite a few 'Brits abroad' types and All day breakfasts and pints for 1 euro type places. But there is more than 1 resort on each island and you will find that if you want somewhere quieter and maybe more authentic then you might want to look at the quieter resorts.

The islands themselves are volcanic and as such have some impressive scenery.

I do like the Canary Islands, yes they do have their faults but they also have their gems. And a holiday I might enjoy might not be good for you

Maybe consider (but don't limit yourself to):

Tenerife - Los Cristianos
Gran Canaria - Maspalomas/Melonoras
Lanzarote - Playa Blanca
Fuerteventura - Generally the quitest island

frivolous_fay

will-he-payitoff wrote: »

Why was mallorca disappointing, where did you go?

We ended up in a high rise hotel just off the seafront in the German quarter... didn't brave the beach, too packed... had to really hunt around to find a decent meal that wasn't just touristy frozen cr*p... everywhere we walked those bloody hawkers were selling their stupid toys and rattling 'snake eyes' (hear the one about the Mallorca hawker blugeoned to death by a sweating, irate blonde woman?)

The hotel had a nice pool but was a bit soulless for me. Mass buffet breakfast, they'd literally clear the table from under you. Never stayed in a place like that before.

Palma was ok, but seemed to be in a permanent start of renovation... everywhere we walked we were dodging roadworks or scaffolding... was hoping to enjoy the architecture more than we were able to! Even the cathedral was covered in scaffolding.

poppy_f1

Francophile wrote: »

Cyprus is lovely in October and not so crowded.

i'd agree
was in ayia napa the first week in Oct last year, we could have it as quiet or as busy as we wanted and it was roasting for the full week
going to Protaras this year in the same week and expect pretty much the same

frivolous_fay

By the way, stayed in Cala Gonone, Sardinia, a few years back, and loved it.
Amazing scenery, lovely sea, and pretty unspoilt (or it was then)

I don't hate everywhere I go

frivolous_fay

If you go to Ayia Napa is it easy to avoid the dance crowd and bangin choons?

Sagz_2

Skanes in Tunisia was lovely and hot in October when we went, fab beaches and as much culture as anyone could want!