Fancy a break away before the end of the year? I’ve got staycations, cruises, city breaks and long haul holidays. Check out my top picks for autumn holidays and get planning!
Last minute European sun holidays:
Tour Operators, TUI and Sunway have lots of last minute autumn holidays available. They have already paid in advance for flights and accommodation, so if you are looking or a week in the sun, they should be your first port of call. I have picked some favourites below, but bear in mind prices may change, as these are last minute holidays.
Aer Lingus September sale is also worth a look. They are offering flights to Europe from €24.99 one-way for travel between the 1st October and 16th December.
Gran Canaria: 10th October, 7 Nights, inc Flights, Transfers & Baggage from €350
View offer here
Sicily: 5th October, 7 Nights, inc Flights, Transfers & Baggage from €449
Crete October Mid Term Break: 5* Anemos Luxury Grand Resort, Half Board, from €799; 2ad & 2ch from €3155
I holidayed in this same resort during the summer with my family. The hotel has a superb beachfront location, and is close to the beautiful towns of Chania and Rethymno.
View 2 sharing here View family offer here
Read my review of Anemos Luxury Grand Resort
City breaks:
Vienna Weekend Break: 5th October, Flights & 4-Star Hotel, 3 Nights, €238
This is a super deal to see one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. You will be staying in the highly rated 4-star Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen Vienna hotel which is located in the heart of the city and close to all the attractions. Price of €238 per person includes flights and hotel accommodation for three nights, departing Saturday the 5th of October.
Venice Short Break: 23rd October, Flights, Hotel & Gondola Ride, 2 Nights, €285
It is rare to see such a good special offer to Venice, and even more rare to see a gondola ride included! The price of €285 per person includes return flights with 10kg hand luggage per person, two nights in a 3* Hotel San Zulian and a free gondola ride. This hotel is superbly located close to St. Mark’s Square, and receives excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.
Disneyland Paris, Halloween Festival, 2 ad & 2ch, 3 Nights inc Flights & Park Passes, €1473
Halloween and Christmas festivals at Disneyland Paris run almost consecutively from the end of September right up to the 6th of January, so it is a great time to visit. If your children are not in school yet you can get great value autumn holidays, departing September and October. I found a great deal over the October Mid Term Break, departing Friday the 1st of November for 3 nights. Price with flights, hotel and park passes is €1473, based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing.
Read: The best time to visit Disneyland Paris.
Cruises:
5* Celebrity Edge, 10 night Spain & Monaco Fly Cruise, €1820
Celebrity Edge is one of the world’s newest and most luxurious cruise ships. Its unique design includes the world’s first ‘Magic Carpet’ a cantilevered, floating platform that rises 13 stories above sea level, with a full bar, open-air dining area and space for live music. Edge also has an adults-only Solarium and a rooftop garden, as well as the usual facilities and dining options you would expect from a world-class cruise ship. This cruise sails from Rome on the 11th of October and visits, Naples, Santa Margherita, Monte Carlo and over nights in Barcelona. Price for flights, and cruise on a full board basis is €1820 per person. Upgrade to an oceanview stateroom for an additional €440, and receive a classic drinks package and $300 onboard spend per stateroom.
October Mid Term Break: 9 Night Med Cruise, MSC Preziosa, €855pp
This exclusive deal on MSC Preziosa is ideal for anyone who is tied to school holidays. Visit France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco over 9 nights. Price of €855 includes flights, cruise with meals and entertainment and gratuities, staying in an interior cabin. Cost for 2 adults and 2 children is only €2730, staying in a balcony cabin.
View offer here
U River Cruises: 21st September & 8th October, Cruise only €899 – save €400
Sail along the Danube from Regensburg to Budapest over eight days in a luxury 5-star river cruise ship. Price includes meals and excursions, flights are extra. Note the €400 savings will not show online – you need to call a U Specialist on 01 906 9408 or your local travel agent to avail of this special discount.
Read my review of U River Cruises – luxury river cruises for younger travellers.
Rest of the World:
12 Nights Thailand holiday: Bangkok, Elephant Hills & Khao Lak, Inc Flights & Transfers €2099
I love when a holiday combines a beach stay with a little adventure. If I can manage to add a city to the mix too, that is even better. I have researched various Thailand holidays, as I would love to return, and this one ticks all boxes. This Thailand itinerary combines bustling Bangkok and an ethical elephant safari, with some relaxing beach time. If all of that isn’t enough to tempt you, there are luxury hotels included too. Your stay at Elephant Hills luxury tented camp also includes all meals and activities.
Read: The best Thailand Itinerary – Bangkok, Beach and Wildlife
Barbados: 4-star All Inclusive Resort inc Flights & Transfers, 7 Nights, €1399
Treat yourself to a week in the brand new Sands Barbados Hotel. There are savings of up to €690 per person if you book by the 30th of September. The hotel is currently undergoing a ‘soft opening’, hence the super prices. Some restaurants or facilities may not be in operation, see more details on the link below. Price for flights, transfers and a seven-night stay on an all-inclusive basis is only €1399, departing in September or €1439 in October/ November.
G Adventures Costa Rica Tour – 25th October or 1st November, €729
3 Nights Dubai and 7 Nights All Inclusive Mauritius stay Inc Flights & Transfers, from €2519
This wonderful two-centre holiday offers the perfect mix of city and beach. Spend three nights seeing the sights in Dubai while you stay in the luxurious 5* Hilton Dubai Creek, followed by seven nights relaxing in the all-inclusive 4* The Ravenala Attitude hotel in Mauritius.
Staycations:
SuperValu Getaway Breaks
SuperValu Getaway Breaks are great value for anyone looking for a last minute staycation. Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to be a SuperValu shopper to purchase them, although if you are a Real Rewards member, you can accumulate valuable Real Rewards points. They have over 300 hotels on their website, including an Inspired Collection of four and five-star hotels. They are currently offering €20 off their 2-night stays for travel before the 31st of December. Luxury hotels like The Brehon in Killarney is €125pp for a two-night stay and the 5* Sheen Falls Lodge is only €150pp for a two-night stay.
I am just recently back from Waterford and the Munster Vales, where we cycled the Waterford Greenway and enjoyed delicious food in Waterford’s foodie capital, Dungarvan. I found great deals staying in the Park Hotel or Gold Coast Resort, Dungarvan. Price for a two-night stay, with breakfast, is only €75 per person departing on various dates in September / October. There is a leisure centre and gym in both and the 18-hole championship Gold Coast Golf Course is adjacent to the Gold Coast Resort. Dungarvan is also on the Waterford Greenway, so this is an ideal choice for anyone looking for an active break.
See more here
Read my top things to do in the Munster Vales.
Center Parcs
I was delighted to visit Center Parcs Longford Forest this summer – it really did live up to the hype! Prices during the summer months are high, so Center Parcs is an ideal choice for autumn holidays. Prices for a three-night weekend break in October are €559, based on a 2 bedroom Woodland Lodge. If you want to travel over the October bank holiday weekend, the price increases to €999, but the real value is departing on the 1st of November, the kids are still off school, and the price is only €699. Children are back to school on Monday the 4th, so you can choose to return on the Sunday night if you don’t want to take the kids out of school for a day.
Center Parcs will also have a Winter Wonderland theme starting on the 8th of November, where the forest will transform into a magical winter playground, with snow, lights and festive decorations. You can also visit Santa, additional charge applies.
See more here
Read my ultimate guide to Center Parcs Longford Forest.
Taste the Island promotion.
This year sees the start of a three-year initiative from Tourism Ireland to boost domestic and international tourists to Ireland, outside of the summer months. They have introduced a ‘Taste the Island’ celebration, where we are showcasing the very best of our food and drink culture. There are events on throughout the country, so if you are planning autumn holidays, find out what’s on here. Many hotels have embraced this theme and are offering stays with special ‘Taste the Island’ menus. Lough Rynne in Leitrim, which is available on SuperValu breaks, Actons in Kinsale and Clew Bay in Westport are just some of the hotels involved. There are events on throughout the country – you can see what’s on here.
Like holidays in Ireland? See more here.
Stenaline UK Breaks
Prices are correct at the time of issue but are subject to change. Please note some of my top picks for autumn holidays include affiliate links where I receive a small commission if a booking is made.
Sarah
