Where is hot in October? 18 ideas for a balmy escape

“Where is hot in October?” is a question we find ourselves asking as the balmy afternoons and bright evenings fade away towards the end of summer. An October holiday can feel like an extension of the summer, and what compares to that smug feeling that comes over us as we wheel our case through the airport, having only shifted into our autumn/winter clothes a matter of weeks before. Knowing that poolside afternoons, sipping iced beverages while the sun beats down, await us puts a pep in our step, keeping those vitamin D levels topped up as we return and throw ourselves, adequately tanned, into the festive season in November. In Europe, October remains the end of the shoulder season. In the likes of Turkey, Malta and across Italy’s dazzling islands, beachfront resorts welcome a final flurry of guests before closing their doors until Easter the following year – city-centre boutique boltholes are the best bet should a trip to such a destination afterwards entice. Plenty of sizzling destinations further afield make for fantastic places to visit in October. The adults’ playground of Las Vegas has just about come out of the overwhelmingly high peak summer temperatures, perfect for sightseeing al fresco and adventures beyond the bright lights of the strip. On the flipside, Melbourne is gearing up for another playful summer, surfers taking to the beach and café culture stretching from toasty afternoons into pleasant afternoons once again. Whatever corner of the globe appeals, these are the travel editors’ favourite places that are hot in October for all the autumn escape inspiration you need.

Is heat not the be-all and end-all? Check out Condé Nast Traveller’s guide to the best places to visit in October.