Oct hot holiday with direct flights

[ginforall]

Any ideas for a late Oct holiday, which will be warm, little rain and we could fly directly to? We're midlands based so can fly from London or Manchester.

We get a two week half term, don't mind a long flight but keen to avoid lots of changing. A couple of years ago used the time to go to California, which was great and looking for more ideas of places to visit, but most places I can think off don't have direct flights.

@ginforall we love the Jaz Lamaya, book direct with Tui.
Then dive with Coraya divers on site.
Run an amazing selection of trips.

I think a ATOL backed package is safer for next year and possibly 2022 as well though hope I'm proved overly cautious on that one as would love to travel again. We found insurance covered nothing this year as FCO said can travel but countries wouldn't let in. Plus if you get offered different dates they won't pay out even if dates are useless.

Booking.com we got back everything booked via there, some after a month or two, but they were good. It was ones booked direct and AirAsia we had issues with and lost all the money on those - we have 1 year credit for hotel and 2 years for Air Asia assuming they don't go under (doubtful they'll survive) but 3/4 of us won't be eligible for vaccine by then so can't see either year being viable. This year flights going within Europe for takeoff and landing were refunded but not sure they will be next year after Brexit, would check. Booking on a credit card helps but still lost the money on AirAsia flights with that.

Hopefully things will be better before too long but at the moment more bad news seems to hit every day. Today's was no SN support for DS and Tier 4 from Boxing Day, I'm guessing tomorrow's will be no turkey and / or no veg though the cat may hit the jackpot and we get the 10kg turkey. Hope everyone has a good Christmas and things start to get better. It's nice to plan anyway - I'm having lots of imaginary holidays and saving myself a fortune. We'll probably stick to UK again next year but will see what happens and even the UK isn't risk free to book atm.

No direct flights , but Singapore is an amazing place to visit for a few days - and then fly up to the rasa sayang in Penang

FWIW until Covid BA, Singapore Airlines and Qantas were all doing daily ( in fact in BA's case it was two daily) none-stop London-Singapore....

Darned long flight though, especially westbound.

@SJaneS49 on your advice I had booked Tulemar as part of our unsuccessful 2020 summer Costa Rica trip.

They've let me carry forward the deposit until end of Summer 2022 so fingers crossed!

Hope you get to go @rookiemere, it was a lovely place! We liked the family infinity pool best of the pools & don’t forget to pack swim shoes!

If you can get direct flights (only Sri Lankan airlines goes directly) I highly recommend Sri Lanka. We went for 9 days and transferred in the Middle East which added 4 hours each way. There's so much to see if you are semi adventurous, take the train into the hills (remember walking shoes and a coat as at 2000m its way cooler) or head to the beach resorts - we stayed an hour south of Colombo this time so could see the capital too, but I've trekked around the interior before. Top tips are a boat safari, we saw crocodiles, snakes, monkeys and loads more, and don't bother with all inclusive, go to the places the locals eat, food is amazing and cheap.

We used Qatar airways, service was excellent and price was very cheap btw

@Nomaigai

We thought it was cheap but I'm used to European/US prices. Stayed at the best hotel in Colombo for £100 a night in a suite (ok was upgraded but basic rooms were amazing too) the sort of hotel that would be £500+ in London more in peak periods

Re Cuba, it’s 17 years since I went but if you’re considering at that then it’s a really interesting place on a number of levels. We stayed in the Hotel Nacional in Havana (built by Al Capone and where lots of film stars and gangsters stayed back in the day!). I really liked Havana - it has a lot of crumbling Colonial architecture, interesting museums, great music and felt pretty safe. Most packages take you to Varadero which we went too for a day. While it really wasn’t my kind of place (a row of one AI palaces after the other on a stretch of beach), quite possibly it would be better for DC just from a food perspective. I really don’t think I’ve eaten more disgusting food than when I was in Cuba - my friend got really bad food poisoning and I’m a veggie and there just wasn’t much to eat. Possibly staying off the meat saved me from coming down I’ll with her though.

A two week October half term? Are you private?

@Littleyell

www.tui.co.uk/destinations/dominican-republic/punta-cana/bavaro/hotels/memories-splash-punta-cana.html

This was one of my favourite holidays ever last year!. We got to use the Royalton next door and eat for free as they shut some on the restaurants over at the splash side. Fantastic memories made.

We went to Memories too a few years ago! It was a brilliant holiday and a reasonable price too, I think through Tui it was around 4.5k for 2 adults and 2 children for 2week all inclusive

@SandyDays ahhh have you that’s so nice to hear. I was originally suppose to go to Mexico but I changed to Memories very last minute. I often hear bad things about DR. I thought it was absolute paradise I even ventured out alone with DS the people and hotel staff were fantastic. The Weather was stunning last year in May even at the night.

I’m yet to try Mexico to see if it would top DR.

Not really "long" haul, but Cyprus is October is usually very good weather wise.

No @amaryllisu, we live in an area which does a two week half term, we've done it for the past two years now, we have 5 weeks in the summer instead. It's really nice to have a two week break in Oct.

Will look into Cyprus @Kazzyhoward, it might be a good shout for next year, as masks on planes and long flights don't fill me with excitement.

Thanks for all the great ideas and experiences, I'll be googling and planning for the future over the next few days.

@ginforall also a teacher with a 2week half term and we're going to the Dominican Republic for ten days. 9 hour direct flight.

I'd stick with Riviera Maya in Mexico. Easy to change with TUI if needed and fantastic food with loads to do.

Cuba was amazing for us, but we travelled around and didn’t just do Havana and Varadero. Valle de vinales, bay of pigs, Trinidad, all amazing. We stayed in case particular and self drove. Booked via Cuba Direct.

I think I'd stick with Mexico too. Cuba - my DSis went and didn't like it - she said it was grotty and run down and the food was horrible and she's been to several places in Asia so it's not that she's unused to travelling in developing countries.

Another option is Florida. Lots of direct flights to a variety of different airports, great weather in October, not busy or peak season for prices, lovely beaches, great variety of food, activities, etc and safe, aside from Covid (fingers crossed that won't be an issue by Oct).

We have been to both Oman and Jordan in October half terms. So much to do in both. The weather was perfect 28-30 degrees and I would love to go back.

I know neither of these suggestions are classed as long haul but Cyprus and Egypt are both hot in October (Egypt being almost long haul IMO at 6 hour flight).

@amaryllisu

A two week October half term? Are you private?

Our school also has two weeks in October. Great time of year to go away.

What about Miami, the Keys and then New York.