Help me with what I'm looking for

[wondabar]

I'm looking at getting away for 3 nights in early October with a great friend to celebrate our big birthdays.
We are looking for the following:

• no more than 3-4 hours flight from LGW or LHR and flights at reasonable times
• a resort or hotel that is easily reachable from the airport and easy to get around as we won't have a car
• somewhere that is in walking distance to decent restaurants and fun things to do
• either city break, large town or beach and if the latter, a bit of sun would be nice!
• not overly expensive to go out in
• Budget of up to around £1000 for the two of us
• Happy to go in an Airbnb

We've been to Barcelona and Ibiza so wouldn't do those two

Please recommend places that fit the above criteria

Sorrento, Palma, lisbon, Dubrovnik, Rome, Madrid , Marbella

Thanks@Crikeyalmighty . I had looked at Dubrovnik but with flights and hotel, most places are above budget. Was probably looking for somewhere smaller than a big city like Madrid or Rome. Also would like the place to be charming if possible

Lake Garda is wonderful!

Krakow although absolutely not beach and sun. Lots to see, beautiful and very budget friendly

I absolutely love madrid. I think I could go time and time again for weekend breaks and always do something different. Friendly city,great atmosphere. Last November we got an air bnb, just took a backpack for a 2 night break. Metro was cheap for a 3 day pass directly from the airport. Transport in the city is so easy. Good food and drink. Amazing city park with beautiful lakes and glass house. The royal palace. It was warm too!

Lisbon. Really close to the airport, by the coast as well.

Spain choices: Valencia, Grenada, Seville or Estepona? Weather nice at that time of year, all delightful in different ways.
Good flight times from Gatwick/ Heathrow? Not a clue.

Came on to say Seville and Valencia but pp beat me to it. South of France.

Cala D’Or in Mallorca. Not sure about flights but it is my happy place.

Malaga. Charming town that has a beach, plus everything you'd want from a Spanish town within walking distance. Beautiful spa dressed as Moroccan style Hammam worth a day visit. Can also get trains out - recommend el choro where you can walk along a cliff with stunning views (caminito del reí)

Easyjet to Nice, nice town, beach and you can do a day trip to Monaco or St Tropez

or Easyjet to Palermo, again lovely town and restaurants and nearby beaches (Mondello or Cefalu) and probably still around 28 degrees and warm sea

You can fly to Verona w Easyjet from Gatwick. Lots of lovely towns to explore or you can have a day in Verona.

reasonable flight times IME are increasly hard to find especially with low cost carriers. but you are travelling without kids so an early start won’t be the end of the world.

Porto!
It’s a lovely walkable city, great restaurants and bars, you can happily spend a day at the port breweries (or whatever they are), you can get the tram to the beach, loads to do and very beautiful.

Another option for a beautiful beach town with amazing restaurants is Taormina.
fly to Catania (again Easyjet from Gatwick) and then it’s a short transfer. Or consider Siracusa. Weather in Sicily should be beautiful in October and flight times are about 3 hours.

Marrakech? Only a few mins from the airport, warm at that time of year and magical.

I'd go to Budapest.

I’d also recommend Porto.

Malaga all the way for me. Beautiful city and weather should still be good in October.

If you haven't been to Rome, then Rome in October is nice - yes, it's touristy, but that's because there's so much touristy stuff to see (and that stuff bigger than you'd think - which sounds weird, but that was what struck me most). Just go down a side-street for food/check menu prices before you eat.

If you want something more laid back, how about Malta - Valetta is beautiful.

Malaga surprised me last month! very cosopolian historic. Madrid, Jerez +++, Dalaman (gem), Naples (bit expensive), Antalya? i second Malta above! Morocco somewhere?

Seville or Lisbon. Both relatively quick from the airport, lots to see and lovely food.

Budapest has all you are looking for except a beach, but it does have great spas! It's very reasonably priced - we stayed in a decent quality adult only hotel with rooftop pool and breakfast for about £100 per night, and you can of course go much cheaper if you want to. Lots to see and do, it's very pretty, especially at night. Easy to get the bus from the airport to the centre, and great transport around the city, although a lot is walkable too. The ruin bars are great, although we went mid-week, might be a bit different at the weekend when stag and hen dos are in.

The Prosecco boat trip along the Danube in the evening, with all the buildings lit up, was a hightlight for us, and was about £16 per person

Malaga was a pleasant surprise! We've recently had a 3 nt break there. Flights and SC centrally located apartment came in under £400 for 2 adults. Train station across the road from the airport was 4 stops/15mins from Malaga centre and 1.80 euros contactless. History (hike up to a castle on a hill), culture (free contemporary art gallery), beach (long promenade) and great food - nothing not to like.

@RecycleMePlease Valletta was a real suprise for me last year- like a gorgeous Italian city but way cheaper and amazing food if you go reasonably upmarket- we did a Michelin place on the square and it was £78 for 2 including good wine.We combined with 4 days in Gozo at the kempinski- really enjoyed it .

@wondabar i must admit I really like Marrakech-