Looking for inspiration for 5 day break next month (October)

[timeforachangepart2]

Departing approx 15/10/24.
DH and me.

DH would like proper sunshine; I'm easy as long as it's dry.

We have access to most London airports and also car/train transport options.

We like walking, cycling, fine dining, being outdoors. Not so keen on museums, exhibitions.
I'd quite like to learn a new skill, try something new. DH definitely needs some down time.

We are restricted with our dates. We can't leave until 15th and must be back by 21/10.

The world is our oyster (well, the bits that are close enough to make 5 days doable 😊).

Any suggestions gratefully received as I need somewhere to start.

TIA

Canary Islands

Budget?
Lots of places have cooking classes, if that is a new skill you were thinking of? Both these places we've been to in Oct and I recall people were still swimming! I think we still wore shorts/T-shirts and maybe a cardigan in the evenings.

Malaga city, Spain- not the resorts along the coast. It used to be 3euro each on the local bus from the airport with several stops in Malaga. Long promenade along the beach which is lovely to walk along in the early mornings. We would sometimes walk to the next village and have breakfast. Some tourists, but also a working town with locals. Easy to walk around the whole town and some great restaurants. Also a beach if wanted. 1 day trip we enjoyed, was getting the train to Ronda. There is a massive, famous bridge. Sounds odd, but it was a lovely trip and also great restaurants there too.

Palermo- Sicily. Great food, easy to walk around town. A local bus to Modello beach and some lovely tavernas there- and the beach. Catacombs- fascinating but a bit weird and creepy!

Rethymon, Crete. Again, good food, beach and a town small enough to walk everywhere easily. We did a day trip and got a bus to Heraklion to see the museum and Knossos. I know you said museums aren't your thing though. We were going to do a day trip to Santorini, but the week we went, they had just stopped the summer fast boats, and only overnight boats were available. The pool at our hotel was also shut the 2nd part of the week we went. It also wasn't heated, so I didn't go in.

Happy to recommend the hotels/apartments/BnB's we stayed in if you are keen on any of the above places.

I've been to Lake Garda in late October and it was glorious. Lots of walking around exploring, using the water buses to get between the little towns and villages. Quieter and cheaper than going in the summer. Lovely food. You could easily explore by bike as there are lots of good cycling routes. The thermal spas were nice too.

We didn't get a car. We flew to Verona and then got the train.

Have a look at the Finca Serena hotel in Mallorca. It's got fine dining, cycling, walks, yoga, a spa, and horse riding.

Morocco. Cyprus. Crete.

Thanks you all for the suggestions. Finca Serena hotel in Mallorca looked perfect but it's showing not available for the dates we need to go.

I'm looking into the other suggestions now. 🙏

Lake Garda is looking promising. Would you recommend the hotel that you stayed in?

Is Lake Garda a bit hit and miss the end of October weather wise? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't risk going to Lake Garda at that time of year, we went to Mallorca in October and I wouldn't go at that time again. I'd stick to Cyprus or the Canaries.

Wait and book something very last minute. Then you can look at the forecast.

You might also be looking at far fewer flights and high prices.