Where would you go for early September cheap and cheerful sun break?

[kitchenplans]

So we've been somewhat overloaded with a few life stresses and haven't got round to booking a summer holiday.

We'll need to go in early September for pet care reasons.

We're a couple in our early 50s.

We've had a lot going on, so mostly we just want to lay by a pool with a bit of eating out.

Thinking a cheap end AI might work as then on resort food and drink covered with zero effort, but we'd likely eat out locally for several evenings.

Initial searches seem to bring up Rhodes, Zante, Corfu, Balerics, Costas, Canaries, Turkey and Tunisia.

Gut instinct is to eliminate Turkey (didn't like previously), and Tunisia.
Think Canaries are a bit soulless, but does it really matter if we''re just sunning round the pool? We've done most of them before.

Really fancied Corfu, but worried about rain in September.

Have done Rhodes before many years ago and liked it. Probably inclined to prefer Greece to Spain, but not at the expense of weather.

Anyone got any suggestions as to the best place to go? Is AI different from one country to the next? We're not too bothered about evening meal as will likely eat out, but would want drinks around the pool and breakfast and snacks, and maybe lunch.

We're looking lower end (seen a few options around £6-700 per person for a week at that time of year).

We really need sun and relaxation. Not interested in entertainment or nightlife (apart from restaurants).

I’d go to a Greek island at that time of year. I’d book independently, finding the best flight through skyscaanner and an inexpensive hotel or apartment by the beach and close to a small town via booking.com. I would avoid AI for sure. Quality will be so low, plus they tend to be out of town and the clientele might make it less relaxing. Make sure you choose a town where food is still cheap and you will eat for under €50 a day. A lot of little tavernas still do the litre jugs of sun for about €8. We do take tea bags so we can make a morning cuppa after buying milk. Sometimes also buy some beers for the fridge and a big bag of crisps for snacks. Then brunch is often a huge, gorgeous spinach pastry from the bakers for about €2.

Canaries do AI well. We had a hell of a year and ended up booking a tui magic life hotel in fuerteventura and it was exactly what we needed. Superb food (genuinely - so much choice and good food). Beautiful hotel and long beach you can walk along and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere.

How about Bulgaria? Haven’t been but was vaguely considering it for a cheap holiday in the sun. I guess most holiday destinations in Europe will still be hot in early September…?

This one - if you walk up the hill behind the hotel there are friendly chipmunks. That’s the most energetic thing we did all week.

Rhodes loveky and great bang for buck
I love Puerto de la Cruz in northern Tenerife also - but black sand which is a no no for some.
Nerja in Spain lovely in sept also
( I love the place, but biased as also lived there two years! )

Majorca or Crete. Somewhere on the beach close to nice restaurants so you don’t need to cook. I would not bother with AI

How about Playa Blanca in Lanzarote? Lots of lovely hotels on the seafront, nice walks, as quiet or as lively as you want it!

Look at the various JS hotels in Majorca. They are not the poshest but can be pretty good value for money. JS Cape Colom in Portocolom has great sea views and you can walk into the relatively unspoiled town for dinner around the harbour.

Another vote for SC or B&B not AI. Just get somewhere in walking distance to a supermarket and restaurants. stock up on drinks, snacks etc at the beginning of the week and eat out at least once a day.

What you lose in convenience will be offset by a much nicer dining experience (being served at a seafront restaurant vs queuing at the buffet) and a more peaceful hotel.

Don’t go all inclusive, it’s rarely cheaper unless your drinking alcohol all day.

Just choose a hotel where you can buy drinks at pools as and when you happen to be there. If your oit and about then it’s cheaper paying for the days your there and paying elsewhere when your not

Try the maiesta range of Hotels in Croatia in and around Rovinj and Porec. Both nice towns to explore. You can fly in cheap to Trieste in Italy with Ryanair and it’s only about an hour or so drive down the coast. Then with car you can also drive between towns and villages some days to explore. You can also fly into Ljubljana in Slovenia and drive across. Then you can visit there also on way back

Crete, for sure. Stress-free to get to, weather should be gorgeous https://www.villalemonia.co.uk/

@kitchenplans Nerjas/Mijas flying into Malaga or Albir/Altea flying into Alicante.

If you're not just looking for a package or AI then Andros in Greece is a good spot at the end of the summer. Couple of days in Athens between flight and ferry perhaps. Water will be nice and warm at the end of the summer and plenty of accommodation available. Some stunning spots, easy to hire a car and get around and lots of nice little tavernas to choose from.