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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Please suggest some ideas- 7 nights in October

17 replies

therightmug · 08/08/2025 10:54

I have been looking at lots of possibilities but would love to hear some recommendations of places from those who have been. The considerations are:

  • It would be DH, myself and 17 yo DD
  • End of October- one week
  • We haven't been abroad for several years and would like a trip thats fairly easy to plan. i.e not sure we have the confidence to plan a touring type holiday this time.
  • Not fussed on the weather- we aren't looking for a holiday that's based on the beach only
  • Lovely scenery
  • We enjoy good food and culture
  • Ideally somewhere within easy reach of things to do- not too remote.
  • DD has said that it would be nice to be somewhere where she could wander off for a mooch round or coffee if she wanted.

I realise this is a long list lol. Just looking for some inspiration.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Ziferblat · 08/08/2025 11:27

Would Sicily fit the bill? Grab a hire and tour around. It should be warm still but hopefully not so hot you can’t enjoy ancient ruins and the cultural sites? If you don’t want to tour the whole island you could just dip into Siracusa and Taormina with a side visit to Etna. The food is entirely different at different points of the island which I found inspiring.

Original poster
therightmug · 08/08/2025 11:45

Thank you @Ziferblat. Would you go for a hotel or self-catering? It certainly sounds an option!

OP posts:
Ziferblat · 08/08/2025 12:04

I haven’t been for years sadly but it depends if you want the facilities to cook and spread out a little or if you’d be happy with a hotel (you’d be looking at two rooms I suspect?).

If you don’t care about sun or beach, an alternative could be a city break. Berlin could keep you occupied for five days. Or you could do a two centre holiday like Budapest and Bratislava or Vienna and catch a train between? I can only comment on Budapest and it was AMAZING.

What sort of thing do you want to do on holiday? Chill somewhere warm and potter around to nice towns or villages for dinner?

A city break? Or a combination of beach and city? Do you like museums and galleries etc or does an aversion to crowds supersede this?

Berlin has lots of sights for teens I would say as does Budapest to a lesser degree. (Both have sizable student populations).

If those options don’t take your fancy you could fly into Milan (Bergamo is particularly lovely) and get a car to Lake Garda or one of the other lakes. May be a bit sedate for your teen though. But beautiful!

Original poster
therightmug · 08/08/2025 12:20

Thank you, will take a look at those suggestions too. It’s a bit of a tricky one to get right and I’m worried about making a mistake. DD is not a very active teen- she much prefers pottering, nice meals out etc. However it would be nice to experience some lovely scenery somewhere too as she does appreciate it. But being based too remotely would not suit her either we would definitely need options of things to do. None of us particularly like hot, bustling and crowded places but I’m thinking perhaps in October, albeit half term, it may be a little quieter.

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2025 12:22

I would do a Malaga/marbella combination - 3 days in Malaga, 4 in Marbella ( ideally the old part) - both are lovely

Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2025 12:22

I would do a Malaga/marbella combination - 3 days in Malaga, 4 in Marbella ( ideally the old part) - both are lovely

Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2025 12:22

I would do a Malaga/marbella combination - 3 days in Malaga, 4 in Marbella ( ideally the old part) - both are lovely

Crikeyalmighty · 08/08/2025 12:22

I would do a Malaga/marbella combination - 3 days in Malaga, 4 in Marbella ( ideally the old part) - both are lovely

Parker231 · 08/08/2025 12:23

Kefalonia?

JDM625 · 08/08/2025 12:36

DH and I often travel in oct/nov because we don't have kids and southern Europe is still warm enough for us.

I too was going to say Sicily. People were still swimming when we were there. We stayed 2 weeks, but plenty to see in 1 week. YOu could fly into Palermo and spend a few days there, then to Cefalu. I havent been to Cefalu but its recommended on here often. If you are into history, there is a train from Palermo to Agrigento where they ruins like the Parthenon. We also got a bus from there to Catania on the other side of the island. Day trip to Syracuse which was lovely. Taormina I've heard is lovely, but Etna was rumbling so we didn't go
There was a lovely, family run B&B I could recommend in Palermo. Also great good markets and food in general in Sicily.

Malaga is another place we love- the 'city' itself not the beach resorts. They do still have a beach, long promenade, museums, castle, fantastic fruit/veg market, great good and a safe feel. It was a mix of locals, Spanish and some foreigners. A memorable day trip was getting the train to the famous bridge in Ronda.

Original poster
therightmug · 08/08/2025 13:31

@Crikeyalmighty Thank you, will take a look!

@Parker231 I've just been looking there funnily enough, and it looks beautiful but possibly like there may not be much going on at that time of year? Very happy to be corrected though.

OP posts:
Original poster
therightmug · 08/08/2025 13:32

@JDM625 Sicily seems to be well-recommended! I will definitely explore further - thank you. I may come back to you for accommodation ideas :)

OP posts:
BrentfordForever · 08/08/2025 13:34

Santorini !!!

Ziferblat · 08/08/2025 19:33

Actually Valencia could also work. They eat very late though so it used to be tricky to find a restaurant for dinner before 9! Small, historic city without too many obvious sites. If you like pottering, you just need to walk to the park in the centre which is a dried up river bed with some amazing buildings by the architect Calvatrano at one end. (Symphony hall, aquarium which was incredible and a science museum. They’re stunning from the outside if you don’t want to go in). The riverbed park runs all the way to the sea so you could go for a long walk or take a very easy tram and you’re at the beach.

Ziferblat · 08/08/2025 19:33

Actually Valencia could also work. They eat very late though so it used to be tricky to find a restaurant for dinner before 9! Small, historic city without too many obvious sites. If you like pottering, you just need to walk to the park in the centre which is a dried up river bed with some amazing buildings by the architect Calvatrano at one end. (Symphony hall, aquarium which was incredible and a science museum. They’re stunning from the outside if you don’t want to go in). The riverbed park runs all the way to the sea so you could go for a long walk or take a very easy tram and you’re at the beach.

MissAmbrosia · 08/08/2025 20:37

Taormina in Sicily is lovely - and shouldn't be too crowded at that time. Le Terrazze del teatro greco is a lovely 2 bed 3 bath apartment with stunning views. Second also Valencia and Malaga. And Seville - one of my most favourite places - weather should still be nice. We were there end of November a year ago and it was still warm in the day - jacket or cardi needed in the evening. The christmas markets had started and we were still basking :)

MissAmbrosia · 08/08/2025 20:38

Valencia we hired eScooters to go through the park - it was fab. The aquarium is really good.

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