Beach holidays in October and throughout the year: Top picks

Beach holidays in October and throughout the year: Top picks

Winter, spring, summer or autumn – there are beach holidays throughout the year to be had almost anywhere in the world. Book a spacious holiday cottage for the whole family in a charming coastal town for days of fun in the sun, or stay in a seaside luxury villa rental with your significant other and unwind at sunset with a drink on the balcony. Whether you want to stay close to home or fly halfway around the globe, we’ve got ideas for seaside getaways where memories to last a lifetime are just waiting to be made.

Global destinations for beach holidays abound all year round

Beach holidays in December offer a dose of ‘vitamin sea’

Somewhere in the world, there’s a beach holiday throughout the year that’s got your name on it. Spain is terrific for beach holidays in spring – spend a sunny Easter in the Canary Islands or the Costa del Sol. The world is your oyster in summer, with innumerable beach holiday destinations near and far. Beach holidays in October and other autumn months can be spent in spots as near as Cornwall or as far as tropical Southeast Asian paradises like Bali. For your dose of “vitamin sea” in winter, Europe, Asia and Africa are brimming with beach holiday choices.

UK beach holidays in October are perfect for autumn breaks

There’s a lot to love about staycations in the UK during the off-season. The summer crowds have long dispersed, you’ll save on travel costs and holiday lettings can be had on the cheap. Cornwall is a terrific place for a beach holiday in October. Slip into a wetsuit and go surfing at Fistral Beach in Newquay, or explore the rock pools at Porthcurno Beach near Penzance at low tide. September beach holidays in the warm Isles of Scilly are likewise worth considering. It’s home to white-sand beaches like The Bar and Rushy Porth.

Gad about Europe for beach holidays throughout the year

Hundreds of beaches in dozens of countries means there’s no shortage of fantastic locations for brilliant beach getaways. Beach holidays in April are warm and toasty in Algarve in southern Portugal, where holiday homes will put you close to Blue Flag beaches like Praia do Barril. Plan a September beach holiday on Spain’s Formentera Island and work on your whole-body tan even at the height of autumn. Beat the winter blues with a beach holiday in December in one of Spain’s famous Canary Islands, the ruggedly beautiful Karpaz Peninsula in northern Cyprus or sun-drenched Sicily in southern Italy.

Indulge in Asian beach holidays in November

Set your sights east – the Far East – this autumn. The rainy season having mostly ended, it’s a great time for a cheap November beach holiday in Asia. The days are sunny, the beaches are still largely free of the winter crowds and villa rentals have yet to skyrocket to peak season prices. Visit Thailand and take part in the annual Loy Krathong festival on the beaches of Phuket, explore the fascinating limestone islets in northern Vietnam’s Halong Bay, gambol with dolphins and whale sharks off Langkawi Island in Malaysia, or go beach-hopping in Sihanoukville in southwest Cambodia.

Australia sizzles with awesome beach holidays in December

Bondi Beach in Australia for a great beach holiday in February

Head to the land down under if you fancy a Christmas beach holiday at the height of the Australian summer. With average maximum temperatures hovering in the mid-20s from December to February, it’s the perfect time to hit the sand and the sea. Holiday homes in Sydney will put you close not only to the iconic Opera House, but also to famed beaches like Bondi. Book a holiday cottage on Fraser Island in Queensland and ring in the New Year on a white sand beach, or enjoy a tranquil holiday on the 14-mile Cable Beach in Broome in Western Australia.

Experience amazing African beach holidays in February

The heat is on in Africa in February, and opportunities for an unforgettable beach holiday abound. At the foot of the imposing Twelve Apostles mountain range in South Africa’s Cape Town, Camps Bay Beach is where you’ll find luxury villas overlooking dazzlingly white sands and the sea’s aquamarine waters. If the idea of lazy days on less crowded stretches of sand appeals, you’d probably like Sidi Kaouki beach in Morocco, the ruggedly beautiful beaches on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, or the palm-shaded Anse Parnel beach in Mahe in Seychelles.