I’m a travel expert and these are eight great value autumn holidays

By October, you might want to have another taste of summer, in which case you should head to the Mediterranean to Turkey, Corsica or Cyprus. Or try the Atlantic coast for a taste of Portugal in agreeably mild temperatures.

Cornwall and the Cotswolds are a bit quieter in October, unless you’re there during the half-term school holiday.

And if you’re looking for an unforgettable honeymoon, combine a South African safari with a beach break in Mauritius. If luxury train travel is your thing, splash out on an extraordinary tour of Peru by rail.

Whatever you want out of your October holiday, have a look at these ideas.

Read more: I’ve stayed in over 70 Airbnbs solo, here’s how to find the perfect stay

France

Check out the mellow side of Corsica as the season winds down (as do the prices), but the weather remains pleasant. Along the northern Balagne coast is the pretty town of L’Île-Rousse, with a long sandy beach and lively food market. Corsican Places has dropped the price of a seven-night stay at Hotel Casa Rossa, which has a pool and is a 10-minute walk to the beach and the little railway that trundles along the coast to Calvi and Bastia. Prices for a 6 October departure start at £769pp, down from £949pp, and include flights, transfers and breakfast.

Read more: The French booze cruise is 1,000 years old – how does it hold up now?

Turkey

Catch summery weather in the Mediterranean coastal town of Kalkan, where the beaches are uncrowded, and the pace is laidback. In October, along this part of the Turquoise Coast you can still enjoy temperatures in the mid to high 20Cs. Stay in True Blue Boutique Hotel, a friendly, family-run hotel that also includes apartments, and which comes with an outdoor pool and sea views. Cachet Travel has seven nights’ B&B departing 12 October starting at £1,225pp, including flights and transfers.

Read more: Could I fall in love with solo travel on a Turkish cruise?

Cyprus

If you’re looking for a half-term escape, head to Cyprus and hole up in Anna Maria Villa in the village of Peyia near Coral Bay north of Paphos. This two-bedroom house comes with a pool, outdoor dining and lush gardens, as well as a one-bedroom annexe, which you can rent for groups of five or more. Sunvil has a week’s self-catering from 24 October starting at £869pp, including flights and transfers.

Read more: I’m a Cyprus expert, these are the best hotels on the island

Cotswolds

Embrace October’s mellowness by staying in one of England’s oldest vineyards in the midst of the Gloucestershire countryside. Three Choirs Vineyards makes for a romantic getaway in one of its stylish rooms or lodges, all with sweeping vineyard views. Take a tour of the winery and dine in the on-site Brasserie after exploring the villages of the Cotswolds. Rooms in October start at £165 a night.

Read more: I travelled by local bus from London to the Cotswolds for under £40

Portugal

Here’s another half-term holiday idea – Club Med Da Balaia just east of Albufeira on the Algarve. Sitting on top of red cliffs above a gorgeous beach, the all-inclusive resort combines adult-only spaces with child-friendly areas. Prices for a 24 October departure start at £1,298pp, including flights, transfers, seven nights’ all-inclusive accommodation, sports and activities including tennis, golf lessons and yoga.

Read more: I ditched my phone for a Lisbon trip – it changed the way I travel

Cornwall

Treat yourself to an autumnal break overlooking one of Cornwall’s finest beaches when you stay at Watergate Bay Hotel. If you’re not a cold-water swimmer, you can still enjoy long coastal walks before coming back to the hotel’s indoor ocean-view pool and spa. Try local produce in Zacry’s restaurant or something more casual in the Beach Hut. B&B doubles in October start at £280 a night.

Read more: The best walks in Cornwall, from coastal routes to countryside ambles

And if you want to splash out…

South Africa and Mauritius

If you can’t choose between beach and safari for a honeymoon, you can combine both in this South Africa and Mauritius: Luxury Safari and Beach run by Turquoise Holidays. After arriving in Johannesburg, you’ll spend four nights in one of Marataba Safari Lodge’s luxury tented suites in Marakele National Park, including one night under the stars in a treehouse. Then you’ll be off to Mauritius for seven nights at the Oberoi Beach Resort, a lush retreat on the island’s northwest coast. Prices start at £6,999pp and include flights, transfers, an all-inclusive safari in South Africa and half-board accommodation in Mauritius.

Read more: Why it’s worth flying to South Africa for winter sun

Peru

Travel around Peru in style with this 14-day Belmond Andean Explorer Rail Journey with Cox & Kings. Starting in Lima, you’ll travel to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon before boarding the Belmond Andean Explorer luxury sleeper train to Lake Titicaca and Cusco. Then on to Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, before flying back to Lima and home. Prices start at £6,595pp and include all flights, transfers, rail travel, hotels, breakfast, five lunches, three dinners and excursions.

Read more: Peru’s potato guardians are fighting climate change

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk