Where to go in September
Extend your summer with a sunny September holiday. Whether you’re looking to chase thrills or throw your towel down on a quiet beach, we’ve got you covered with our carefully selected destinations and hotels.
Author: Amber-Louise Large
The city
The lowdown
Dancing fountains, ringing casinos and neon lights… Vegas wants your attention, and once it has it, you’ll be mesmerised. Stay in a hotel the size of a supermall. Lap up the VIP lifestyle as you sip cocktails in a cabana or swim laps in a humungous pool. Sit in flamboyant restaurants and stare wide-eyed at spectacular shows. Vegas plays its best ace in September, when the extreme summer heat subsides but the sun still shines bright.
Eat
Many of the best restaurants in Las Vegas are in hotels. Dine under the gaze of a Picasso portrait at Bellagio or visit MGM Grand Hotel and Casino where Joel Robuchon sparkles. At Wynn Las Vegas, Delilah delivers the type of old-school glamour that makes you want to throw a feather boa over your shoulders. Of course, when you’re looking for something more casual, there are always Vegas buffets: Ceasars Palace puts on a spread with more than 250 choices.
Stay
New York New York Hotel and Casino sits on the Las Vegas Strip, catching the eye of every passerby with its replica of NYC’s skyline – complete with a Statue of Liberty – and its cherry-red rollercoaster. This hotel is very Vegas, with over-the-top theming (there’s a whole ‘Greenwich Village’ inside) and entertainment such as acrobats and duelling pianos.
The beach
The lowdown
Discover Greece’s biggest island. Colourful Crete is packed with green mountains, honey-coloured cliffs, turquoise bays and sand that ranges from white to pink. Spend blissful beach days stretching out on lounge chairs and dipping into the sun-warmed sea. Walk across sand the colour of strawberry ice cream on Elafonisi and see the mystical caves at Matala, where myths say Zeus once washed ashore. When you’re not on a beach, hike through a gorge or stare at frescoes in a Minoan palace.
Eat
Meze drizzled with olive oil – or, as the locals call it, ‘liquid gold’ – is a Mediterranean masterpiece. Sink your teeth into cheese pies, stuffed vine leaves, grilled meats and salt-sprinkled fish – all of which pair excellently with a sparkling sea view. If seafood is your feast of choice, order the catch of the day in Thalassa at Elounda Bay Palace where white tablecloths, a cobalt-blue bay and live music floating through the evening breeze set the scene.
Stay
Domes Aulus Elounda has it all: majestic views, cliffside pools, a private beach and mighty Greek cuisine. This all-inclusive, adult-only resort is bursting with gorgeous sights, like Spinalonga island sitting in Mirabello Bay and traditional Greek pies sitting in The Island restaurant. Take in all the wonders, big and small.
The family trip
The lowdown
Over in the Sunshine State, Orlando enchants with its fantasy worlds full of loop-de-looping rollercoasters and fireworks glittering over castles. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort to sip frothy butterbeer in the sun. Brave a Halloween Horror Night if you dare – yep, Halloween starts early in Orlando. You’ll even find giant Mickey-shaped pumpkins in Walt Disney World Resort, as well as plenty of nostalgia and buttered popcorn.
Eat
Dinner and drinks in Orlando are always served with something extra, whether it’s a fireworks view at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort or a set by a DJ from a galaxy far, far away at Oga’s Cantina. Want to feel like yer a wizard? Tuck into hearty bangers and mash in the Leaky Cauldron at Universal Orlando Resort. When you want to splash out, wish upon a Michelin star at Victoria & Albert’s in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Stay
Get stoked for a stay at Universal Surfside Inn & Suites. Two-bedroom suites sleep up to six guests and the surfboard-shaped pool is perfect for cooling off under the Floridian sun. You might not actually catch any waves at this beach-themed hotel, but you can catch free shuttles around Universal Orlando Resort. Other awesome benefits include early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The cultural break
Palma Mallorca
The lowdown
Majorca’s capital promises gentle walks through a cobblestone-stuffed old town, tables loaded with tapas in trendy bars and seafront views that will have you counting down the seconds until the sky starts to blush at sunset. Stand on the terrace at Gothic cathedral La Seu to see the palm-studded city and its bay from above before exploring its tangle of streets. Dive into studios and boutiques before digging your feet into sand on the city beach or walking along the promenade.
Eat
Sitting pretty in a restored mansion, beautiful Botanic at Can Bordoy puts plants front and centre. They climb the walls. They burst from pots on tables. They’re grilled, roasted, crisped and dressed to the nines on ceramic plates. DINS Santi Taura at El Llorenc Parc de la Mar is another stunner. Sat in the surroundings of Palma’s cathedral, this Michelin-starred restaurant serves a tasting menu of traditional Mallorcan food with a twist. Expect dishes like lamb with classic ensaimada pastry.
Stay
All-inclusive resort Ikos Porto Petro will sweep you off your feet and onto a sun lounger in no time. Laze by one of the five pools or two sandy coves and skim the sea in a canoe or a pedalo. When it’s time for dinner, peruse a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef in one of the six restaurants or head out to a local eatery. There’s plenty for little ones at this resort, too – including their own clubs and pools.
The wild card
The Algarve
The lowdown
Portugal’s south region is golden, from its sunshine to its sand to its pastel de natas. Hop between beaches (there are more than 100) and gaze up at sunbaked cliff faces. Golf in view of Roman ruins or emerald waves dotted with dolphin fins. Seek out limestone caves and watch the sunset at ‘the end of the world’. The Algarve may be famed for its 300 days of sunshine a year, but its balmy nights are also worth bragging about – sit in laid-back wine bars or dance to lively music until the sun says its morning.
Eat
Ocean at Vila Vita Parc has two twinkling Michelin stars. The seasonal menus here feature local ingredients and lashings of creativity – sit at a table overlooking the Atlantic as you’re served the likes of lobster gyoza. Speaking of Michelin stars, Gusto at Conrad Algarve boasts one of its own and serves menus presented by Heinz Beck (who has three to his name).
Stay
With five pools, five restaurants and five stars, Epic Sana Algarve Hotel is, well, epic. This sprawling resort between Albufeira and Vilamoura sits at the top of Falesia Beach. Stroll through pine forests and gardens, follow a walkway stretching down towards the sea and stand on powdery sand surrounded by red cliffs. Away from the bustle of big towns, this is a pocket of peace in the Algarve.
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