Seven affordable autumn sun destinations you’re not thinking of, but should be

As the Met Office forecasts a wet and windy autumn for the UK, you might be thinking about an escape to the sun. Fortunately, there are still plenty of short-haul destinations where the weather remains balmy into November. With the crowds of summer gone, prices are a little more comfortable, too. Expedia’s Autumn Travel Outlook indicates that international hotel rates fall by 7 per cent in autumn, with the data earmarking the 4 and 8 November as two of the best dates for accommodation savings. So, if you’re inclined to postpone putting the heating on, these warmer-weather destinations might appeal for a quick burst of sunshine… The picturesque town of Salobreña in Andalucia. Autumn is a comfortable time to explore its hiking trails (Photo: EunikaSopotnicka/Getty) Salobreña, Spain November highs: 20°CAverage flight time: three hours An hour east of Malaga, one of Spain’s sunniest cities has the architectural traits of Andalucia’s hillside pueblos blancos (white villages), but with the benefit of being on the coast. The town pairs its whitewashed old town with a hilltop castle, multiple miradors (lookout points) and a tropical fruit farm that offers guided tours of its mango, avocado and cherimoya orchards. Autumn is also a comfortable time to explore hiking trails that ribbon past cliffs, river mouths, and gorges. Pick up a trail map from the tourist office. Return flights from Gatwick and Luton to Málaga from £42 with Wizz Air in November. Saga has a seven-night all-inclusive stay at three-star Hotel Salobreña Suites including flights from Gatwick from £875pp, departing 8 November Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach in Portugal(Photo: Pollyana Ventura/Getty/E+) Setúbal, Portugal November highs: 21°CAverage flight time: 2 hours 50 mins Often overlooked for Lisbon or the Algarve, the whitewashed, red-roofed port city of Setúbal still experiences daytime highs of 21°C in November and the cost of living is 18.5 per cent lower than in the Portuguese capital. A 15th century Manueline monastery and museum, hilltop Fort of São Filipe, and the Mercado do Livramento – often ranked as one of the best fish markets in the world – are just a few of the highlights. Autumn and winter are also the best times to see flamingos in the nearby Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, as well its resident bottlenose dolphins. Both October and November lend themselves nicely to outdoor pursuits in both Setúbal and the neighbouring Alentejo. The coastal mountain reserve Arrábida Natural Park, 15 minutes away, is laced with walking trails and days could still be warm enough to enjoy the clear water of nearby Praia de Galapinhos, a small, secluded beach. Flights from Stansted to Lisbon are available for as little as £58 with Ryanair. The central Meliá Setúbal has double rooms from £99 throughout October. The Luna Esperanca has rooms from €69 (£59) Traditional fishing boats in Zygi, Cyprus. Life here revolves around the harbour (Photo: Veronika Kovalenko/Getty) Zygi, Cyprus November highs: 24°CAverage flight time: 4 hours 30 mins The fishing village of Zygi peers out over the Mediterranean Sea, 30km east of Limassol. Life here revolves around the harbour, where colourful fishing boats are cradled by the waves. There is a beach, too, with baklava-coloured sands and shallow waters primed for paddling, though sea temperatures are still passable for a swim. Zygi is regarded as the fish mezze capital of Cyprus, so there are plenty of seafood tavernas. Captain’s Table, Loizos Koumparis and Old Zygi are highly rated. Autumn is a great time to get out into the Troodos Mountains that back Zygi. An hour’s drive or coach tour journey will get you to traditional villages such as Foini – known for its pottery – and the wineries of the Commandaria and Krasochoria of Lemesoss wine routes. A recent study by Solmar Villas earmarked Cyprus as the best place for seeking sun this October, thanks to a combination of sunshine hours and flights from £31 one-way. A night’s stay in a central apartment such as Glabur Stays The One Elite Marina Front is available for just over £100 on Booking.com. A little further out, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom, Infinity Residences holiday home costs £166 a night in October The clifftop Meliá La Palma has its own astronomical observatory Puerto Naos, La Palma, Canary Islands November highs: 24°CAverage flight time: 4 hours 30 mins An island of eternal spring, this welcoming island is reliably warm on the cusp of winter, with the west coast sunnier than the east. One of the least-visited Canary Islands, it is keen for tourists to return after the devastating Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruptions five years ago. On its western edge, Puerto Naos lays claim to La Palma’s longest beach, where the volcanic black sands are backed by palms and a promenade, close to a flurry of easy-going cafés and restaurants. Paragliding is popular here, as are visits to the PlátanoLógico banana plantation, a short walk away. The town is less than an hour’s drive from Caldera de Taburiente National Park, where walking trails weave along the rim of the reserve’s 1,500 metres deep volcanic crater and through forests of Canarian pines. On the north-east coast, Charco Azul is one of the most picturesque of the island’s natural sea pools.As the nights draw in, late autumn is a prime time to experience La Palma’s dark skies, which rank among the clearest in the Northern Hemisphere. Flights from Manchester to La Palma from £99 with Jet2 in early November. A night’s stay at Meliá La Palma, which has its own astronomical observatory, in Puerto Naos, from £105 B&B. Getaways here revolve around desert camps, such as this luxury one by Agafay (Photo: Thomas Barwick/Getty) Agafay, Morrocco November highs: 23°CAverage flight time: 3 hours 40 mins A 40-minute drive from Marrakech, this swathe of Moroccan wilderness is rumpled by miles of limestone rock dunes that look like something from a sci-fi film. Getaways here revolve around desert camps – yurts, domes, bell tents, bungalows and lodges, many of which come with access to oasis-style pools, hot tubs and even spas. Daytimes might be spent quad-biking, camel-riding, dune-buggying, horse-hacking and hiking across the region’s remote plateaus in view of the Atlas Mountains. Evenings are all about stargazing and tucking in to tagines by the light of campfires. With the British pound strong against the Moroccan dirham, money goes a long way, too. Return flights from Stansted to Marrakech for £53 with Ryanair. Double-bedded glamping tent with private bathroom at Agafay Ecolodge from £127 a night. For a twin-centre stay, the new Riad Beij in Marrakech has rooms from £128 B&B in November. For those who don’t like to fly, Byway has a 16-day tour that leaves from London and visits Marrakech – with enough time to fit in an overnight in Agafay – Casablanca, and Tangier, via France and Spain, from £1,769pp in November Shorts Ortigia and Noto, Sicily November highs: 21°CAverage flight time: 3 hours 15 mins Separated from the coastal town of Syracuse by the narrow Darsena channel, on the south-east corner of Sicily, the island of Ortigia is a tangle of tight streets and Baroque palaces lapped by the sea. The centre of Syracuse in the 8th century BC, it is embroidered with sights from a Unesco-listed cathedral and the ruined Greek temple of Apollo to the Puppet Museum. A 40-minute drive south-west, Noto is another Baroque wonder with a monumental cathedral, palazzi and 124-year-old almond milk granita specialist Caffè Sicilia among its culinary highlights. Autumn is pumpkin, porcini, and wild fennel season in Sicily. You will see the fresh produce topping tables at street markets and starring on seasonal menus in both cities. Ryanair has return flights from Stansted to Catania for £42 in early November. Onward trains to Syracuse less than £10 one-way. You can also make the journey all the way by train via Paris, Turin, Rome and then over the Strait of Messina to Catania. Ortigia Boutique Palace has doubles from €70 (£60). Noto Boutique Hotel has doubles from €107 (£88) The Fort St Angelo in Birgu, Malta. Costs here can be almost a quarter cheaper than the Maltese capital, Valletta – and it’s less crowded too (Photo: Visit Malta) Birgu, Malta November highs: 21°CAverage flight time: 3 hours 15 mins One of Malta’s “Three Cities”, Birgu eyeballs Valletta, on the south side of the Grand Harbour. While its location isn’t all that different to the Maltese capital, costs can be almost a quarter cheaper overall and it is much less busy. Visitors can tick off spots such as the Knights of Malta’s headquarters, Fort St Angelo, and the Inquisitor’s Palace – seat of the Maltese Inquisition. However, wandering through Birgu’s Old Town, with its narrow cobbled alleys and champagne-coloured buildings, and the waterfront, in view of the sailboats, can be just as rewarding. Around 20 minutes’ drive is Qormi, a medieval “village of bakers” that is still stuffed with traditional wood-fired bakeries, where you can fill up a bag to take on one of the island’s many walking routes, such as the Three Villages Walk from Attard to Lija and Balzan to see townhouse-lined cobblestone streets, 18th century mansions and luxuriant gardens. According to Skyscanner, winter flights to Valletta are down in price by 11 per cent year on year. Ryanair has return flights from Stansted for less than £100 return in early November. Privately owned studios and apartments such as Birgu Lodge, including a hot tub, from less than £50 a night, Booking.com.