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As the crowds start to clear across Europe and prices finally drop after a long summer of high interest rates, you may be wondering if this fall is the right time to finally take that long-awaited trip across the pond.
The answer is yes: it’s not just that much less busybut the weather is much more pleasant, being neither scorching hot nor cold.
The downside is that flight options can be more limited during the off-season, making the idyllic Mediterranean more difficult for Americans to reach.
Seasonal routes connecting the United States and southern Europe will become thinner from September.
Still, there are happy beachgoers 4 unbelievable sunny destinations which will continue to operate non-stop transatlantic flights for the next three months:
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca, the summer capital of Spain, is a paradise island in the Mediterranean known for its rich, beautiful heritage calas and bays stretching out crystal clear waterand of course lively holiday resorts where sun and fun are the order of the land.
If you are looking for parties and fun, you will certainly find it in a trendy beach bar in Magaluf; looking for relaxation?
Cala Major is home to some of Mallorca’s most luxurious accommodation, including the monument Nixe Palace Hotela favorite among Hollywood stars in the 1950s.
For the culture lovers among us: Palma de Mallorca is not to be missed capital ready for postcards home to a fortified cathedral and a medieval castle, nor the beautiful Fortnalutx, a picturesque hilltop village built entirely of stone and only accessible on foot.
Mallorca’s list of wonders doesn’t end there: from Sóller, with its picturesque waterfront and Catalan-Gothic church, to the pristine Cala Figuera, your favorite spot for a late afternoon dip, you could never exhaust your options in this rather… small, yet monumental island (although you might as well try).
Fly direct to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) from:
United Airlines––1 flight per day, every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
Menton, France
Menton is a charming town in France just a stone’s throw away from the Italian border.
It’s the ultimate Mediterranean escape: photo pastel colored buildings with green shutters, winding cobbled streets, a sandy and pebble beach on the Mediterranean Sea, and gelateria in abundance.
It is often described as the most beautiful, colorful place on the French Riviera, and when you look at the photo above, it’s not hard to see why.
The best part is that it’s not nearly as busy as overtoured Saint-Tropez or even neighboring micronation Monaco.
Even though it is just asbobo‘, as the French would call it, or posh like other Riviera towns, life in Menton unfolds at a much slower pace compared to other Riviera towns: let’s just say you wouldn’t go out of your way to visit Menton visits for luxury shopping, nor the non-existent nightlife of Menton.
Sounds – and looks – idyllic and magical, but how easy is it for Americans to reach Menton in the fall?
As it turns out, unbelievable: it’s a little more than one half an hour by train from Nicewhich operates transatlantic flights from four US hubs in the fall and well into October.
Fly direct to Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) from:
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
La Compagnie––1 flight per day, every Tuesday and Friday
Delta Airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
American Airlines––1 flight a day, every day
Ostia, Italy
Did you know that Rome has a beach?
Named after the archaeological zone of the same name nearby, Ostia stretches for several kilometers along the azure blue Mediterranean Seaand it is one emerging coastal strip That most culture vultures who visit Rome bypass this route altogether.
On the other hand, it is the favorite weekend getaway for every sun-loving Roman, not only thanks to its long municipal beach, but also because of the Oasi Naturista di Capocottaa secluded stretch of sand where nudity is protected by law, the long pier and scenic promenade.
Because it has sea views, unlike most of historic Rome further inland, Ostia enjoys cooling sea breezes, which heat-intolerant guests will certainly appreciate on particularly warm autumn days (trust us, temperatures this far south in Europe can be surprisingly high, even out of season).
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay, this 3-star beachfront hotel is a must Hotel La Scaletta has overnight rates starting at just $91 in October––you’ll be staying in a 15 minutes drive from Rome International Airportand a half-hour train ride away from the center of Rome.
Fly direct to Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) from:
ITA Aviation––3 flights per day, every day
Delta Airlines––3 flights per day, every day
US airlines––1-2 flights per day, every day
Norwegian Atlantic Aviation––1-2 flights per day, every day
United Airlines––2 flights per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––2 flights per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
Delta Airlines––1 flight per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
Delta Airlines––2 flights per day per day
Delta Airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
ITA Aviation––1 flight per day per day
Sitges
It is a medium-sized coastal town in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia, about 39 kilometers west of Barcelona. It is a highly sought after destination because of its… golden-sand Mediterranean beachesoceanfront promenade and, most importantly, a thriving social scene.
Let’s put it this way: there’s more than just a few hip nightclubs and gay bars in the area, and you might feel like the odd one out if you’re not exactly up for showing it all off at a nudist beach, so maybe stay away from Sitges if you have more conservative values.
Libertarian values aside, visitors can stroll through the relatively compact Old Town, where narrow pedestrian-friendly streets are lined with boutique shops or our personal favorite, pay the local Maricel Museum a visit, where they can learn some local history and admire quirky Catalan art.
If you’re wondering how accessible Sitges is from Barcelona El Prat, where most Americans will land on a flight from the United States, the answer is more important than Barcelona itself: Sitges is a much shorter 29 minute drive from the airportwhile the center of Barcelona is 42 minutes away.
Fly direct to Barcelona El Prat from:
Delta Airlines––3 flights per day, every day
US airlines––2 flights per day per day
Iberia––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
Iberia––1 flight per day every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
Iberia––1 flight per day every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––1 flight per day per day
United Airlines––1 flight per day per day
Iberia––1 flight per day per day
Delta Airlines––1 flight per day per day
US airlines––0-1 flights per day, every day
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
