The October Edit: Where to Travel before Winter kicks in

Most of us are back in the swing of things by now, with work picked up again and the kids back at school. I’m already thinking about the next trip, naturally, and October gives us plenty to dream about. Fewer crowds, different weather, and lots of places where beautiful things happen.

Here are ten places I’d be looking at this October, along with ten hotels worth building the trip around.

Vermont, USA

For the nature lovers, the romantics, and the slow travelers

October is when the fall foliage takes center stage in Vermont. The color begins in the northern forests and higher elevations, then moves south through the state as the weeks go on, so early October is often the safer bet than late September if you only get one trip. It is a beautiful time for scenic drives, long walks, farm-to-table lunches, and evenings by the fire.

Stay at Twin Farms. A secluded Relais & Châteaux retreat set across 300 acres in Barnard, with beautifully designed cottages, exceptional food, and that personal feel. It is particularly sought after during fall season, and for good reason.

Jordan

For the history seekers, the desert lovers, and adventurous couples

October is one of the best months to experience Jordan. The intense summer heat has eased, making long days exploring Petra far more comfortable, while Wadi Rum is particularly atmospheric in the cooler desert air. Add a night under an enormous, star-filled sky, and Jordan becomes a journey of exploration and disconnection.

Stay at SunCity Camp, Wadi Rum. A more refined take on desert camping, with dramatic Martian-style domes, comfortable interiors, and the vast landscape of Wadi Rum immediately outside your door.

Kenya

For the wildlife lovers and the safari photographers

October falls in the back half of Kenya's dry season, when the Mara's grass has thinned enough to concentrate wildlife around the remaining water, and open up visibility across the plains. It’s also past the peak crowds of the Great Migration months, when the river crossings draw the heaviest visitor numbers. It is a particularly interesting month for photographers who want the drama of the Mara without the busiest safari conditions.

Stay at Angama Mara. Located high above the Maasai Mara, Angama is all about the view. The glass-fronted tented suites look directly across the plains, while the lodge offers exceptional guiding and a more contemporary take on safari.

Hokkaido, Japan

For the onsen lovers, the food obsessives, and the fall seekers

October brings fall to Hokkaido earlier than much of Japan, with forests turning gold and crimson while cooler days call for hot springs, long lunches, and beautifully seasonal food. Jozankei tends to hit its peak color sometime between late September and mid-October, making it an ideal combination of nature and Japanese hospitality timed right.

Stay at Zaborin. An intimate ryokan near Niseko with just eleven private villas, each with its own indoor and outdoor onsen. The setting, architecture, and seasonal cuisine make it feel wonderfully removed from the usual Japan itinerary.

Malta

For the ones who want a Med island with a reason to stay up late.

Every October, Valletta holds Notte Bianca, a one-night festival that turns the capital into a stage. Museums and historic palaces stay open until midnight, and restaurants and bars extend their hours. Streets and squares fill with live music, theater, and art installations. It’s a totally  different way to see Valletta's baroque architecture than the daytime version offers. The festival also falls in Malta's shoulder season, when the summer heat has broken but the sea is still warm enough to swim, making October one of the better months to be there.

Stay at The Phoenicia Malta. Set at the entrance to Valletta, the Art Deco hotel is a Virtuoso property within walking distance of the festival's route, close enough that the walk back after midnight is short.

Georgia

For the wine lovers, the food lovers, and the curious travelers

October is harvest season in Georgia, particularly in Kakheti. This is the time of Rtveli, when grapes are picked and the country comes alive around its vineyards, wine cellars, and long communal tables. Villages press the grapes by hand and ferment the wine in qvevri, the clay vessels buried underground that Georgia has used for winemaking for about 8,000 years.

Stay at Schuchmann Wines Château. A working winery in the heart of Kakheti, combining a vineyard setting with a stylish place to stay, wine tastings, and a chance to experience Georgia's ancient wine culture at its source.

Hermanus, South Africa

For the wildlife lovers and the coastal romantics

September and October are peak whale-watching months in Hermanus, when southern right whales gather in Walker Bay and can often be seen remarkably close to shore. October also brings the possibility of combining whale watching with the vineyards and restaurants of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Stay at Birkenhead House. A tiny clifftop hotel overlooking Walker Bay, with sea-facing suites, a beautiful pool, and a wonderfully relaxed private-house atmosphere. The location makes whale watching part of the stay rather than an excursion you have to organize separately.

Bhutan

For the hikers, the culture seekers, and travelers looking for somewhere truly different

October is one of Bhutan's most beautiful months, with the skies clearing after the monsoon and some of the best visibility of the year for mountain views. It is excellent trekking weather, warm enough at lower elevations and crisp higher up. It remains a destination for travelers who want scenery and culture, but also a sense of stillness.

Stay at Amankora. Amankora is a collection of intimate lodges across Bhutan, allowing you to travel through several valleys while keeping the same understated level of luxury throughout the journey.

Taiwan

For the food lovers, the hikers, and travelers who like their luxury with a sense of place

October is a beautiful time to explore Taiwan, especially if you want to combine its food culture with mountains, hot springs, and the coast. The cooler autumn weather makes hiking and exploring more enjoyable, while the island's extraordinary night markets, tea culture, and regional cuisine give the trip a strong sense of place. It's worth noting that October sits at the tail end of typhoon season, so it's worth checking conditions before a visit to Taroko Gorge specifically, since the gorge has closed in past years after storm damage.

Stay at Silks Place Taroko. A sophisticated mountain retreat surrounded by the dramatic landscape of Taroko. Its location makes it an excellent base for combining Taiwan's spectacular mountain scenery with a slower, more restorative stay, and the hotel runs a dedicated fall package through the season.

Atacama, Chile

For the stargazers, the adventurers, and lovers of extreme landscapes

The Atacama is one of those places where October feels almost otherworldly. Vast salt flats, volcanoes, lagoons, and desert landscapes create a setting that feels more like another planet than South America. The clear, dry skies also make this one of the world's great destinations for stargazing, and with spring arriving in the southern hemisphere, October brings mild days without the desert's harsher summer extremes.

Stay at Awasi Atacama. A small luxury lodge built around the landscape, with adobe architecture, private guides, and a 4x4 for each stay. You set your own schedule for each excursion, so reaching the geysers or salt flats at sunrise means leaving when you want, not when a group does.