activities

by Siobhan Grogan

Autumn is the perfect time to get away. Once the school term starts in most countries and summer’s peak season passes, prices are usually lower, hotels and attractions are quieter and even the most popular spots can be explored without the crowds. Locals return to restaurants and beaches and you’ll get a much better idea of what a destination is really like year-round when it’s not flooded by tourists. Whether you fancy a short-haul weekend break or a sun-soaked adventure further afield, an autumnal break is just the ticket for a well-deserved boost before the long winter ahead. 

Split

A terracotta-topped city on Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, Split is still bathed in sunshine in autumn for lazy beach days, outdoor activities and unhurried sightseeing. Walk the city walls then visit Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman fortress considered the world’s oldest Catholic cathedral building. Feast on seafood in a family-run konoba restaurant, climb the pine forested Marjan Hill for panoramic views or swim from beaches including Trstenik and Kašjuni, which you will likely have all to yourself in autumn. Join a boat trip to see even more of the coast, touring nearby Dalmatian islands including Brač and Vis. 

Guernsey

The second largest Channel Island, Guernsey has warmer, drier autumns than mainland Britain, with crowd-free harbour towns, coastal paths and ancient sites. Explore on foot by heading out on the 39-mile Guernsey Coastal Path, a circular route that passes sandy beaches, World War II landmarks and dramatic cliffs. Alternatively stay in capital St Peter’s Port for upmarket seafood restaurants, independent galleries, cobbled streets and the 19th-century Castle Cornet. Watch out for the picture frames around the island that mark the exact places painted by the artists Turner and Renoir when they visited. 

Kuala Lumpur

With its tropical temperatures, colourful temples and buzzy nightlife, the Malaysian capital is one of Asia’s most thrilling cities. Look out over it all from the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, then wander Chinatown’s lantern-strung Petaling Street Market for stalls selling peanut-filled pancakes, soyabean puddings and the popular winter melon drink. Work it off by climbing the 272 steep rainbow-bright steps to explore the Batu Caves carved into a limestone hill and watched over by a 42m gold state of Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Just watch out for the free-roaming (and food-snatching) monkeys.

Paphos

This lively coastal city in southwest Cyprus has beach weather long into autumn, with a bath-warm sea, golden sandy beaches and restaurants spilling on to the pavement for long alfresco lunches. Away from the lounger, you can potter round Paphos Old Town with its market, street murals and coastline views, try Cypriot wine at Tsangarides Winery in the hills outside the city or go hiking through the dramatic Avakas Gorge. The usually busy Unesco-listed archaeological site Tombs of the Kings, which dates back to the third century BC, will also be blissfully quiet to enjoy in peace.

Kefalonia

This pretty Greek island is a delight without summer’s crowds and scorching heat. Autumn makes it much easier to enjoy its pastel-painted villages, waterfront tavernas and the hiking trails of Mount Ainos National Park. Soak up the sun on the limestone cliff-backed White Rocks Beach, take a boat trip from Argostoli harbour to the uninhabited Vardiani island or head out sea kayaking from Agia Kyriaki. Be sure to call in on scenic fishing village Assos with its crescent-shaped bay, brightly coloured houses and 16th-century Venetian fortress overlooking the Ionian Sea.

Dreaming of a spring escape without breaking the bank? These stunning destinations offer sunshine, culture and serious savings – perfect for savvy travellers looking to beat the crowds

by Alicia Miller

Tokyo, Japan

Busy cherry blossom period is over, but the sticky summertime heat hasn’t yet hit. Mid-to-late May is a gorgeous time to jet off to Japan – the weather is sublime and tourists are comparatively thin on the ground. Fly into Tokyo then strike out to less-explored corners, such as holy Mount Koya, where you can bed down in inexpensive temple stays, the striking mountainous terrain of affordable Toyama, or former samurai stronghold Kakunodate, home to charming Edo-era architecture. May also marks the beginning of the Japanese festival season, where you can catch the traditional Sanja Matsuri festivities in Tokyo’s Asakusa. The joyous riot of music, dance and bobbing shrines is loads of fun and entirely free to attend.

Lake Como, Italy

After hosting the Winter Olympics this February, Milan – and its famous neighbouring lake – is in the spotlight. However, visit in summer and you’ll encounter high prices and tourist hordes (many hoping to spot Como villa owner George Clooney). Come in May before the season hots up, however, and room rates are down, the lake is magical in its tranquillity and springtime’s mild weather has coaxed garden buds into blossom. Pair a few days on the lakeside with time in the city, where walks through the Parco Sempione and Giardini Indro Montanelli bookmark days in the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery and Campari spritzes by the iconic Duomo

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Prices on this paradisical stretch of Mexican coast take a dip in May shoulder season, before kids are out of school but after the winter sun masses have departed. Take advantage of the friendly resort prices to stay longer and explore the region, swimming in crystalline cenotes (sinkholes), exploring ruins cloaked in jungle and sipping margaritas in trendy beach enclaves such as Tulum. Fly into Cancún to begin the adventure, then consider hiring a car so you can take things at your own pace.

Peloponnese, Greece

May is the ideal time to get your Greek fix. The resort season has started, temperatures are more moderate than in sultry summertime and fewer visitors mean reasonable prices. From 22 May, British Airways operates direct daily flights to Kalamata, gateway to the underrated Peloponnese – home to landmark sites such as ancient Olympia and Mycenae. With highs hovering in the mid-20s, it’s both warm enough to hit the beach (curvaceous white-sand Simos is the local Instagram fave) yet still cool enough to tackle the vertiginous hiking trails of the rugged inland.

Toronto, Canada

Following a long and cold winter Canada’s largest city bursts into life in May, with plenty of blue sky backdropping its eclectic, strollable neighbourhoods. Meander through the boutique-lined streets around trendy Queen Street West, toast alfresco drinks in the Distillery District or walk along the boardwalk that lines aptly named The Beaches. Before peak summer tourist season arrives – as well as the throng descending for FIFA’s 2026 World Cup – now is also a great time to explore the nearby wine regions of Prince Edward County and Niagara, or cottage country corners such as Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes.

Burgundy, France

Autumn prices are high and harvest dates unpredictable, so why not consider a wine region holiday in affordable springtime, instead? By May, Burgundy’s vineyards are lined with green leaves and promising buds, with inviting sun the accompaniment as you wander between the rows. Once you’ve had your fill of Pinot Noir tastings, Burgundian capital Lyon awaits for a city break. This time of year, popular Paul Bocuse indoor market is bursting with springtime produce and the café-lined squares buzz with locals downing espressos.

By Cheryl Therrien 

My husband and I have always had pets. In the past, we have boarded our pets when we traveled. In recent years, we have found that we prefer to take our pets with us.

This means that in addition to planning for ourselves, we must also plan for them. We have learned a lot through trial and error. Things that should have been obvious, we learned the hard way.

In this article, I have put together some information that I hope you will find useful. Our travels involve driving and no air travel, so the following does not apply to air travel.

Pet Necessities

We try to pack light when we travel. We have a pet bag just like people with children have diaper bags. Here’s what goes inside:

• Rugs to use as pet beds rather than bringing the usual plush cushions.
• Silicone collapsible bowls for food and water. They are easy to clean, take up very little space and add almost no weight.
• Pet seat belts, both for their safety and ours. They hook right into your seat belt latch, and then you attach the other end to their harness. With pet seat belts we are never concerned about them leaving the vehicle before we have their leashes on and are ready for them. It also alleviates the worry of injury if we must stop suddenly.
• Stock on waste bags. You can never have enough of them. Even though your pet or pets are with you, they will still be stressed, which typically means more waste to collect and dispose of.
• Reflective leashes for evening walks. Just as with runners, wearing bright reflective gear makes our pets more easily seen.
• Medication for car sickness or agitation when riding. Your vet may give your pet travel medication, just like with humans.
• Up-to-date documentation for pet vaccinations.
• Identification tag on the collar. For our pets, the tag notes our last name on one side and our phone number on the other side. Should our pet(s) get lost, those who find them can always reach us.

Plan for Bathroom Breaks

When you plan for bathroom breaks, you need to be strategic. The places you plan to stop must have grassy areas for pets to do their business. Not every gas stop will have a place for your pets to relieve themselves.

If you travel along interstates or highways, many times you will find a rest area that has nothing but a place to park and lots of grass. It’s not great for us, but it works great for our pets. We do get to stretch our legs while they relieve themselves.

Do not leave your pets in a hot vehicle even for a few minutes. We know what happens to children. It’s worse for pets because they have fur coats.

Bathroom breaks are also a good time for them to be offered a drink of water. Those collapsible pet dishes come in very handy for a quick drink.

Pet Friendly Accommodation

There are many hotels that accept pets. There is usually an additional pet fee that must be paid, and they typically restrict you to two pets. The last hotel we stayed in with our pets had no carpet, and our room was on the ground floor with a grassy area right outside our door. It was perfect.

Once we know the route to our destination, it is as simple as Googling for pet friendly hotels near that location. When we make our reservations, we are certain to ask if we can have a room on the lower level with easy grass access. If you don’t ask, you cannot count on getting a suitable location.

If you use a service like AirBnB, you can filter your search for pet friendly places. Again, we have found that most will require an additional deposit and limit the number of pets.

If you are RV travelers, then you will want to scope out those RV parks where you plan to stay and check the pet regulations. Some have off-leash areas where pets can play.

Many do not allow you to erect temporary fenced-in pens as many RVers like to do. Most require you to keep your pets on a leash. I have even seen places where they want you to walk your pets outside of the RV areas.

If you are boondocking, then everything is dependent on that location: Walmart parking lot versus grassy knoll.

Bathroom Accidents

If for some reason your pet does have an accident inside your accommodation, we find that OxiClean works great for cleaning up. We always have plenty of this around at home so we take some with us just in case it is needed. We have never had to use it, but we want to be prepared.

Emergency Vet

If you plan to take your pets with you when you travel, then it will be important to know where the nearest emergency vet is located. Anything can happen. Remember to take all the necessary documentation with you.

It is not enough to show their rabies tag or provide the phone number of your vet, especially if it is after hours and your vet is probably closed. We put together a folder just for our pets with all of their documentation so we are prepared for any possible situation.

Our stress level has decreased considerably since we decided to take our dogs with us when we travel. We don’t have to worry about how they are doing, and we are all much happier to be together. With a little extra planning, we can all enjoy our vacation.

Do you travel on vacation with your pets? What things do you always pack when travelling with your pets? Please share your tips below!