Cheapest Holiday Destinations in September
Five late-summer destinations worth comparing, with tips on warm seas, lower crowds and real total holiday costs.
The beach holiday season does not end when August does. Across much of the Mediterranean, September still has warm seas, open restaurants and long afternoons. What may change is demand: once schools return, some flights and hotels can be better value. But September does not guarantee a bargain, particularly in destinations popular with couples and travellers deliberately avoiding the peak summer heat.
Quick answer: compare Crete, the Antalya Coast, the Algarve, Rhodes and Spain's Costa Blanca. They are five strong candidates for a late-summer holiday, each with different strengths. They are not a live-data ranking of the cheapest destinations: that would require comparable flight-and-hotel quotations for the same dates and party.
September's biggest saving opportunity: compare the weeks
ABTA explains that school holiday prices respond to the pressures of supply and demand. Read its explanation of school-holiday pricing. That makes the first weeks after the summer holidays a useful starting point for comparison, but not necessarily the cheapest dates. Local holidays, airport capacity and popular hotels can keep prices high. Always check your own school calendar before planning a family trip; GOV.UK links to council term dates.
A practical test: search the same trip from your chosen airport for the first, second, third and fourth weeks of September. Keep the party size, nights, board basis and luggage consistent. Look at alternative flight days too, then check whether a lower package price is offset by inconvenient flight times or an expensive transfer.
Explore holidays departing on your dates
TripsByDate shows advertised package holidays across its wider inventory. The changing options below are not necessarily Christmas-week departures or packages to these five destinations. Use them as starting points, then compare your own dates and check the final price, availability and festive arrangements with the provider.
LGW • 7 nights
B&B · Broadway Travel
MAN • 7 nightsAI · easyJet holidays
LGW • 7 nightsSkiline
BHX • 7 nightsB&B · Iglu SkiFive September destinations worth comparing
Temperature figures in the infographics are broad illustrations. Weather varies by location, altitude and week; long-term climate averages are not promises about your holiday. More importantly, air temperature, sea warmth, beach conditions and overall cost are different questions.
1. Crete, Greece: warm water with more than a beach to explore
Best for: travellers who want sandy beaches, food, historical sites and enough variety to fill a week. Crete is large: staying around Chania, Rethymno or Heraklion creates quite different trips. Chania has a particularly appealing harbour and old town; Heraklion can suit visitors interested in Knossos and museums; southern coastal bases often involve longer road journeys.
September advantage: the Mediterranean has had a summer to warm up, so sea bathing can be more inviting than in early spring. You can still experience hot days, so schedule archaeological visits or longer hikes early. September remains a busy month in some island hotspots, and the end of summer is not an automatic price collapse.
Value strategy: calculate the cost of being close to the places you actually want. A discounted beach apartment may not save money if it requires a hire car for seven days. For couples who want tavernas and evenings out, a walkable town may be worth a higher room rate. See Visit Greece's Crete information and our Greece seasonal guide.
2. Antalya Coast, Türkiye: consider the total all-inclusive cost
Best for: travellers who value full-service hotels, large pools, family facilities and a reliably summery resort atmosphere. Antalya city, Lara, Belek, Side and Alanya are very different places. Compare travel times from Antalya Airport before assuming two packages are interchangeable.
September advantage: the coast generally remains hot, with warm sea conditions after summer. A high daytime temperature is excellent for a pool holiday but may be uncomfortable for long archaeological excursions without shade. Official historical weather information is available from the Turkish State Meteorological Service.
Value strategy: compare an all-inclusive rate against bed-and-breakfast plus estimated lunches, dinners, drinks, transport and activities. Ask exactly which branded drinks, restaurants, waterpark facilities and children's activities are included; their availability may differ between hotels. Factor in transfer time, since distant resorts can eat into a shorter holiday. Our Turkey month-by-month guide helps with seasonal trade-offs.
3. Algarve, Portugal: Atlantic scenery and September beach days
Best for: scenic cliffs, beach walks, relaxed towns and travellers who prefer outdoor exploring to a large hotel complex. Lagos offers beaches and a walkable historic centre, Albufeira a livelier atmosphere, and Tavira a calmer eastern Algarve alternative.
The key difference: the Algarve faces the Atlantic, so its sea often feels cooler than the eastern Mediterranean even when the air is pleasantly warm. Wind, swell and beach exposure affect the experience. If sea swimming is a priority, examine the beaches around your exact resort rather than relying only on an air-temperature icon.
Value strategy: compare properties with a practical walk to the beach or town against cheaper outlying stays. Check car hire, parking and airport transport before deciding. Verify seasonal weather against Portugal's IPMA climate normals and see Best Months to Visit Portugal.
4. Rhodes, Greece: warm days plus an extraordinary old town
Best for: mixing beach time with medieval history. Rhodes Town gives access to the UNESCO-listed medieval centre; Lindos offers whitewashed streets and a dramatic acropolis; Faliraki offers a more conventional resort atmosphere. Those are very different holiday styles, so location matters more than the island name alone.
September advantage: warm seas and active resorts can make this a strong late-summer choice. But attractions can still be busy and exposed historical sites can be hot in the middle of the day. UNESCO's Medieval City of Rhodes listing helps explain why it is worth leaving the beach.
Value strategy: compare the final cost of a seaside package with the expense of travelling to Rhodes Town or Lindos on day trips. For a short break, a central hotel can give you more usable time even if its nightly rate is higher. Think about walking terrain and accessibility, too: narrow old-town lanes and hillside villages may not suit every traveller.
5. Costa Blanca, Spain: beaches, towns and transport convenience
Best for: travellers who want a broad choice of beach towns, cafés and independent accommodation. Benidorm is known for large-scale resort facilities; Alicante has an appealing city centre and beaches; Altea offers a different, quieter old-town feel. Do not assume that one Costa Blanca hotel represents the whole coast.
Verified September weather: Spain's AEMET records an average September daytime maximum of 28.5°C at Alicante-Elche Airport, using its 1981–2010 climate normal. September also averages 40 mm of rainfall there, showing that late-summer warmth does not rule out rain or storms. These are historical averages, not forecasts. Read AEMET's Alicante climate table.
Value strategy: compare flights into Alicante, hotel positions and local transport. If you plan to eat out and explore, a walkable location may beat a discounted hotel that demands taxis. For a classic beach resort, compare board basis and pool access. Also see Best Months to Visit Spain.
September value at a glance: choose by the type of holiday
- All-inclusive resort holiday: start by comparing the Antalya Coast, but check what is included before deciding that it is cheapest.
- Sea swimming and Greek island atmosphere: consider Crete or Rhodes; compare flight convenience and local travel as well as price.
- Coastal walks and scenic beaches: compare the Algarve, accepting that Atlantic water can feel cooler.
- Beach plus city restaurants: Alicante and the Costa Blanca offer useful combinations of town life and coast.
- A short break: favour a direct flight and a genuinely convenient hotel over a cheaper but remote resort.
See September holiday possibilities
Compare available holidays across destinations and departure dates, rather than guessing which country is cheapest.
Browse holidays by dateEight ways to get more holiday for your September budget
1. Compare early, middle and late September separately. Early September may have more families returning home, while the rest of the month can remain popular with couples. Less demand does not guarantee cheaper hotels; check real quotes.
2. Test different holiday lengths. Compare four-, five-, seven- and ten-night options where possible. A seven-night package can offer a better nightly rate, but the extra days still cost money. Work out both the total and the cost per full day.
3. Compare nearby UK airports. An apparently cheaper departure can lose its appeal after extra parking, rail fares or an overnight airport hotel. Calculate door-to-door cost.
4. Compare board basis against how you eat. All-inclusive may suit a hotel-centred family trip; bed-and-breakfast may be better if you intend to visit restaurants and explore daily.
5. Look at the flight hours. A late arrival and very early return can remove almost two usable days from a short break. An extra £30 for convenient flights may provide more actual holiday time.
6. Don't use hotel star ratings as a substitute for location. Distance to a beach, bus stop and shops affects daily spending. Read the property's exact address and check a map.
7. Read the weather beyond the sunshine symbol. September can bring storms to Mediterranean coasts. Plan a couple of non-beach activities, check the forecast close to departure and follow local swimming warnings.
8. Verify protection and final prices. Check baggage, transfers, local taxes, cancellation conditions and whether the applicable flight-inclusive package has ATOL protection. The Civil Aviation Authority explains ATOL.
One overlooked question: are you paying less, or getting more?
A £450 holiday is not automatically better value than a £490 holiday. Compare the second option if it includes checked baggage, airport transfers, breakfast and a hotel near the beach. Conversely, don't pay for an all-inclusive package you will barely use. For a fair comparison, write down total cost per person, usable holiday days, inclusions and expected local spending.
September's advantage may be as much about the experience as the price. Quieter beaches, easier restaurant bookings and comfortable sightseeing can make a holiday feel better even when the advertised price is similar to August. Recent travel reporting has also noted that popular shoulder-season destinations do not always become cheaper as demand grows, reinforcing the case for checking current availability rather than relying on a seasonal rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest place to go in September?
No destination can reliably claim that title without matching live prices. The five destinations here are comparison candidates, not a cheapest-price ranking. Start with your dates and UK airport, then check the actual packages available.
Is September really cheaper than August?
It often can be for traditional beach packages after school holidays, but hotels and flights do not always move together, and popular resorts can stay busy. Compare September and August on identical terms rather than assuming a fixed saving.
Is early or late September better?
Early September typically retains more of the summer feel. Later September can mean more flexibility and a calmer atmosphere, but daylight becomes shorter and weather gradually more variable. Neither half is guaranteed cheapest.
Which places are warm enough for swimming?
Crete, Rhodes and Türkiye's Mediterranean coast are useful September swimming candidates; Costa Blanca beaches can also be pleasant. The Atlantic-facing Algarve can feel cooler. Always check your resort's sea conditions and daily warnings.
Can families get September deals?
Families with school-age children should check term dates and attendance rules first. If you are free to travel after schools resume, you may find greater flexibility; prices for family-sized rooms and flights still vary.
How does TripsByDate help?
Choose your departure airport and dates on TripsByDate to browse package holiday listings across destinations. Compare advertised prices, then follow the provider link to confirm current availability, full price and terms.
Related guides
Where to Go on Holiday in September · Cheapest Months to Go on Holiday · Best Months for a Beach Holiday in Europe · Best Months to Visit Greece · Best Months to Visit Turkey · Cheapest Holiday Destinations in June.
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