September is a glorious month to travel, with the hoards of summer travellers ebbing away, and the weather still fabulous across most seasonal destinations. In fact, September is often still high season across Europe’s resort towns. With children back to school, but the GCC humidity and hot weather still lingering, it’s a great time to get away. Here’s where to travel in September from the GCC, within a six-hour direct flight of its major hubs.

Athens, Greece

Flight time: 5hours 5minutes from Dubai, 4hours 5minutes from Riyadh
Temperature: Highs of 30°C, lows of 20°C

At just over a five-hour flight, Athens is the perfect destination for a five-day break, somewhere not too far, but far away enough from home. The capital of Greece is not only one of the most beautiful, culturally-rich and fascinating cities in the world, but it’s also the gateway to idyllic Greek holiday destinations – such as the Athenian Riviera and the nearby Saronic Islands (some just 20 minutes away by hydrofoil). Athens is the second most popular searched city for UAE travellers – and we’d recommend a night or two to soak up the city buzz and see the world-famous sights, before decamping to the Athens Riviera – where you’ll find luxury resorts nestled in pine-covered peninsulas and elegant beaches and seaside towns. Check into Four Seasons Astir Palace or the brand new One&Only Aesthesis.

Ras Abrouq, Qatar

Weather: Highs of 40°C, lows of 28°C
Flight time: 45 minute from Dubai

For an easy, peaceful, scenic and relaxing escape in September, we highly receomend Qatar’s Ras Abrouq, a secluded landscape on the eastern coast of the country – where one of the most exciting new resorts in the region has opened, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq. In collaboration with Qatar Airways, the beach resort forms part of a new multi-destination hotel circuit in the region, allowing for a profound discovery of the culture, history, diverse nature and people. An hour’s drive from the vibrant capital Doha, the resort sits alongside the dramatic coastline – sandwiched between the ocean and desert plains of Zakreet. Guests stay in striking tented villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms and all coming with private pools and spacious outdoor decks overlooking the Arabian Gulf. As not to disturb the natural aesthetic, tented villas blend in seamlessly with the creamy sands, complete with Habitas’ signature earthy decor. There’s a stunning spa, outdoor pool, gym, restaurant, and plenty of spots to take in the killer sunsets.

Bodrum, Turkiye

Weather: Highs of 31°C, lows of 21°C
Flight time: 4 hours 55 minutes from Dubai, 3 hours 55 minutes from Riyadh

With the stark fact that the world is heading up has come the extension of the season for the world’s holiday resorts, with many – particularly those far south – stretching into October. This means that now, September is a vibrant time to travel, and to get the full, thick of summer vibe, without the hoards and school children, head south to Bodrum for the last days of one of the Mediterranean’s most stylish (and still slightly under-explored) Rivieras and stunning hotels like Amanruya, Macakizi and Susona Bodrum. The season lasts until the first two weeks of November at some Bodrum hotels, with the sun still shining – so it’s the perfect time to secure a more affordable room rate.

Rome, Italy

Weather: Highs of 27°C, lows of 15°C
Flight time: 6 hours from Dubai and Riyadh

IIt’s always a great time to visit the Eternal City, but there’s a certain beauty to the Italian capital in the month of September – making it one of the best places to visit in September. With the summer hoards dissipating, Rome becomes a magical place once more. There’s the same gorgeous summery weather but with a colder breeze, and many Romans return from their summer travels to the Italian coast – making it feel more local. Book into a hotel with a rooftop terrace or outdoor space to enjoy the best of both worlds – the vibrancy and culture of the city- and relax and enjoy the weather and la dolce vita vibe. Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Russie is an institution famed for its lush Jardin de Russie – an oasis in the city centre – while Bulgari Roma offers the city’s chicest vibes and best rooftop. For the feeling of an Italian countryside escape in the city, there’s nowhere but Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá – 5 minutes from the Vatican and set in a dormer convent with a huge swimming pool and spacious grounds.

Egypt

Weather: Highs of 37°C, lows of 27°C
Flight time: 3 hours from Dubai, 2 hours 45 minutes from Riyadh

Topping the list for an easy summer escape is Egypt – just a three-hour flight from the UAE that offers something for every traveller. There’s the capital Cairo for a city break, with its majestic pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, beautiful hotels, thriving dining culture, world-famous museums and more. There’s a Nile river cruise, best taken between Luxor and Aswan to experience the majesty of Ancient Egypt, and there are its famous beach resort towns like Sharm Al Sheikh, Hurghada and El Gouna – guaranteeing sunshine and good times.

Montenegro

Weather: Highs of 25°C, lows of 16°C
Flight time: 4 hours 55 minutes from Dubai, 3 hours 55 minutes from Riyadh

Until recent years, Montenegro has lived in the shadows of its glossy neighbour Croatia. That is, for international travellers, as the Balkan locals have long flocked to experience its outstanding natural beauty. This small but stunning country’s touristic hotspots are primarily focused on the south coast around the Bay of Kotor and Tivat, where mountains frame deep blue waters, creating a setting that looks like something from a painting. These bays are a world of their own – where sleek boats carry even sleeker tourists and locals between islands dotted with churches and into ports – some shiny and new and some UNESCO heritage sites. In these ports, travellers will also find some of the Adriatic’s most luxe and vibrant hotels – Nikki Beach Montenegro, One&Only Portonovi and Aman Sveti Stefan, to name a few. With a direct flight on Flydubai running until the second week of September straight into Tivat airport, it’s a no-brainer destination for a late summer escape.

Jaipur, India

Temperature: 29°C high to 14°C low
Flight time from UAE: 3 hours 5 minutes

India’s Pink City is one of the most enchanting places on earth: flamboyant, historical and mesmerising, it’s the gateway to the country’s royal Rajasthan state and, as a result, known for its palaces and majestic past. Wandering Jaipur’s cacophonic streets to find beautiful sites like the pastel-pink Hawa Mahaal and the terracotta City Palace – the home of the former maharajah and royal family and a fascinating and beautiful museum. These streets hide world-class restaurants and bars – like The Johri and Baradari – (just be sure to dodge the cows, swarms of motorbikes and cycle rickshaws on the way in) while the surrounding hills and lakes are home to treasures like the Jah Mahal and the fairytale Amber Fort. The grandest hotel here is the Rambagh Palace – operated by Taj Hotels and the former palace of the Maharajas of Jaipur – where you’ll find the Rajasthan Polo Club, ornate rooms and spacious lawns. Other top stays include the Rajmahal Palace – a pale-pink, Roaring Twenties-inspired royal retreat with manicured lawns and ornate suites named after illustrious guests from the hotel’s past, like Queen Elizabeth II and The Kennedy suite. For an intimate retreat in the heart of the Johri Bazaar, the five-suite The Johri is a design-led boutique hotel with one of the best restaurants in town.

Kazbegi, Georgia

Temperature: 18°C high to 6°C low

Flight time: 3 hours 15 minutes from Dubai, 3 hours 10 minutes from Riyadh to Tbilisi, 2.5-hour drive from Tbilisi

For a breath of fresh mountain air and panoramic alpine scenery without having to travel across the world, there are few destinations perfect for September travel than the mountains of Georgia. Welcomed after a hot and sultry GCC summer, these mountains are filled with ski and summer resorts, welcoming hikers and peace seekers in the warm months, and winter sports enthusiasts in the cooler. Two and a half hours from the fabulous capital of Tbilisi is Kazbegi. The Kazbegi National Park is home to world-class hiking trails and natural attractions like the Gergeti Trinity Church, Gveleti Waterfall, and the Dari I Gorge. There’s only one place to stay, a destination in itself – Rooms Hotel Kazbegi – offering the best seats in the park to the snow-capped mountains and welcoming guests with an elemental-chic design with warm tones, natural materials, reclaimed wood, cognac-coloured furnishings, a mountain-view spa and sleek cocktail bar. This is where chic Georgians go to relax.

Mombasa, Kenya

Temperature: 28°C high to 21°C low
Flight time: 5 hours 30 minutes from Dubai

Kenya’s beach city of Mombasa is a dream destination for a September break, set on the country’s eastern coast on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The year-round sunny destination is one of the newest flight routes from Flydubai, opening up its melting pot of language and cultures to travellers. The city has more in common with Dakar or Dar es Salaam than Nairobi, thanks to its blend of Indian and Arabian heritage, and travellers will fall in love with this – along with the buzz that is East Africa’s biggest and most cosmopolitan port. There are a handful of great beach resorts, simple and friendly, letting the white sands of the coast take centre stage.

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