With crowds starting to dissipate across Europe and prices finally dropping after a long summer of inflated rates, you may be pondering whether this fall is the right time to finally go on that long-awaited trip across the pond.
The answer is yes: not only is it far less busy, but the weather is far more pleasant, as it is neither scorching hot nor cold.
On the downside, flight options can be more limited in the off-season, making the idyllic Mediterranean trickier for Americans to get to.
Seasonal routes connecting the United States and Southern Europe will begin thinning out starting September.
Still, lucky for beachgoers, there are 4 incredible sunny destinations that will continue hosting nonstop Transatlantic flights over the next three months:
Mallorca, Spain
The summer capital of Spain, Mallorca is a paradisiacal island in the Mediterranean famous for its rich ancient heritage, marvelous calas and bays straddling crystal-clear waters, and, of course, lively resort towns where sun and fun are the order of the land.
If it’s partying and socializing you’re after, you’ll surely find it in a trendy beach bar in Magaluf; looking for relaxation instead?
Cala Major hosts a few of Mallorca’s most luxurious listings, including the landmark Nixe Palace Hotel, a favorite among Hollywood stars back in the 50s.
Now for the culture buffs out there, you can’t miss out on Palma de Mallorca, a postcard-ready capital home to a fortified cathedral and a medieval castle, nor beautiful Fortnalutx, a quaint hilltop village built entirely out of stone only accessible by foot.
Mallorca’s list of wonders doesn’t stop there: from Sóller, with its picturesque waterfront and Catalan Gothic church, to an unspoiled Cala Figuera, your go-to place for a late-afternoon dip, you could never exhaust your options in this rather-small, yet landmark-packed island (though you might as well try).
Fly To Palma de Mallorca (PMI) Nonstop From:
- Newark (EWR)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
Menton, France
Menton is a charming town in France a stone’s throw from the Italian border.
It is the quintessential Mediterranean escape: picture pastel-washed buildings with green shutters, winding cobbled lanes, a sand-and-pebble beach on the Mediterranean, and gelateria galore.
It’s often described as the most beautiful, colorful spot on the French Riviera, and looking at the picture above, it’s not hard to understand why.
The best part is that it’s not nearly as busy as overtouristed Saint-Tropez or even the neighboring micro-nation of Monaco.
Despite being just as ‘bobo‘, as the French would call it, or posh as other Riviera towns, life in Menton unfolds at a much slower pace compared to other towns in the Riviera: let’s just say you wouldn’t go out of your way to visit Menton for luxury shopping nor Menton’s non-existing nightlife.
Sounds––and looks––idyllic and magical, but how easy is it for Americans to get to Menton in the fall?
As it turns out, incredibly: it is just over a half-hour train ride away from Nice, which hosts Transatlantic flights well into late October from 4 U.S. hubs in the fall.
Fly to Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) Nonstop From:
- Newark (EWR)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
La Compagnie––1 flight per day every Tuesday, Friday
- New York (JFK)
Delta Air Lines––1 flight per day every day
- Philadelphia (PHL)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Atlanta (ATL)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
Ostia, Italy
Did you know Rome has a beach?
Named after the namesake archeological zone nearby, Ostia extends for several kilometers along the azure Mediterranean, and it’s an up-and-coming coastal strip that most culture-aficionados visitors to Rome bypass altogether.
On the other hand, it’s every sun-loving Roman’s go-to weekend getaway, thanks not only to its long municipal beach but also the Oasi Naturista di Capocotta, a secluded stretch of sand where being naked is protected by law, its long pier and scenic promenade.
As it is sea-facing, unlike most of the historical Rome that is further inland, Ostia enjoys some of that cooling sea breeze, which heat-intolerant guests are sure to appreciate in particularly-hot fall days (trust us, temperatures this far South in Europe can be surprisingly high, even in the off-season).
If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to stay, the beachfront, three-star Hotel La Scaletta has overnight rates starting from only $91 this October––you’ll be staying a 15-minute drive from Rome’s International Airport, and a half-hour train ride away from central Rome.
Fly To Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) Nonstop From:
- New York (JFK)
ITA Airways––3 flights per day every day
Delta Air Lines––3 flights per day every day
American Airlines––1-2 flights per day every day
Norse Atlantic Airways––1-2 flights per day every day
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
United Airlines––2 flights per day every day
ITA Airways––1 flight per day every day
- Chicago (ORD)
American Airlines––2 flights per day every day
ITA Airways––1 flights per day every day
United Airlines––1 flights per day every day
- Newark (EWR)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Boston (BOS)
ITA Airways––1 flight per day every day
Delta Air Lines––1 flight per day every day
- San Francisco (SFO)
ITA Airways––1 flight per day every day
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Los Angeles (LAX)
ITA Airways––1 flight per day every day
- Atlanta (ATL)
Delta Air Lines––2 flights per day every day
- Detroit (DTW)
Delta Air Lines––1 flight per day every day
- Philadelphia (PHL)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Charlotte (CLT)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Miami (MIA)
ITA Airways––1 flight per day every day
Sitges
A mid-size coastal town in Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region, some 24 miles west of Barcelona, it is a highly sought-after destination for its golden-sand Mediterranean beaches, oceanfront promenade, and, most importantly, thriving social scene.
Let’s just put it this way: there’s more than just a couple of edgy nightclubs and gay bars around, and you may feel like the odd one out if you’re not particularly keen on baring it all on a nudist beach, so maybe steer clear of Sitges if you hold more conservative values.
Libertarian values aside, visitors can stroll the relatively compact Old Town, where narrow pedestrian-friendly streets are lined by 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 be landing flying in from the States, the answer is more so than Barcelona itself: Sitges is a much-shorter 29-minute drive from the airport, while central Barcelona is 42 minutes away.
Fly To Barcelona El Prat Nonstop From:
- New York (JFK)
Delta Air Lines––3 flights per day every day
American Airlines––2 flights per day every day
Iberia––1 flight per day every day
- Chicago (ORD)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- San Francisco (SFO)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
Iberia––1 flight per day every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Miami (MIA)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
Iberia––1 flight per day every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
- Newark (EWR)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Philadelphia (PHL)
American Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
United Airlines––1 flight per day every day
- Boston (BOS)
Iberia––1 flight per day every day
- Atlanta (ATL)
Delta Air Lines––1 flight per day every day
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
American Airlines––0-1 flights per day every day
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