British Isles

If you have been glued to BBC TV's latest classic serial, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, you will be able to understand the locals when staying at Briar Cottage in the sleepy “Daarset” village of Netherbury, near Bridport and eight miles (13km) from the sea. This stylish stone cottage has three bedrooms, sleeps six and costs £408 with Classic Cottages for a week from this and the three following Fridays. 01326 555555

Under-occupancy discounts of 20 per cent on two four-bedroom homes, both rated four stars, in Cornwall are on offer for a week from October 11 with Cornish Horizons. Moorside, a spacious house in a quiet setting on the outskirts of Camelford, costs £395 and Trenant, a Canadian log home with a balcony overlooking countryside near Padstow, costs £495. 01841 533331

Book by the end of this month to take advantage of a special autumn rate at the four-star Careys Manor Hotel at Brockenhurst in the New Forest. From Monday to Thursday for the next two months, a room for two will cost from £159 a night, including breakfast and dinner. 01590 623551

The Marquis, a 200-year-old former inn overlooking the village cricket pitch at Alkham, near Dover, is marking its rebirth as a contemporary restaurant with rooms with 25 per cent savings until the end of October. Rooms for two cost from £71 a night with breakfast; the property is well placed for visits to Canterbury or for overnight stops en route for a Channel crossing. 01304 873410

Near Porthgain, once a busy industrial port but now a pretty harbour village in West Wales, is Treneved Lodge, a restored traditional cottage. It has sea views and country views, sleeps four and costs £289 for a week from October 4 with Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire. 01437 772760

Book into the Craiglynne hotel on Speyside, close to the Cairngorms, and enjoy a free visit to the local reindeer centre or a tour in a buggy pulled by sled dogs. Two-night breaks in the refurbished hotel next month cost from £99, with dinner, B&B and there are special rates for children. Stay on October 12 and you will catch the Golden Spurtle world porridge- making championships in the nearby village of Carrbridge. 01479 872597

Savings for children also apply at Finnstown's Country House hotel, in 45 acres of gardens, nine miles from Dublin. Three-night breaks with breakfast cost £172 for adults all next month and children under 11 sharing a room with parents stay free. This Irish Ferries Holidays package includes an Irish Sea crossing with a car. 0870 5171717

Short haul

October offers with Ionian Island Holidays range from a week in a flat on Cefalonia for £363 to a week in a villa with a pool on Skopelos for £519. The first deal includes a flight from Gatwick on October 18, transfers, shared use of a pool while staying near Fiskardo and three days' car hire. The second starts with a flight on October 3 and includes transfers and car hire for the week. 020-8459 0777

A week's all-inclusive holiday in southern Turkey is on offer for £479 with Olympic Holidays. Fly from Gatwick on October 13 and stay in the four-star Kadikale Resort and Spa on Kadikalesi beach. 0844 5762386

A four-bedroom, two-bathroom farmhouse for seven in a secluded position in the Son March Valley, Majorca, is available for a week from October 4 and 11 from £495 with Vintage Travel. Ca'n Picassa has a pool and mature garden and is within reach of Pollença and sandy beaches. Flights are extra. 0845 3440420

One of the lesser-known areas of mainland Spain, Extremadura, is the base for guided cycling holidays for a week with Explore. Routes cross a gentle landscape, through cork woods and along the Via de la Plata, used to transport silver in Roman times. Trips start on October 12 and 19 and cost £739 with flights from Heathrow, B&B and bicycle hire. 0844 4990901

Four-nights for the price of three from £198 in Bruges are on offer between October 6 and 31 with Great Escapes. They include a ferry crossing with car from Dover to Calais and B&B at the four-star Hotel Flanders in the city centre. 0845 3302089

A half-price Western Mediterranean cruise, starting from Palma on October 7, is available with 1st4cruising.com. The voyage on board Ocean Village Two takes in Tunis, Naples, Livorno, St-Raphael and Corsica and costs from £629, with flights from London and full board in an outside cabin. 0844 8715844

Long haul

Get a feel for Dubai on a short break to see whether you would enjoy the glitz, shopping and high-rise living for longer. Key2holidays offers three nights' B&B between October 6 and 17 at the five-star Metropolitan Palace Hotel from £475, with direct BA flights from Heathrow and transfers. 020-7963 6697

The tourist industry in Thailand is fighting back after politically motivated riots in the streets by offering bargain deals like this one with Hayes & Jarvis: ten nights at the Holiday Inn Resort Regent Beach set in tropical gardens near Cha-Am for £699 with a flight from Heathrow on October 13. 0871 6640246

A week on St Lucia from £749 is on offer with Thomson Worldwide. Fly from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic on October 17 and transfer to the three-star St Lucian By Rex Resorts. 0871 2302770

Those who believe that Barbados is just an island of sun, sea and sand will be surprised if they sign up to this package with Elegant Resorts. For as well as a BA flight from Gatwick on October 20 and a week at the Treasure Beach hotel on the west coast, they will be taken on trips, including Sunbury plantation houseand the garrison. Prices from £1,150. 01244 897516

All prices are per person and based on two sharing a room unless stated otherwise.

Times recommends

• Tuesday: the latest airport and flights news
• Wild Girls hit the Klosters slopes
• Red Sea: the complete guide