British Isles

Good sea views are guaranteed from a coastguard's home and Toad Hall Cottages has two of them on offer at a discount. The first overlooks Waterhead Creek and the River Dart in Kingswear, South Devon, a car ferry ride from Dartmouth, sleeps four and costs £263 for a week from Friday. The second stands above the National Trust-owned harbour at Mullion Cove, Cornwall, sleeps five and costs £316 for a week from October 25. 01548 853089

A family hotel package in Wiltshire provides a last chance to enjoy all the attractions at Longleat before the season ends on November 2. The deal is based at Bishopstrow House, a country hotel and spa with an indoor pool near Warminster, and includes dinner, B&B for a night, a Longleat Passport ticket and picnic for two adults and two children sharing a room. Available from October 26 to 30; total cost £300. 01985 212312

A farmhouse for four in the Nevern Valley, a ten-minute drive from the beach and small town of Newport, West Wales, and family attractions is on offer for a week from October 24 for £379 with Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire. Also available is an adjoining cottage for six that costs £430 for the week. 01437 772760

Prospect Hill is another farmhouse, on a working farm near Alford in Aberdeenshire. This snug property with two open fires sleeps four, costs £315 for a week from October 25 with Ecosse Unique and is well placed for walks, fishing and golf and visiting local castles. 01835 822277

Prettier on the inside than the outside, the Silver Springs Moran Hotel is a good base for exploring the lively and cultural city of Cork and features in an Expedia.co.uk offer. Fly from Heathrow on October 30 for two nights' B&B and pay £249, a £58 saving. 0871 2260808

Pennine View, a house for four in the pretty village of Harmby, North Yorkshire, is an ideal base for exploring the Northern Dales and is available at a discount for a week from November 1 and 8. It costs £199 with Yorkshire Cottages. 01228 406701

Short haul

The southern Mediterranean is still welcoming for watersports enthusiasts, who will enjoy kayaking and windsurfing on an all-inclusive break at the Iberostar Phenicia in Hammamet, Tunisia. A week from Sunday with First Choice costs from £664 with a flight from Gatwick. The four-star hotel also offers tennis, mini and proper golf. 0871 6649011

A charming village house in Daglan in the northern Dordogne is available for a week from October 24 with Simply Périgord. A 15-minute drive from the historic town of Sarlat and within reach of the region's prehistoric sites, it sleeps four and costs £525. Travel extra. 00335 53545431

Imbued with history and set in parkland at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the Machine House, a Communist office building converted into a rustic guest house is a real gem. A week's B&B in the next month costs from £599 with Black Tomato, including a flight from Heathrow and transfers. Tour the estate, visit castles and villages and the only natural sulphur caves in Europe. 020-7610 9008

Among late October packages on offer with Thomson is self-catering for a week from October 25 in four-star apartments in Cala'n Blanes, Minorca, which costs from £319 with a flight from Teesside. A week's half-board from October 30 at the four-star Falesia Hotel in Acoteias on the Algarve is from £451, flying from Robin Hood International (Doncaster Sheffield Airport). 0871 2315595

Escape the expected early winter chill on a sunny break at the Egyptian resort of Taba on the Gulf of Aqaba. A week's all-inclusive holiday from November 15 at the five-star Mövenpick hotel costs from £579 for adults and £369 for children aged two to 11 with Peltours. A flight from Gatwick, transfers and seaview room upgrade included. 020-8371 5200

A three-night break in Istanbul for £199 is good value and on offer with Cities Direct. Fly on November 18 from Luton for B&B at the Erboy Hotel within easy reach of the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. 01242 536900

Long haul

Boogie down to Memphis, Tennessee, on a choice of tours with Jetsave. The first starts from Gatwick on October 31 and takes in Atlanta, New Orleans, Graceland, Chattanooga and Nashville and costs £799 with ten nights in hotels. A week's tour starting with a flight on November 5 from Heathrow concentrates on Memphis and Nashville and includes visits to Graceland and the Grand Ole Opry and costs £779. 0870 1607323

A fortnight in a hotel overlooking Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam, Kerala, for £470 should leave funds available for exploring the waterways and hinterland of this fascinating region. The deal with Directline Holidays includes a flight from Gatwick on November 7 and B&B at the Park International Hotel. 020-8239 3399

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

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