Autumn Escapes: Five Luxury Autumn Holidays Where the Season Feels Even More Magical

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Can autumn feel any more magical? We think so.

There's a reason luxury travellers are rethinking the calendar. Industry figures from the luxury travel network Virtuoso show autumn bookings up 59% on last year, with the trend nicknamed the "fallcation". The logic is simple: the light is softer, the crowds have thinned, the food is at its best and the hotels have time to look after you properly. Timing has become the ultimate luxury.

At Club Voyages, we've pulled together five of our favourite autumn holiday destinations, each paired with a hotel we love, plus practical tips gathered from some of the best travel writers and guides, so you can book with confidence.

1. Turning of the leaves: Aman Kyoto, Japan

Cherry blossom gets the headlines, but koyo, the season of autumn leaves, is Japan's other great spectacle. Temple gardens turn crimson and gold, maple leaves settle on still ponds, and a stay at Aman Kyoto puts you in forested hills on the northern edge of the city, within walking distance of the Kinkaku-ji temple.

Man looking out at yellow, orange and red leaves in Japan — Aman Kyoto

Insider tips for Kyoto autumn leaves

Time it carefully. The koyo season runs from mid-October to mid-December, but recent warmer autumns have pushed the peak later, to around late November and early December. Kyoto's official autumn leaves calendar is updated through the season and worth checking before you finalise dates.
Start early. Kyoto is one of Japan's busiest places at peak colour, and buses slow right down. Early mornings at the big temples such as Eikan-do and Tofuku-ji are the calmest, and Sanzen-in is a peaceful alternative.
Walk the Philosopher's Path. This 2km canal path between Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji is especially lovely in koyo season.
Go after dark. Many temples hold autumn night illuminations. Tripods are often banned, so travel light.
Eat the season. Look out for matsutake mushroom dishes, a Kyoto autumn speciality.

Why book with us: peak-season Kyoto fills up early. Our consultants can secure your hotel and plan the days around the quietest hours.

2. Tuscany at harvest: Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

Vines heavy with grapes, olive groves ready for picking and long lunches in golden late-afternoon light: autumn is when Tuscany is at its most generous. Castiglion del Bosco, a historic Brunello di Montalcino estate in the Val d'Orcia, is a wonderful base for a Tuscany harvest holiday. The estate has been organically certified since 2016, makes its own olive oil, and has offered guests grape-harvest days and truffle-hunting experiences in the past.

Tuscany at sunset, pool with loungers in hotel grounds amongst trees — **Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood hotel**

Insider tips for visiting Tuscany in autumn

Know your harvests. The grape harvest (la vendemmia) usually runs from early September to mid-October, with olive picking following from late October through November and truffle season overlapping. This year's grape harvest started early after a hot summer, so for vineyard action, plan ahead.
Taste the new oil. Olio nuovo, freshly pressed olive oil, is at its best in November, and it tastes peppery, green and nothing like the bottled version.
Look for the village festivals. October and November bring wine, chestnut and truffle fairs, such as the Sagra del Tordo in Montalcino in late October.
Pack for changeable weather. October is pleasant, with temperatures in the mid-teens to low twenties, but can be rainy. Crowds thin noticeably after mid-October.
Eat where the locals eat. Family-run trattorias in villages such as Montalcino serve hearty seasonal menus, and our team can point you to the best.

3. Splendour and opulence: The Vanderbilt, Newport, Rhode Island

Rhode Island's coast in full autumn colour is New England at its most elegant. The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection is a red-brick Gilded Age mansion on a quiet street in Newport's Historic Hill neighbourhood, and a stylish base for a New England fall foliage trip.

Hotel entrance in America in Autumn, bikes awaiting use at the bottom of steps — The Vanderbilt Hotel, Newport

Insider tips for Newport in autumn

Walk the Cliff Walk. This 3.5-mile National Recreation Trail is free and runs along the Atlantic past mansions including The Breakers, Marble House and Rosecliff.
Wear proper shoes. The second half is rocky and uneven, with steps and a steep drop on the ocean side that foliage can hide. Check the tides and surf, as some sections get slippery.
Time the colour. Coastal foliage peaks slightly later than inland, usually in mid-to-late October.
Tour the mansions. Several are open to visitors with room-by-room audio guides.
Make it a road trip. Newport pairs naturally with a longer fall foliage drive through New England. A short ferry hop to Block Island is another idea.

4. Côte d'Azur at its most relaxed: Hôtel du Couvent, Nice

The Riviera without the crowds of summer, the sea still inviting, and the light turning soft and golden over the Promenade des Anglais. Hôtel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection hotel, occupies a restored 17th-century convent in Vieux Nice. It opened in 2024 with 88 rooms, around two and a half acres of terraced gardens, Roman-style baths and a lap pool with sweeping views over the old town, and it's the perfect base for Nice in October.

Historic hotel lounge with post-modern furniture — Hôtel du Couvent

Insider tips for the French Riviera in autumn

Start at Cours Saleya. The flower and produce market runs Tuesday to Sunday mornings, with produce stalls generally closing around 1.30pm. On Mondays it becomes an antiques market.
Try the socca. This chickpea pancake is a Niçoise classic, and one Cours Saleya stall has been serving it since the 1920s.
Pack layers. The first autumn rain can arrive in October, but days in the sun feel warmer than forecasts suggest. Sunglasses are still essential.
Eat in the old town. Restaurants around Place Garibaldi and Rue Bonaparte are easier to book in October.
Hire a car for a day. The hills behind the coast are at their best in autumn.

5. Make the most of this season with Club Voyages

Whichever destination calls to you, the best autumn escapes are planned well. As a luxury travel agency, we:

Plan every detail with a personal consultant who knows these hotels and destinations.
Search for the best rate across our supplier relationships through the Hays Travel Independence Group.
Protect your booking. Our holidays are ATOL protected, so your trip is financially protected from the moment you book.
Stay with you before, during and after your trip.