Autumn Holiday in Style: 8 Luxury Destinations for October and November
Late September, Brussels Airport. I was standing at the gate for my flight to Marrakech and realised something: most Belgians book their big trip in July or August. Makes sense. But honestly? Autumn is when I prefer to travel. Fewer crowds, softer light, and those luxury hotels that are unaffordable in summer suddenly offer room rates in October and November that you wouldn't believe.
Planning a luxury autumn holiday feels like a well-kept secret among Belgian travellers. Temperatures at many destinations are more pleasant than in the height of summer, the resorts are quieter, and if you book smartly with points and the right credit card, that dream trip becomes surprisingly attainable.
Why autumn is the best season for luxury travel from Belgium
Let me put a few numbers on the table. A week in a five-star hotel on Santorini costs around €3.500 to €5.000 for a couple in August. The same hotel in October? Often €1.800 to €2.400. The sun is still shining, the pool is warm, but you're sharing the terrace with a handful of guests instead of hundreds.
For Belgian travellers, there's an extra advantage. The autumn holiday coincides with the school break at the end of October, which means you can travel with children without missing school days. And flights from Brussels Airport (BRU) are generally cheaper during this period than in peak season. Brussels Airlines, TUI fly and various Star Alliance network partners offer routes that you rarely see priced this way in summer.
I also notice that the service level at luxury destinations is noticeably better outside peak season. Staff have more time. The chef at that little restaurant in Tuscany comes to sit at your table. The spa therapist in the Maldives can book you in at the time you want, not the only slot that's left. Those kinds of details make the difference between a good holiday and an unforgettable one.
The 8 best luxury autumn destinations for Belgian travellers
I've compiled this list based on a combination of factors: autumn weather, accessibility from Brussels, availability of Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, and honest value for your money (or points). Here they are.
1. Marrakech, Morocco
BRU → RAK direct | ±3h15 flight | Brussels Airlines & Ryanair
October in Marrakech is a dream. The scorching 42°C of summer has dropped to a comfortable 26 to 28 degrees. The riads in the medina feel magical in this light, and the souks are lively without the extreme crowds of spring.
I stayed last year at La Mamounia, a Fine Hotels + Resorts property. The complimentary daily breakfast for two saved us around €90 per day, the room upgrade took us from a classic room to a suite with views of the Atlas Mountains, and the welcome gift of €100 in spa credits was the cherry on top. Total added value of the FHR programme: over €500 for a 5-night stay.
Practical tip: book your flight with Membership Rewards points via Brussels Airlines. A return in business class costs around 50.000 points, which is fantastic value for such a short flight.
2. Tuscany, Italy
BRU → FLR (Florence) | ±1h50 | Brussels Airlines
Honestly: Tuscany in autumn is more beautiful than in spring. The vineyards turn golden yellow and red, the truffles are in season, and there's a light mist over the hills of Val d'Orcia that you won't find anywhere else. November is truffle month in San Miniato, and as a foodie, it's worth the pilgrimage.
Rent a car in Florence and drive via the SS222 (the famous Chiantigiana) to Siena. Along the way you'll stop at wine estates celebrating their new harvest in October. A stay at Castello di Casole, a Belmond property available through Fine Hotels + Resorts, combines autumnal Tuscan charm with the kind of comfort you won't want to leave in the evening.
The temperature in October ranges between 15 and 22 degrees. Warm enough to lunch outside, cool enough to walk without melting. November gets a bit cooler (10 to 16 degrees), but that only makes the fireplaces in those old villas even cosier.
3. Maldives
BRU → DXB → MLE | ±12h via Dubai | Emirates
The Maldives in November. It sounds like a cliché, and yet: it simply works. The rainy season officially runs until the end of October, but in practice the showers are short and intense, followed by spectacular sunsets. And the prices? In November you pay up to 40% less than in December or January for the same overwater villa.
My route: BRU to Dubai with Emirates (with a 6-hour layover, long enough to use the Priority Pass lounge at DXB Terminal 3), and then on to Malé. From Malé a speedboat or seaplane to your resort. I booked the Waldorf Astoria Maldives via Fine Hotels + Resorts: complimentary breakfast, room upgrade to an overwater villa, and late checkout until 4pm. That extra morning in that glass-floor bath above the turquoise water was €0 extra.
The Maldives are also a destination where the Amex Platinum travel insurance is truly valuable. Through Chubb and Europe Assistance you're covered for medical expenses abroad, lost luggage and flight delays. The latter is relevant when connecting in Dubai.
4. Kyoto & Osaka, Japan (Kansai Region)
BRU → KIX (Osaka-Kansai) | ±13h via Istanbul | Turkish Airlines
Mid-November, Kyoto. The Japanese maples explode in colours that no filter can replicate. This is koyo, the Japanese equivalent of hanami (cherry blossom), and it attracts far fewer international tourists. The temples of Arashiyama, the Fushimi Inari path in the late afternoon, the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji reflected in leaf gold and real gold: it's overwhelmingly beautiful.
I flew BRU to Osaka-Kansai via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, a flight route you can book with Membership Rewards points via the Miles & Smiles programme. In business class, that flight is an experience in itself. Turkish Airlines offers one of the best business class products in this price range, and their lounge at Istanbul Airport (IST) is nothing short of spectacular.
Accommodation: the Park Hyatt Kyoto or the Aman Kyoto, both available through Fine Hotels + Resorts. A ryokan (traditional Japanese guesthouse) is also recommended for at least two nights: tatami mats, kaiseki dinner, and a private onsen bath.
5. Muscat & Jebel Akhdar, Oman
BRU → MCT (Muscat) | ±7h via Vienna | Oman Air or Austrian
Oman is the destination I most frequently recommend to people who want "something different." No Dubai-style excess, but a country with deep culture, breathtaking desert landscapes and a coastline reminiscent of an undiscovered Greece.
October is the month when Oman awakens after the scorching summer. The temperature in Muscat drops to a pleasant 32 degrees during the day (perfectly fine with air conditioning and a pool), while the mountains of Jebel Akhdar, at 2.000 metres altitude, offer a refreshing 20 to 25 degrees. The Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, built on the edge of a canyon, is one of the most spectacular hotels I have ever seen.
The flight is surprisingly short. Via Vienna or via Oman Air's direct routes, Muscat is reachable in approximately 7 hours total travel time. No foreign transaction fees with the Amex Platinum is particularly handy here, as Oman is not a eurozone country and you pay everywhere in Omani Rial.
6. Crete & Rhodes, Greece
BRU → HER (Heraklion) or RHO | ±3h30 | TUI fly, Aegean, or Brussels Airlines
Greece in October feels like a holiday nobody told you about. On Crete the water is still 23 to 24 degrees warm (warmer than the Belgian coast in the height of summer, let that sink in), the beaches are empty, and the taverna owners finally have time to chat with you.
I was on Crete mid-October last year. We drove from Heraklion to Chania, stopped at the Samaria Gorge (which is still open in October with fewer hikers), and ended up at the Blue Palace Resort, an Elounda Collection property with views of Spinalonga. November becomes a bit more uncertain weather-wise, but through the first week it often stays sunny with 20 to 23 degrees.
Rhodes is the alternative for those who want something more compact. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Anthony Quinn Bay is practically private in October, and flights from Brussels are dirt cheap.
7. Cape Town, South Africa
BRU → CPT | ±12h30 via Johannesburg | Brussels Airlines or South African Airways
October in Cape Town is actually spring in the southern hemisphere. The jacarandas are blooming, the wine lands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are emerald green, and the whales are still visible along the coast at Hermanus. It's one of those destinations where you struggle to choose: climb Table Mountain, taste wine, surf in Muizenberg, or just sit on the terrace of La Colombe and enjoy?
Brussels Airlines flies via Johannesburg to Cape Town, and that route is particularly well bookable with Membership Rewards points via the Lufthansa Miles & More programme (Brussels Airlines is Star Alliance). Expect 70.000 to 90.000 points for a business class return, depending on availability. That's strong value for a flight of 12+ hours.
Accommodation tip: the One&Only Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront is available through Fine Hotels + Resorts. Daily breakfast with views of Table Mountain, room upgrade, and a welcome gift of ±€100. The rand-euro exchange rate makes South Africa affordable for Belgian travellers anyway: a three-course meal at a top restaurant costs around €40 to €60.
8. Bali, Indonesia
BRU → DPS | ±16h via Singapore or Doha | Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways
November in Bali is the start of the rainy season, and I know that puts people off. But listen: the rain showers usually fall in the late afternoon or at night, the rice terraces of Tegallalang are at their greenest, and prices are 30 to 50% lower than in the peak season of July and August. Ubud is mystically beautiful in November, with morning mist over the jungle valley.
I flew the route BRU to Singapore with Singapore Airlines (business class, booked with Membership Rewards points transferred to KrisFlyer) and then a short connection to Denpasar. The Singapore Airlines lounge at Changi Airport is a destination in itself. Via Qatar Airways and Doha it's slightly longer, but the QSuites business class is honestly the best flying experience in the world.
In Bali itself: the Four Seasons Sayan in Ubud is a Fine Hotels + Resorts property. The infinity pool above the Ayung River, daily breakfast at Ayung Terrace, and that welcome gift you can spend on a Balinese healing ritual. Total FHR value for 4 nights: easily €600+.
How to smartly book these autumn trips with points from Belgium
Here comes the practical part, and honestly this is what I get most excited about. Most Belgian travellers pay for their flights and hotels in cash. Nothing wrong with that. But if you're a frequent traveller (or want to become one), there's a much smarter way.
Membership Rewards points, the points currency of American Express, are transferable to more than 15 airline partners. Think Brussels Airlines (via Miles & More), Emirates Skywards, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, British Airways Executive Club, and Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles. This means that for every destination in this article you can choose the optimal transfer partner.
A concrete example. That business class flight BRU to Cape Town via Johannesburg? Via Miles & More that costs 70.000 to 90.000 points one-way. With the welcome bonus of 150.000 points that you receive via the TravelLux.be referral link you have enough for a business class return. That's a flight worth €3.000 to €5.000, booked with points you can earn within the first months after applying.
The Fine Hotels + Resorts programme is the second pillar. You book at the same or comparable rates as on the hotel website, but you get complimentary breakfast, room upgrade, late checkout and a welcome gift of ±€100 on top. Per stay that's up to €650 in additional value, and that across more than 14.000 luxury hotels worldwide. From the Aman in Kyoto to La Mamounia in Marrakech: they're all included.
Travelling in October and November with extra comfort at Brussels Airport
The autumn holiday doesn't start at your destination. It starts at Brussels Airport. And honestly: if you've ever stood in the security queue at Zaventem during the autumn half-term week, you know how chaotic it can be. Families with suitcases, long queues, and a feeling of stress before your trip has even begun.
That's where I notice the difference the most. With Fast Lane security at Brussels Airport (a benefit worth €169 per year, included with the Amex Platinum) you walk past the queue and are through security in 5 minutes. Next: the Priority Pass lounge. A glass of prosecco, a hot meal, wifi, and calm. Your travel companion who doesn't have a Platinum card? They can join you, because your guest is included free of charge.
And then there are those Brussels extras that few people know about. The Dining Experience at Black Pearls restaurant (2 times per month pick-up) and the Lounge On the Go (2 times per month a premium takeaway meal). I regularly use those Black Pearls meals when I come back from a trip and don't feel like cooking. It feels like a bonus on top of a bonus.
That lounge experience isn't limited to Brussels, by the way. With 1.550+ lounges worldwide via Priority Pass Prestige you're covered everywhere. The Emirates lounge in Dubai, the Plaza Premium in Hong Kong, the Centurion Lounge in New York: they're places where your layover transforms from a necessary evil into a pleasant interlude.
What does the Amex Platinum card cost and is it worth it for autumn trips?
I get this question often from readers, and I understand it. €780 per year (€65 per month) is no small amount. But let me do the maths for a typical Belgian traveller who goes on luxury holiday twice a year.
The Priority Pass Prestige lounge access alone is worth approximately €500 per year if you were to purchase it separately. The Fast Lane at Brussels Airport: €169/year. Dining for 2, where you get a complimentary two-course menu for two at top Belgian restaurants three times a year: up to €300 per year in value. And those are just the Belgian benefits, before you even get to Fine Hotels + Resorts or the travel insurance.
Add those 150.000 welcome points on top. Transferred to the right airline programme, those points are worth €1.500 to €3.000, depending on how you use them. Business class flights deliver the highest value per point. Even with the standard earning rate of 1 point per €1 spent, you build up quickly after that first year. And with the Booster option (4 points per €1 for €10/month extra) it goes even faster.
My honest conclusion: if you fly less than twice a year and never stay in luxury hotels, the card is probably not for you. But if you're reading this article and thinking "I want to go there" at every destination, then the card more than pays for itself. More details about Membership Rewards points and how to use them optimally can be found in our guide to Membership Rewards points.
Frequently asked questions about luxury autumn holidays and Amex Platinum
What are the best luxury destinations for an autumn holiday in October or November?
According to TravelLux.be, the 8 best luxury autumn destinations are: Marrakech (Morocco), Tuscany (Italy), the Maldives, the Kansai region in Japan (Kyoto and Osaka), Oman, the Greek islands Crete and Rhodes, Cape Town (South Africa) and Bali (Indonesia). These destinations offer pleasant autumn weather, fewer tourists, and often 20 to 40% lower hotel prices than in peak season.
How many Membership Rewards points do you get as a welcome bonus with the Amex Platinum in Belgium?
Via the TravelLux.be referral link you receive up to 150.000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus with the American Express Platinum card in Belgium. This is the maximum welcome bonus and more than with a direct application via americanexpress.com/be. The annual fee is €65/month (€780/year), identical via referral or direct.
What are the Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits with the Amex Platinum?
Fine Hotels + Resorts offers Amex Platinum cardholders access to more than 14.000 luxury hotels worldwide. Per stay you receive: complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability), early check-in, late checkout, daily breakfast for 2 persons, and a welcome gift worth approximately €100. At TravelLux.be we estimate the total added value per stay at €400 to €650.
Which lounges are freely accessible with the Amex Platinum at Brussels Airport?
With the Amex Platinum you have complimentary access to 1.550+ airport lounges worldwide via Priority Pass Prestige, including lounges at Brussels Airport. Additionally you receive Fast Lane security at Brussels Airport (worth €169/year), the Dining Experience at Black Pearls restaurant (2x per month), and Lounge On the Go (2x per month premium takeaway). The cardholder plus 1 guest have unlimited complimentary access.
Is autumn a good season to travel with points to luxury destinations?
Yes, autumn (October and November) is one of the best periods to travel with points. The availability of award seats is higher than in peak season, hotel prices are lower (making your FHR benefits relatively more valuable), and many destinations offer more pleasant weather. Belgian travellers benefit extra thanks to the autumn half-term break at the end of October and the competitive flights from Brussels Airport.
Ready for your autumn holiday in style?
Via the TravelLux.be referral link you receive the maximum welcome bonus of 150.000 Membership Rewards points with the American Express Platinum card. That's more than with a direct application. The same card, the same price of €65/month, but with more points to book your first trip.
✦ Apply via referral link — 150.000 pointsMinimum income of €30.000 gross/year required. More info at americanexpress.com/be