The hottest holiday offers in October
From an all-singing, all-dancing Nashville favourite to a paradisiacal hideaway on Mauritius, these British Airways Holidays hotels give you even more reasons to check in this month
Words: Harriet Cooper
06/10/2026
The main pool at Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech (also opening image)
Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech is the most wonderful assault on the senses. The old city, enclosed by 12th-century pink walls, is a kaleidoscope of orange-scented gardens, ancient palaces, steamy hammams and colourful mosaics. Stroll around Jemaa El Fna Square for spice sellers, but leave time for the souk, where the labyrinthine alleyways are piled high with leather work, kilims and jewellery. At dusk, as the mosques’ melodic calls to prayer fill the air, sip hot mint tea in one of the rooftop restaurants. Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech is just 20 minutes from the medina, yet it brings a complete change of pace. The hotel sits in acres of tranquil Moorish gardens and olive groves, the Atlas Mountains in the distance. Palm-edged walkways, lit at night by glowing lanterns, lead guests from the 135 rooms to four restaurants, a majestic pool, the 3,500sqm spa and an 18-hole golf course.
British Airways Holidays offers up to 30 per cent hotel savings on your Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech stay, plus a complimentary upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Minimum stay of two nights. Valid for travel until 28 February 2027. Offer is combinable with other offers; stop sales may apply. Blackout dates apply: 15 October-2 November 2026 and 25 December 2026-3 January 2027. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
A newly redesigned guestroom at the Grecotel LUXME Creta Palace
Grecotel LUXME White & Grecotel LUXME Creta Palace
Crete, Greece
Crete, Greece’s largest island, has enticed holidayers since the 1960s, who come to lie on its wide, sandy beaches. Those who prefer activity hike the dramatic peaks and deep canyons of the White Mountains. Others like to explore the archaeological treasures in the ancient Minoan towns. As for the food… the glug of olive oil drizzled over Mediterranean-fresh ingredients is the soundtrack to any stay. For easy elegance, base yourself at a Grecotel property. Grecotel LUXME White is on the north of the isle. This whitewashed retreat has light, airy rooms with uninterrupted views of the Cretan Sea, an aqua park, fine dining and a serene spa. Along the coast, Grecotel LUXME Creta Palace also ticks the checkboxes, sitting on a stretch of Blue Flag beach, with water sports, lagoon-style pools, kids’ clubs, sunset cocktails… the works. At both resorts, the all-inclusive LUXME experience includes standard-setting à la carte dining and immersive activities.
British Airways Holidays offers a complimentary upgrade to a Superior Guestroom Sea View when you book a Double Guestroom Sea View at Grecotel LUXME White. If you book a Villa, you’ll receive a floating breakfast experience served in the privacy of your private pool once per stay. Or book a Bungalow Garden View Room at Grecotel LUXME Creta Palace and receive a complimentary upgrade to a Superior Double Sea View Room. Valid for selected stays in 2027. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offers will appear in red text during the booking process, should they be applicable. Prices shown on ba.com include any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
The Omni Nashville Hotel in downtown
Omni Nashville
Nashville, USA
Think of Nashville and chances are that a tune by the late, great Dolly Parton will pop into your head. The capital of Tennessee is the birthplace of country music, where neon-lit honky-tonks serve up cold beer and cowboy hats, line dancing and live bands. To experience the heart and soul of Music City, you’ll want to be in its centre, which is why Omni Nashville strikes the right chord. The 746-room hotel is minutes from the big-hitters – the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum, plus auditoriums and arenas. And when you’ve had your fill of the landmarks and entertainment districts, the amenities at Omni are all-singing, including a rooftop pool overlooking the downtown skyline, a spa and state-of-the-art fitness centre. Sample southern-style dining at Kitchen Notes – there’s even a ‘biscuit bar’ dedicated to the local staple – or reserve a table at Bob’s Steak & Chop House for a decadent, loosen-your-belt dinner. Round it off with a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned at the bar.
British Airways Holidays offers up to 15 per cent hotel savings on your Omni Nashville stay, valid for selected travel in 2026 and 2027. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
Royal Ocean View Villa with a private pool at The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius
The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius
Mauritius
Soft, soft sand, a turquoise sea and swaying palms. Welcome to Mauritius. This Indian Ocean island is more than honeymooners’ catnip. Beyond the beaches there’s plenty to do, from swimming in hidden waterfalls and stargazing to taking a food tour in Port Louis or enjoying the dynamic arts scene. And do follow one of the verdant trails that crisscross the national park to spot animals in their natural habitats. The Oberoi is located along Turtle Bay on the sheltered northwest coast where, amid 20 acres of sub-tropical gardens, you can luxuriate in all the five-star amenities. Thatched villas and rooms are spacious and the dining is diverse, whether you’re feasting on authentic Creole cuisine beneath flaming torches or sharing slow-cooked platters at a communal table in the herb garden. Swimming pools have ocean views, while the spa offers African-inspired therapies and Indian rituals in open-air treatment rooms.
British Airways Holidays offers up to 45 per cent hotel dining savings on Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius when booking a full-board stay and 25 per cent hotel savings when booking a half-board stay. Valid for stays from 1 April–30 September 2027. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
Palace Room at the PortoBay Flores
PortoBay Flores
Porto, Portugal
Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back more than two millennia to pre-Roman and Roman times. Around every corner is a photogenic marvel, from the mediaeval architecture in the Ribeira neighbourhood and the soaring Romanesque cathedral to the blue-and-white azulejos tiles that clad many a building façade. Pretty it may be, but Porto also likes to party. The Douro riverfront is lined with family-run tascas, while the streets of the Baixa district bustle with bar-hoppers. PortoBay Flores is on the pedestrianised Rua das Flores in the historical centre (read: quiet), within walking distance of all the action. Echoing the city’s infrastructure, the hotel is old-meets-new, with 66 rooms and suites spread across a 16th-century palace and a modern wing. At Bistrô Flores restaurant, you can equally enjoy sunny breakfasts on the terrace or late-night tapas. The spa, indoor pool, reading room and 18th-century chapel are calm spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation.
British Airways Holidays offers up to ten per cent hotel savings on your PortoBay Flores stay, when booking 45 days in advance of travel. Valid for travel from 1 January–30 April 2027. Applicable on an all-board basis. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
Bougainvillea Barbados on the white sand of the south coast
Bougainvillea Barbados
Barbados
A few facts about Barbados… It is considered the birthplace of rum. It has more than 80 beaches. It is home to one of the largest nesting populations of hawksbill turtles and you may spy green monkeys, too. It delivers more than 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. Cricket is the national sport. These are just a few reasons why you’ll be bowled over by this palm-fringed island. Bougainvillea Barbados on the south coast is a charming seafront hotel overlooking pristine Maxwell Beach. It is family-owned and has a boutique vibe, with two pools, a soothing spa and shady gardens. The bougainvillea-cloaked suites and apartments come with kitchens or kitchenettes, so you can cook for yourself. Or eat at the laidback Calabash restaurant (this is your holiday, after all), where Rumfire Fridays – a combination of grilled island flavours, rum cocktails and live fire shows – are legendary.
British Airways Holidays offers up to 25 per cent hotel savings on your Bougainvillea Barbados stay, valid for travel from 1-31 May 2027. Book by 31 October 2026. The specified offer will appear in red text during the booking process, should it be applicable. Price shown on ba.com includes any applicable discount. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
