Last of the summer sun

Simonseeks.com

Missed out on your summer holiday? Dreading the thought of the grey days of winter? You might be tempted to grab one of the many late deals now on offer and catch one of the last few weeks of sunshine on the beaches of the Mediterranean.

Fishing boat in Crete

But think carefully before you book. From late September onwards, the summer weather can break suddenly in many parts of the Med. You could find that, instead of spending a few golden days by the beach, you end up playing Scrabble in a chilly, marble-floored hotel room watching the rain lash across the sea front.

To avoid such a bleak end to you summer, here is my guide to the best places to enjoy the last of this year's sun; places where the weather tends not to break until late in October and where autumn temperatures hold up particularly well.

Weather statistics below are averages for September – the peak daily temperature, the number of sunshine hours per day, the number of days with some rain (which could be just a short shower), and the sea temperature. October tends to be three or four degrees cooler on average, and slightly wetter, with perhaps an hour or two less sunshine.

The latest expert guide from travel guides website, Nick Trend from Simonseeks.com, gives you the lowdown on where to head to avoid a chilly disappointment around Europe this autumn

Some of Nick's Top Tips

•  Costa Blanca - the most reliable micro-climate within easy reach of the UK . You can find warm weather well into October. Try the smaller prettier resorts, such as Javea and Denia (average temperature 28C).

•  Costa del Sol - another safe Spanish bet for good weather. Options range from mega resorts such as Fuengirola, to more visually attractive options such as Nerja or Marbella (average temperature 27C).

•  Sicily - a wonderful touring destination. Milder autumn temperatures make for great conditions for sightseeing among the Ancient Greek ruins (average temperature 26C).

•  Sorrento, Italy - this area enjoys a long golden autumn. As it's not a beach destination, come here to relax by the hotel pool and enjoy the sightseeing (average temperature 26C).

•  Puglia, Italy - down on the heel of Italy and fast growing in popularity. Enjoy excellent local cooking and stylish hotels (average temperature 26C).

•  Crete, Greece - This Island clings onto summer longer than almost anywhere else in the Med. The small resorts of the south coast have a particularly warm autumn, with the sun shining for an amazing 80 per cent of daylight hours (average temperature 26C).

•  Cyprus - another great option for a long hot autumn. Although Cypriot resorts are not among the most beautiful in the Med, Paphos is an exception and is easily the best of the bunch (average temperature 29C).