It isn’t just you — this summer really has been a scorcher. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was the hottest month ever recorded. And August offered little relief, no matter how high the air conditioning was cranked.
But with the calendar heading toward September, a welcome shift is finally in the forecast. The air is getting crisp and tree leaves are turning colors, signaling it’s time for a fall getaway.
Here are 16 properties around the globe where you can greet the new season.
Weekapaug Inn, Rhode Island
Sitting on Quonochontaug Pond, Weekapaug Inn puts you in the middle of New England’s seasonal splendor. Make the most of it by spending your days outdoors boating, kayaking or simply sitting in the Adirondack chairs on the great lawn.
The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel also will host the Corn Moon Paddle on September 27. Hit the water and float under the glow of the corn moon — named for the corn harvest, it’s the summer’s final full moon or the first of the fall. Your guide will bring you to a beach for a champagne toast. Then on October 4, the BBQ Tailgate pairs pitmaster Jack Arnold’s pondside feast with live-streamed football.
JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, Florida
The Gulf Coast is a wonderful time all year round. But with West Florida temperatures averaging in the mid-80s well into October, right now is great for Sunshine State break. And with Forbes Travel Guide Recommended JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa’s Fall Escape, the lure to the white sands is stronger than ever. Promotion perks include Hideaway Hangout Kids Club passes for up to two children, breakfast for four at Latitude 28, a kid’s beach amenity and a $100 dining credit the whole family can appreciate.
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Dominican Republic
The head of programming at Casa de Campo just might have the most active calendar in hospitality. The Four-Star Dominican Republic resort is perpetually buzzing with activity, be it a golf tournament or an ’80s revival concert.
Visit the 7,000-acre getaway on October 9 and 10 and you’ll see the fourth annual Food & Wine Festival, a gastro gathering of top chefs (like Michael Mina and Hubert Keller), wine purveyors and mixologists. And in typical Casa de Campo style, the fall calendar will have wine tastings, live jazz and more events as well.
Sala’s Camp, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Though autumn technically comes just after the wildebeest’s migratory window in Kenya, you can still get acquainted with elephants, leopards and the Masai Mara’s other locals with a stay at Sala’s Camp.
Owned and operated by the Safari Collection, the same visionaries behind Four-Star Giraffe Manor and the Sasaab eco lodge, Sala’s Camp delivers all the natural wonders without compromising on luxuries such as glass-fronted tents and private plunge pools. And with packages like Savings Season and The Season, guests are encouraged to linger for stays of four days or more when combining experiences across the company’s portfolio.
Borgo Vescine, Tuscany
Fall is a busy time around Tuscany. With grape harvesting, truffle hunting and olive picking, the region’s agricultural scene is quite robust — and Borgo Vescine visitors can partake in it all.
Of course, if you’d rather show your appreciation for the area’s bounty without getting your hands dirty, open-air dinners with seasonal flavors and live music performances give the picturesque resort sitting in the 13th-century village a sense of seasonality as well.
Waldorf Astoria Helsinki
Finland’s fall foliage is striking. The reds and golds covering Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi national parks are particularly dreamy. Both are within reach during your Waldorf Astoria Helsinki stay. For a Mother Nature-approved outing closer to the property, arrange a guided forest walk or private meal in the nearby woods.
A session in the spa (especially the restorative Finnish sauna) or dinner at Varjo (marvel at the Nordic seasonal artistry) also immediately connect you with the outdoors.
Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston
Boston shines in autumn, and the Five-Star Four Seasons makes for the ideal Back Bay basecamp. Steps from the crimson-and-gold canopies of Commonwealth Avenue and Newbury Street, the hotel invites guests to experience America’s Walking City firsthand — starting with a guided trek along the storied Freedom Trail.
But you don’t have to leave the property to soak up the season. Trifecta, the hotel’s lobby lounge, serves a traditional Boston tea on weekends, complete with scones and sweets. Come evening, sip Mike’s or Modern — crafted with vodka, bitter espresso and cannoli cream — inspired by the famed North End pastry shops.
Corfu Imperial, A Grecotel Resort to Live, Greece
Around Corfu Imperial, September and October usher in average temperatures of 80 and 70 degrees, respectively, while guiding out the summer crowds.
It also marks the start of Greece’s grape harvest. On September 20, guests can visit Danilia Village, Grecotel’s replica of a traditional hamlet, to take part in the picking with the guidance of a sommelier. In October, it’s time for the olive harvest. Enjoy tastings and try your hand at traditional picking methods across the resort’s surrounding groves.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Foodies, take note: Five-Star Waldorf Los Cabos Pedregal hosts acclaimed San Diego chef Travis Swikard from October 8 to 10 for its Festival of Flavors. Known for his blend of refined technique, Mediterranean flavor and West Coast style, Swikard comes to Baja for a collaborative culinary effort with hotel executive chef Gustavo Pinet. Dynamic pairings with Clase Azul tequila and Fontanafredda wines from Italy’s Piedmont region promise a unique fusion.
For next-level indulgence, the Los Cabos hotel also offers a Culinary Weekend Package, which includes a welcome cocktail party, two tickets to an exclusive Chef’s Table experience and round-trip airport transportation.
Regent Hong Kong
There’s no more magical time to visit Hong Kong than the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 17 to 27), and no better vantage point than the Five-Star Regent Hong Kong. Set along Victoria Harbour, the hotel gives guests a view of the full moon over the water.
The festival culminates with the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, where a glowing, 219-foot dragon parades through the Tai Hang neighborhood’s streets, bringing good fortune for the year ahead. Experience it with help from the hotel’s concierge team, who can arrange transportation and provide cultural context. The memorable evening ends with a warm tea nightcap back at the property.
Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North
After an action-packed Sonoran summer, the Four-Star Four Seasons Scottsdale provides a chance to chill out. Celestial-inspired wellness programming ensures you’ll find your Zen, whether that’s with the Floating Sunset Sound Bath or the gentle, sleep-promoting Celestial Yoga class under the desert stars.
Elsewhere on the property, the pleasantly brisk evenings call for a picnic under the stars. Huddle up with a provided blanket on your guest patio or the resort’s lawn, and savor a basket stocked with elevated bites and a guidebook to the constellations sparkling above. For a closer peek into the cosmos, the resort’s resident astronomer can join you on the pool deck for stargazing and s’mores.
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, Chile
When fall arrives, the trees lining Santiago’s streets turn amber and the Andes show the first signs of snow. It’s a scenic time to visit Chile’s capital — and one with fewer crowds.
Autumn is also when the nearby wine regions usher in harvest season. Make The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago your base for a day trip to the Colchagua Valley to taste its renowned reds: carmenère, cabernet sauvignon and malbec. After sampling among the 30-some wineries, return to the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel to enjoy a Chilean meal at Estró, where the menu also changes with the harvest, featuring local producers.
Paws Up Montana
Sprawling across 37,000 acres of wilderness along the Blackfoot River, Paws Up Montana gives you a front-row seat to the American West’s brilliant fall foliage in shades of gold, crimson and orange. Take in the scenic show while horseback riding, hiking, rappelling or fly fishing at the Four-Star ranch.
Then at night, sit down to a hearty harvest-driven meal, then cozy up by the fire pits under the stars before retiring to your glamping tent. But there’s no roughing it here: the climate-controlled, safari-style tents have king-size feather beds and ensuite bathrooms with heated floors.
The Beaumont Mayfair, London
For an urban getaway, check into The Beaumont Mayfair in London. The Art Deco hotel is within walking distance of Hyde, Regent’s and Green parks, where you can see the city’s fall colors on display. But the Four-Star hotel also sits next to a secret rooftop green space, Brown Hart Gardens, which will unveil a new look in September with immersive landscaping and seating that snakes around the 10,000-square-foot area.
Plus, the property will open a new standalone restaurant at the garden on September 14. Featuring mirrored soffits and perforated aluminum siding that recalls the plants around it, The Pearl will offer Mediterranean fare and a large terrace.
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Cherry blossom season isn’t the only time to witness Tokyo’s natural beauty. Come in the autumn, when the ginkgo trees lining Gyoko-dori Avenue adopt a bold gold hue. The road fronts The Tokyo Station Hotel and leads to the Imperial Place.
After strolling to see the golden leaves, head over to the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, a five-minute walk from the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended property. The red-brick structure, which specializes in modern art, was the first Western-style building in the Marunouchi neighborhood. It was designed by Josiah Conder, the mentor of architect Kingo Tatsuno, who created the hotel’s building.
Conrad Shenzhen
As Shenzhen’s humid summer gives way to its clearest, calmest stretch of the year, Conrad Shenzhen becomes a quiet retreat above Qianhai Bay. The hotel’s rooftop bar and sun terrace catch golden hour at its finest, framing sunsets over the water as autumn’s cooler, drier air settles in.
Nearby, the coastal paths of Qianhai Stone and Performance parks invite an unhurried evening walk. Arrive as the sun dips below the skyline, and you’ll discover a serenity that’s rare in one of China’s fastest-growing cities.
The season also finds its way to the table. The Flowing Golden Autumn tasting menu draws on Chaoshan cuisine, pairing local seasonal produce with classic Cantonese delicacies.
