Surfer stays and tropical hideaways: top boutique hotels for October

October is the ideal month to mix autumn cosiness with a dose of winter sun. Think an Australian surfer-chic stay on a working farm with crackling wood-burning fires, or a striking architectural gem on Mexico’s surf-kissed Mazunte coast. If it’s sun you’re chasing, island boltholes in the Caribbean await, while France’s Loire Valley offers a château escape steeped in countryside charm.

1. Lon Retreat & Spa, Victoria, Australia

If you’re after a coastal escape that balances indulgence with surfer-chic ease, Lon Retreat & Spa is a dream find. Set on the Bellarine Peninsula, it pairs sandstone calm with a breezy beach vibe — think airy suites with sky-and-sea tones, roaring fires, and mineral-fed baths big enough to swim in. Food is a highlight too: breakfast hampers and grazing platters arrive at your door, or the team can pack a picnic for long walks through dunes and down to the coast.

You’re just minutes from some of Victoria’s best surfing beaches, so you can swap spa robes for a wetsuit and chase the waves before melting back into the sanctuary of the retreat. There are three private treatment rooms where relaxing massages and glow-boosting facials can be booked, plus a steam room, indoor pool, and lounge to stretch out in afterwards.

4. Bequia Beach Hotel, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Bequia Beach Hotel is the kind of Caribbean escape that makes you instantly slow down. Set on the curve of Friendship Bay, it pairs an authentic island atmosphere with all the comforts of a boutique resort: an infinity pool that seems to spill into the sea, a pristine white-sand beach for snorkelling and swims, and a shuttle to Jack’s on Princess Margaret Beach, where fish burgers and cocktails are the order of the day. Rooms and cottages are bright and breezy, while the villas bring a sense of seclusion with private terraces and sweeping views.

When it comes to food, variety keeps every day refreshingly different: freshly caught seafood by local fishermen served right on the sand at Bagatelle, Italian flavours and hillside romance at Blue Tropic, and rum punch over games of backgammon at the beach bar. Between morning yoga by the waves, spa treatments in the gardens, and those unforgettable sunset swims, Bequia Beach captures the true soul of island living.

8. ONE | GT Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Opens April 2026

One to bookmark now for a spring break, ONE | GT Grand Cayman hovers above the shoreline with far-reaching sea views in every direction. This sleek ten-storey retreat offers everything from one-bedroom suites to penthouse lofts, each with calming interiors, private kitchens, and balconies that frame the glittering horizon. The rooftop is its crown jewel — home to the island’s first infinity pool, palm-dotted terraces, and Byū, a vibrant Asian-inspired restaurant where bold flavours meet panoramic skies.

Downstairs, Perle brings French-Mediterranean finesse to the table, while Café Bellini fuels long mornings with pastries, market fare, and specialty coffee. Between dips in the pool, yoga above the waves, or in-room spa rituals, days here are as restorative as they are indulgent. With George Town, Seven Mile Beach, and Eden Rock’s reefs all within easy reach, ONE | GT is set to become both a gateway to Grand Cayman and a destination in itself.

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