Velvet season in hotels around the world.

      The velvet season is just around the corner and traditionally becomes one of the most pleasant periods for travel. The summer hustle and bustle gradually gives way to a calmer rhythm, the weather becomes milder, and popular destinations reveal themselves in a completely different light. In this new selection, we have gathered hotels and resorts that are particularly interesting to discover this autumn: for a leisurely vacation, new experiences, and a beautiful continuation of summer.

      Banyan Tree Dubai — velvet season on Bluewaters in Dubai

      With the arrival of the velvet season, Dubai once again becomes that city you start to miss over the summer: with long days by the water, outdoor evening dinners, and the opportunity to spend more time outside — and Banyan Tree Dubai on Bluewaters is the perfect address for this. One of the main advantages of the resort is its own 500-meter beach with white sand and views of the Persian Gulf and Ain Dubai. The center of beach life becomes the Banyan Tree Pool & Beach club — a stylish space by the water that has long transcended the classic hotel beach club. Cabanas, a pool surrounded by greenery, light Mediterranean cuisine, and views of the bay create an atmosphere of a full-fledged resort within the city. The scenario of the velvet season here is generally built around the pleasure of not rushing anywhere. A few hours by the sea can continue at Banyan Tree Spa Dubai, where the Rainforest — a unique hydrothermal area for Dubai with steam rooms, saunas, themed showers, jacuzzis, and massage jets — is located. Seven private spa suites, signature Asian rituals, and steam programs allow you to turn an ordinary massage into a separate part of the day, after which it is especially pleasant to return to the sea or head out for dinner. The gastronomic part supports the same leisurely scenario. At Alizée, The Banyan Brunch Club takes place on Sundays with a shared table menu, cocktails, and a separate program for children, and for an additional fee, brunch guests can continue their day by the pool and on the beach. For families, this is especially convenient thanks to Club Tropicool with creative master classes, activities, and a beach program, making a seaside vacation easy to turn into a full day for adults and children.

      Sea Breeze Caspian Coast · velvet season in the city of the future

      Fly to Sea Breeze this autumn — a direct flight from Moscow will quickly transport you from the urban hustle to the waves of the Caspian Sea, where the special rhythm of the coast is felt from the very first minutes. Founded by Emin Agalarov in 2006, Sea Breeze started from barren land, and today it is a city of the future that is changing Azerbaijan's position on the world tourist map and becoming a grand project that combines cutting-edge technology, natural harmony, and cultural heritage. Its own beach area stretching over 7 km and 300 hectares of carefully planned greenery — here, firs and palms, pines and olive trees, lavender and eucalyptus coexist: more than 11 million plants create a unique microclimate and make every breath especially fresh. Arriving at Sea Breeze in autumn, you find yourself at the epicenter of vibrant events — from gastronomic festivals and sports competitions to an exciting chess tournament and many other engaging activities. The gastronomic adventure is an integral part of this rhythm: the resort's restaurants serve dishes that reveal the taste of the region in all its fullness — from fresh seafood to seasonal local products. Special attention deserves the new Marina Village — the heart of the marine romance of Sea Breeze, where you can easily spend an entire day. Take a yacht ride on the Caspian, stroll along the promenade at the country's first private yacht club, and enjoy the view at sunset in one of the gastronomic projects — when the sky burns with warm hues and the lights on the water shimmer as if the celebration has already begun. Sea Breeze is not just a resort, but a well-thought-out ecosystem for living and recreation: there are apartment hotels and villas, schools and kindergartens, a center for spiritual practices Nine Senses and Event Hall, SPA and fitness centers, beauty salons and trendy boutiques — all surrounded by a marine landscape and just 20 minutes from Baku. A large-scale greening project, smart infrastructure, and careful attitude towards the marine environment make Sea Breeze a place where progress goes hand in hand with nature — and it is during the velvet season that this harmony is felt especially vividly.

      JA Manafaru Maldives — continuation of summer

      For those who are not ready to say goodbye to tropical summer in autumn, JA Manafaru Maldives offers a change from the city to a secluded island in the northern part of the Maldives. Here you can choose a beach or overwater villa with your own pool, and for large families and multi-generational trips — spacious residences with two or three bedrooms. Days on the island are spent between the lagoon, snorkeling and diving, water sports, and relaxing on the pristine beach. A more leisurely scenario is built around Calm Spa Sanctuary, hidden among tropical greenery, where SPA rituals are complemented by yoga and meditation. In the evening, the island reveals itself through gastronomy: from dinner with Maldivian dishes in the treehouse Kuri to seafood on the beach at Ocean Grill and Japanese cuisine at White Orchid — an opportunity to turn an autumn trip into a full continuation of summer.

      Banyan Tree Phuket — velvet season by the Andaman Sea

      The velvet season in Phuket gradually returns comfortable weather for long days by the sea, and Banyan Tree Phuket is particularly well-suited for such a scenario. One of the main advantages of the resort, in addition to spacious villas and developed infrastructure, is the Rava Beach Club, one of the largest and most impressive beach clubs in Phuket. The space stretches 150 meters along the coast and occupies more than 3,500 sq. m: three panoramic pools, cabanas, and relaxation areas by the sea, music, and several gastronomic concepts make it a focal point of Phuket. Beyond the beach, Banyan Tree Phuket reveals itself as a large resort for those who love to combine beach relaxation with new experiences. Special attention should be paid to the DoublePool Villas, which span 1,300 sq. m: in addition to a 15-meter infinity pool, a second pool surrounds the bedroom, creating the effect of a space floating above the water. Another iconic part of Banyan Tree Phuket, the famous Banyan Tree Spa, offers treatments based on Asian traditions, and for a more active day, there are the 18-hole Laguna Golf Phuket course, tennis, Muay Thai, cycling routes, and water sports. This choice allows you to change the scenario every day, combining beach, sports, spa, and the privacy of your own villa in one resort.

      Grand Park Kodhipparu — extending summer in the Maldives

      The velvet season in the Maldives is especially good for those who want to spend most of the day by the water, and at Grand Park Kodhipparu, there are two natural advantages for this. The island is surrounded by a calm, clear lagoon with almost no strong currents and sharp depth changes, making it comfortable to swim, paddleboard, kayak, or try water sports for the first time. And just offshore begins its own home reef, which has made it into the top ten best reefs in the Maldives according to Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026. Coral gardens, turtles, rays, reef sharks, and other inhabitants can be seen while snorkeling right off the island, without additional trips or marine excursions. The underwater world largely sets the character of the vacation at Grand Park Kodhipparu. The island has a marine biologist who introduces guests to the ecosystem of the home reef, and the ecological program From Reef to Roof combines coral restoration, marine environment conservation, solar energy use, a desalination system, and a ban on single-use plastic bottles. For this comprehensive approach, the resort has received international Green Globe Gold certification for several years in a row. At the same time, caring for nature here organically becomes part of the vacation: snorkeling and diving coexist with water activities in the lagoon, yoga by the ocean, and spa treatments over the water. Another important advantage for a short autumn trip: from Malé International Airport to the island, it takes only 20 minutes by boat, so the journey from the plane to the first encounter with the ocean is almost symbolically short.

      Papillon Hotels — extending summer in Belek

      Autumn in Belek is an opportunity to extend summer by the Mediterranean Sea without the peak summer heat. At Papillon Zeugma Relaxury, Papillon Ayscha, and Papillon Belvil, beach relaxation is complemented by gastronomy, SPA, and sports programs, and from early October to November 15, almost all pools in the chain are heated: main, indoor, and children's pools, as well as water parks. The heating period may be adjusted depending on the weather. For a large family vacation, Papillon Ayscha has introduced a new two-story Grand Family Villa with five bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious terrace, and its own heated pool. The villa format is designed for more private relaxation and includes 24-hour service, the option to dine at à la carte restaurants, a beach pavilion with service, and barbecue on the villa — another scenario for an extended autumn vacation on the coast.

      JA Mar Hall — Scottish autumn

      Autumn in Scotland is a completely different version of the velvet season. The five-star JA Mar Hall occupies a historic 19th-century estate on the banks of the Clyde River, surrounded by 240 acres of Scottish nature. At this time of year, walks around the grounds can be alternated with playing on the 18-hole championship golf course, and then returning to the hotel for afternoon tea or spending the evening