Where can I catch the sun on a break in September?
Simon Calder answers your questions on post-summer getaways, conflict in Egypt and car rental reimbursements
Q I’m looking for a long-haul holiday in September with almost guaranteed sunshine. I have a terrible record of rainfall following me, so I normally go to desert locations: Las Vegas or Dubai. Do you have any other suggestions?
Kevin Jones
A There are some places you can immediately cross off your list. In the Caribbean, September is plumb in the middle of the hurricane season. For the normally lovely Thai island of Phuket, September is the wettest month. For warmth and clear skies, aim for the “sub-tropical high-pressure belts”. These layers of latitude, from the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (23.6 north and south respectively) to about 35 degrees north or south, are characterised by clear skies and low rainfall. Dubai is 25N, Las Vegas is 36N, incidentally.
Arizona’s largest city, Phoenix, vies with Las Vegas for the title of sunniest city in the world – and is the gateway to a desert state filled with terracotta mountains and carved by canyons. Personally, I rate the lunar landscapes of Utah, north of the Grand Canyon, even more highly – especially the extraordinary Bryce Canyon. I have visited in September, and the skies were permanently clear. For those of us who like to relax with a drink, though, the tricky alcohol rules in this Mormon state may be annoying.
In the Middle East, the standout destination is Oman – where rainfall in September and October is at a minimum. You can enjoy city life in Muscat, find plenty of beaches, and – unlike in most other Gulf states – enjoy high adventure in the mountains.
Yet I wonder if I could persuade you that in September you could travel south in search of clear skies without going long-haul? The odds are favourable in Tunisia, Malta and Crete. Reaching them is much easier and cheaper, with a lesser impact on the planet than a long-haul flight. The Mediterranean is at its warmest (having been gently cooked all summer), and life should be warm, sunny and relaxing.
Q Is it safe to travel to Hurghada in Egypt?
Rhonda B
A Your question arrived minutes before a more wide-ranging one: “Thoughts on travelling to Egypt at present?” So I shall tackle both in this answer.
Tensions in the Middle East are rising, with the US and British attacks on Houthi installations in Yemen. These are in retaliation for drone attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – which has caused some shipping firms to divert routes between Asia and Europe to go around the southern tip of Africa.
The Red Sea, of course, is the attraction for hundreds of thousands of British visitors to Hurghada and other resorts each year. The Nile, from Aswan through Luxor and Cairo to Alexandria, is the other main draw due to the astonishing array of antiquity.
Two incidents have taken place in Egypt since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The following day, a police officer is reported to have shot and killed two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian tour guide in the city of Alexandria. On 27 October, drones that had presumably been dispatched from Yemen struck the Sinai resorts of Nuweiba and Taba; six people were injured in the latter attack.
Naturally, some prospective visitors will feel anxious. But I believe the odds are still overwhelmingly in favour of a safe and rewarding visit. At this time in 2023, I was beside the Red Sea, taking advantage of the friendly welcome, low prices and guaranteed January sunshine in Hurghada. At the end of last year, I visited Sharm El Sheikh – across the Sinai Peninsula – and Cairo. Both locations have, in the past, been the sites of fatal attacks on tourists to Egypt. But there is now a very substantial security presence, and I felt in no danger at any time from terrorism.
An ever-present danger, though, is road safety. The death toll on Egyptian roads is many times higher than in the UK, and I am very conscious of flying or travelling by train rather than going long distances by road. However, in Hurghada it is a short distance from the airport to the beach, and the risks are minuscule.
Q I had an extremely frustrating experience with a car rental firm in Fuerteventura. Our rental car was booked eight weeks in advance. We sailed through passport control and luggage collection. Unbelievably, we spent over three hours waiting to be seen at the desk. The process of renting the car took almost two hours more, including a wait to wash the car. We lost half a day. We arrived at our hotel not at lunchtime but when it was dark. The kids missed a swim in the pool which closed by the time we arrived. We nearly missed our dinner reservation. The excuse given was: “It’s a very busy time of the year.” Surely that is predictable? If this was a flight, with that length of delay we would be entitled to £350 per person. Is there any standard delay policy that relates to services?
Matt B
A How extremely frustrating. I have had some exasperatingly long waits at car rental offices, most recently at Lisbon’s Oriente railway station, but that was only an hour. Regrettably, there is no framework for compensating travellers whose entire afternoon is consumed in queuing and paperwork. Once I turned up at a car rental office in a remote part of Denmark, with a reservation made in the UK, only to be told, “Sorry, we don’t have any vehicles”. That is the equivalent of a flight cancellation. After I complained, I recall I got a voucher for £50 – and I suggest that is the approximate ballpark for what you might get after complaining. Fortunately, there is plenty of competition among rental car companies in the Canaries. I have always used Cicar while in the islands, and have found the firm professional and good value.
More broadly, the best car rental experience I have had was in Tampa, Florida, hiring (again in advance) through Hertz – for which I have a loyalty account. “Just pick the car you like from the lot and take it away,” the helpful lady explained. And so it proved. If only every company and location was so efficient. Meanwhile, all I can suggest is that you wait and see if a voucher arrives – and if it doesn’t, avoid the offending firm in future.
Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
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