TRAVEL IN SEPTEMBER

There is no better month to travel than September. You could disagree, but youd be wrong. The ninth month sees a remarkable confluence of happy circumstances around the world. In the Northern Hemisphere, prices and blood pressures fall down as hot days give way to a more temperate existence. In the Southern Hemisphere, the chills have all but disappeared as mountain passes reopen, frozen lakes thaw and wildflowers bloom. Sadly, for most travellers, September marks the end of travel season. Its back-to-school, back-to-work, back-to-reality drudgery. But if you can buck the trend, youll find that September is when those with the savvy and the means pack their bags and embark on adventure. The most-touristed continent on Earth saves its true charms for September. In popular destinations such as France and Italy, the hordes of visitors have ebbed away while the citizenry has returned from its August holiday, relaxed and ready to do business. Restaurants and hotels reopen, lines for attractions are short and prices begin to drop into shoulder season discounts. The weather in Western Europe remains pleasantly mild, and the beaches of the Mediterranean are as sunny as ever.