Peter Greenberg: Vacation from Iraq

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2008-07-24

We would like to meet our son, who is working in Iraq, outside of the United States, in September. Where is a good place to go at that time of year? We are open to just about anywhere—preferably relatively inexpensive. Thanks!
–Susan, Houston, Texas

September is what I like to call the “magic month” for travel. This means that nearly everywhere you'd like to travel has reasonably good weather, and you won't be a victim of higher prices or crowds with long lines.

If you don’t mind traveling a little bit, Italy has a plethora of local festivals during early fall. The Venice Film Festival occurs during the first week of September. Also around that time, on the first Sunday of the month, the “Regatta Storica,” meaning “historic regatta,” for Venice’s famous gondola and boat races, occurs. You could even head over to nearby Tuscany for the Palio di San Rocco; this five-day festival, during the first week of September, features medieval competitions and the famous horse races that are the event’s namesake.

However, if you are looking for something more low key and relaxing, you might want to look into renting a villa in Southern France. South France Villas offers properties for rent on a weekly basis in Corsica, Côte d’Azur, Provence, and the Languedoc at affordable prices. With beaches and mild weather, these villas are meant to be rented to families vacationing in the area. Plus, these locations are fairly centrally located between the United States and Iraq.