Great autumn escapes

Adelaide, South Australia

Flight time: 2 hours

Cost of flights: From $80 return

The lowdown: Anyone who says Adelaide is boring either hasn't been there or hasn't done it properly. Seriously good food and wine and friendly people help make the city a top year-round destination, particularly in autumn.

Local tip: The food and wine from McLaren Vale is perhaps the best in Australia. Head to and you'll find a cellar door that doesn't just sell the winery's award-winning shiraz and sangiovese drops, but amazing Kalamata olives, first press olive oil and McLaren Camembert from Woodside Cheese Wrights. CorioleChaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171.

Foodie hotspot: Locals are raving about the food on offer at Osteria, a restaurant from the owners of Mesa Lunga, British India and Concubine. This Italian-cum-Spanish eatery does brilliant tapas, gourmet pizzas and sangria. The crowd is very local; book ahead on weekends, as it's almost impossible to get in. Osteria de Mesa205 Glen Osmond Rd, Frewville SA 5063. (08 8379 5004).

Drinking den: Quaint cocktail den Lotus Lounge is about to mark five years in business this month and the drinks are as good as ever, particularly the Espresso Martinis, Mojitos and original Martinis. Lotus Lounge268 Morphett St, Adelaide SA 5000. (08 8231 0312).

Where to stay: The Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury has perhaps the city's best location in Victoria Square. The apartment hotel at the former state Treasury building has a gym, lap pool and bar that rocks on Friday nights. Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury2 Flinders St, Adelaide SA 5000. (08 8112 0000).

Getting there: Tiger Airways flies daily from Sydney to Adelaide and prices start from only $40 each way. It's pay as you go onboard, but the service is brilliant from the super-friendly staff. Tiger Airways.

Events in Adelaide - Time Out Adelaide

Bali, Indonesia

Flight time: 5.5 hours

Cost of flights: $800 return

The lowdown: Thanks to constant sales on flights between Sydney and Bali, it's never been more affordable to visit the holiday isle.

Local tip: Bali airport is now tech-heavy. There are scanners at the airport after you pick up your luggage (yep, a recent installation) and if you fly in at a peak time, the lines can be long for the visa on arrival, customs queue and bag queue. The tip right now is arrange a visa in advance of the trip from the Indonesian embassy. It could save you an hour at Bali airport.

Foodie hotspot: Overlooking the Indian Ocean atop a 150-metre high cliff, di Mare restaurant at the exclusive Karma Kandara resort is not your average hotel restaurant. The $1,000-plus-per-night, all-villa hotel caters to the rich and famous, but di Mare is also a destination in itself. If you can't choose from the 3,000-strong wine bottle cellar, then keep it simple and have a bottle of champagne while eating some spice-crusted prawns. di MareKarma Kandara Jalan Villa Kandara Banjar Wijaya Kusuma Ungasan, Bali, Indonesia. (+62 361 848 2200).

Drinking den: For almost the last ten years, Ku de Ta in Seminyak has been not just the best drinking spot in Bali, but also Asia. The cocktails at KDT (designed originally by Sydney bar guru Grant Collins from Zeta) are worth the hefty $17 price tag. Make sure you order the Cuba Libre or if you want to keep it simple, just order a Heineken. You also have to be here well before sunset to snag a day bed. Ku De TaJalan Hotel The Oberoi, Kuta, Indonesia, (+62 36 173 6969).

Where to stay: As long as the hotel has a nice pool and a bar or two, you don't need to spend up big to enjoy Bali well. Since its opening in April last year, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali has become increasingly popular for Aussies thanks to its affordability, facilities (a pool and two bars) and location. You're not in Kuta, but close enough for the cab to cost a couple of bucks. Holiday Inn Resort Baruna BaliJalan Wana Segara 33 Tuban, Bali, Indonesia. (+62 361 755 577).

Getting there: Pacific Blue flies to Denpasar daily from Sydney (either direct or via Brisbane or Perth) and lead-in airfares are available for under $400 each way for the 5.5-hour hop. Pacific Blue.

San Diego, California, USA

Flight time: 19 hours

Cost of flights: $1,500 return

The lowdown: San Diego is the most desired city in America to live in and for good reason. The weather is perfect (think 20°C year-round), there's no traffic (hard to believe since LA is a 90-minute drive away) and everybody is super-friendly. It's also a great city to visit - but after a week you may not want to come home.

Local tip: It's baseball season and that means no visit to San Diego is complete without catching a Padres game for $20 at Petco Park - a stadium located in the centre of downtown. Afterwards, you're only four minutes' walk from about 15 bars and pubs that will be rockin' if the Padres win. Petco Park100 Park Blvd, San Diego CA. (+1 619 795 5000).

Foodie hotspot: Take a drive out to Pacific Beach (SD's version of Bondi) and you'll find not just seaside mansions, but good bars, restaurants and cafés. Leading the dining scene is JRDN at the hip Tower 23 Hotel. Get there before 6pm, have a few local ales and watch the sun go down. Modern Californian cuisine is complemented by a top wine list and excellent service that's worth the 22 per cent tip. Tower 23723 Felspar St, San Diego CA. (+1 858 270 2323).

Drinking den: With some great wine being produced in California, it's no wonder the state is going through a wine-bar craze. Right now the hot spot is Syrah Wine Parlor, which is best described to Sydneysiders as Ivy meets the Winery with more turf. At the bar, the massive jugs of sangria are definitely the call. Syrah Wine Parlor901 5th Ave, San Diego CA. (+1 619 234 4166).

Where to stay: Andaz San Diego (formerly Ivy Hotel) is as hip as hotels get. With a nightclub underneath, a restaurant and wine bar on the ground floor and rooftop pool bar, this is where the city's sexy set come to play and stay. The rooms are spacious and the location in the middle of downtown is ideal. As a guest, you have access to every bar in the hotel with no cover charge. Andaz San Diego600 F St, San Diego CA. (+1 619 849 1234).

Getting there: Hawaiian Airlines flies from Sydney to San Diego via Honolulu. It's the fastest way to get to SD and flying via Hawaii means you can avoid the congestion of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Hawaiian Airlines.

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