Who doesn’t long for sunshine at this time of year, especially after the glacial temperatures of early January, with weeks of wind, rain and more deep freezes stretching interminably ahead?
The problem is that while we’re craving blue skies abroad, this time of year is peak season for winter sun – which means high prices. Few of us can afford to fork out £8,000 for a week in the Maldives.
What’s more, many destinations claiming to have winter sun aren’t that hot in January and February.
So where can you go in the next few weeks that isn’t going to break the bank but will let you top up your Vitamin D? In more than three decades of travel writing – almost a third of which as a travel editor – I’ve been lucky enough to tick off a vast number of winter-sun destinations. Here are my top 22 places to go.
Under £1,000
Lovely Lanzarote
It feels a million miles away from tacky Tenerife on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, where buildings are limited to four stories and must be painted white. Architect Cesar Manrique was responsible for the protective laws on this volcanic island, where he crafted gardens, attractions and lookouts. February temperatures hover around 20C.
Top tip: Take in the lunar landscape of the Timanfaya National Park and eat a meal cooked by volcanic heat in the Manrique-designed El Diablo restaurant.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B at Seaside Los Jameos with flights leaving Gatwick on February 3 costs from £806pp, saving £371 per couple (tui.co.uk).
Seaside Los Jameos in Lanzarote boasts sun-soaked rooms and a large swimming pool
Cut-price Orlando
Florida’s theme parks are particularly pleasant to visit at this time of year, with temperatures in the low 20Cs. Whether you want to see Mickey Mouse or explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can keep costs low by staying central in an International Drive hotel. The Rosen Inn International has complimentary shuttles to Universal Orlando, where you can get discounted food and merchandise.
Top tip: Try indoor skydiving at iFLY, which is also on International Drive.
How to do it: Seven nights’ room only with return flights from Gatwick costs from £749pp, with a saving of £225pp, based on a family of four travelling in February, including half-term (ocean-florida.co.uk).
At Florida’s Universal Orlando, you can see Mickey Mouse or explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Barbados on a budget
The beauty of Barbados is that while it’s ideal for basking in the Caribbean sun, it’s also great for surfing. You can test your skills on a surfboard when you stay at the self-catering Ocean Spray Beach Apartments in the south of the island – where the waves are gentle. Book lessons next door at Zed’s Surfing Adventures. For a calmer sea, Barbados’s Miami Beach is just a short bus journey away.
Top tip: Go in mid-February for the week-long Holetown Festival commemorating the island’s first English settlement.
How to do it: Seven nights’ self-catering in a studio and kitchenette with flights leaving February 9 and transfers costs from £809pp (loveholidays.com).
It’s surfs up at this time of year in Barbados, where the calmer seas can be found in the south
Exotic Morocco
It takes just three-and-a-half hours to reach Morocco and its February temperatures in the 20Cs. To really enjoy the culture, stay in a riad – a traditional house with an interior courtyard. The ten-room Riad Al Ksar & Spa with its swimming pool and flower-filled patios with sun loungers is like an oasis of calm in the joyful madness of Marrakech, with its souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa market square.
Top tip: Visit the Art Deco and Moorish Jardin Majorelle created by the French artist of the same name, which was later purchased by Yves Saint Laurent.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B with flights and transfers costs from £675 (easyjet.co.uk).
The ten-room Riad Al Ksar & Spa has a swimming pool for the whole family to enjoy in the sun
Quieter Canary
You can be far away from the tourist hordes that flock to the Canaries for winter sun at La Gomera but still benefit from temperatures touching 20C in February. What’s more, this little island has dramatic scenery, with volcanic plugs rising from the ground, laurel forests topping vertiginous hills and pastel-coloured houses clinging to impossibly steep slopes. After exploring the interior, relax on the island’s soft black sands.
Top tip: Trace Christopher Columbus’s footsteps in San Sebastian, where he stayed before crossing the Atlantic.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B at Bancal Hotel and Spa in San Sebastian costs from £758pp with flights from Gatwick and ferry transfers (firstchoice.co.uk).
Traditional food is in abundance in the Canary Islands, which floats around a warm 20C in January and February
Amazing Abu Dhabi
With its combination of desert, beaches and Emirati culture, Abu Dhabi already makes an interesting mix. Now add the water and theme parks on Yas Island. Ride the fastest coaster in the world at Ferrari World, meet everyone from Bugs Bunny to Batman at Warner Bros World and whoop your way down the rides and slides at Yas Waterworld, with the tastefully themed Warner Bros hotel, the WB Abu Dhabi, nearby.
Top tip: Visit the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital for a fascinating insight into the birds of prey.
How to do it: Three nights’ B&B costs from £759pp, or seven nights from £1,189pp, with flights (southalltravel.co.uk).
Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World contains a racecar-themed rollercoaster – the fastest on the planet
Under £1,500
Sri Lankan sun
It’s a minimum 23C in Bentota, Sri Lanka, in February – and that’s at night. In the day, you’re looking at 30C. It’s ideal weather for lounging on the beach, perhaps riding a jet ski through the waters, relaxing by the pool or taking a boat safari through wild mangroves to spot crocodiles. The Thaala Bentota Resort Hotel, originally designed by architect Geoffrey Bawa to resemble an 18th century Dutch village, is close to the Beruwala Lighthouse.
Top tip: Visit the nearby turtle hatchery to learn about their conservation efforts and to see day-old baby turtles.
How to do it: Seven nights’s B&B at Thaala Bentota Resort Hotel with flights and transfers costs from £1,449pp (tropicalsky.co.uk).
The Thaala Bentota Resort Hotel was designed to resemble an 18th century Dutch village with Sri Lankan beaches on the doorstep
Koh Samui craze
Thailand’s hot right now – and we’re not just talking about the tropical temperatures. The latest series of The White Lotus was partly filmed at the Four Seasons hotel on the exotic island of Koh Samui. Just along the coast, the less expensive but still smart Mai Samui Beach Resort makes a great base for excursions to the Big Buddha Temple, the night markets and to explore the surrounding islands.
Top tip: Take a boat trip to Koh Tao and then visit Nang Yuan, a cluster of three scenic islets with rocky outcrops.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B at Mai Samui Beach Resort costs from £1,287pp, with flights via Bangkok (thomascook.com).
Thailand is a trendy place to travel to right now, and its little wonder when the island of Koh Samui is so appealing
Mauritius for a snip
With its clear waters, sandy beaches and swish hotels, Mauritius is the perfect fly and flop destination. Lie back and enjoy temperatures of 27C on the Indian Ocean island feeling smug that you’ve bagged a 30 per cent discount on the price and been upgraded to all-inclusive. The Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa on the north-eastern coast has beach yoga and kayak mangrove safaris for those who are a bit more active.
Top tip: Visit the Sagar Shiv Mandir Hindu temple on its own island surrounded by mangroves and the lagoon.
How to do it: Six nights’ all inclusive with flights departing February 11 costs from £1,484pp (southalltravel.co.uk).
Enjoy the Indian Ocean on a winter break to Mauritius, where temperatures reach 30C
Unsung Emirate
If you’ve done Dubai, it’s worth taking a look at one of the other Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah has the same beautiful beaches but they’re backed by mountains, offering some fun activities. It’s also home to the new Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah, which is all-inclusive, so you can control your budget. The sprawling resort has five swimming pools and four restaurants.
Top tip: Take an excursion to the world’s longest zipline, Jais Flight, where you can reach speeds of 90mph as you zoom along its 1.76-mile length.
How to do it: Seven nights’ all inclusive costs from £1,022pp, with Emirates flights leaving February 3 (tui.co.uk).
The new Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah resort is the place to stay in the Emirates if Dubai doesn’t take your fancy
Beaches of Vietnam
It’s known as the seafood capital of Vietnam, but Nha Trang is also home to endless beaches and has the most sunshine in the country. Go snorkelling in the bay, dotted with more than a dozen islands, visit the fishing villages, enjoy a mud bath and make a trip to the Long Son Pagoda with its 78ft-tall Buddha statue.
Top tip: Take a boat trip to Hon Mun island, part of a marine protected area with clear waters and some of the richest marine biodiversity in Vietnam.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B with flights and transfers costs from £1,289pp (tropicalsky.co.uk).
Vietnam’s Nha Trang is home to endless beaches and has the most sunshine in the country
Under £2,000
Poolside in Dubai
An easy seven-hour flight away, Dubai gives you pretty much guaranteed sunshine on its Arabian Gulf beaches, as well as fantastic food (there are 19 restaurants with Michelin stars) and superb hotels. Among them is Raffles The Palm Dubai, on the man-made Palm Jumeirah, with its Cinq Mondes spa and art-filled rooms. If you can tear yourself away, Dubai has everything from the largest fountain in the world to the world’s deepest pool.
Top tip: Visit the 656ft-high Aura Skypool, which has 360-degree views of Dubai’s landmarks, including the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab hotel.
How to do it: Five nights’ half board with flights leaving January 26 costs from £1,551pp (britishairways.com).
Raffles The Palm Dubai, on the man-made Palm Jumeirah, treats visitors to metropolis views
Divine Dominica
A million metaphorical miles from the Dominican Republic, the tiny Caribbean island of Dominica, with its lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls and volcanoes, feels straight out of Jurassic Park. Whales haunt the waters off the beaches fringing its coast. Hike in the interior, go river tubing or try sea kayaking. Stay at the self-catering Sea Cliff Eco-Cottages in the island’s north east, with beaches, restaurants and the founder’s gin distillery on its doorstep.
Top tip: Take a rowing boat trip up the enchanting Indian River and see the wooden hut used in Pirates of the Caribbean.
How to do it: Seven nights’ self-catering with flights via Barbados costs from £1,957pp (sunvil.co.uk).
Sea Cliff Eco-Cottages are quiet and understated – a great way to enjoy Dominica’s charm
Caribbean cruise
Why confine yourself to one Caribbean island when you can visit a selection, beach hopping in Barbados before exploring Curacao’s quaint capital of Willemstad, with its Dutch and Spanish colonial architecture, and snorkelling in Bonaire’s marine park. Other ports include St Vincent, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Sint Maarten. P&O’s Britannia is a suitably elegant way to island hop, with its varied restaurants, entertainment and children’s club.
Top tip: Take a cookery lesson in the on-board school. Some cruises have lessons taught by chef Marco Pierre White.
How to do it: A 14-night cruise departing February 21 costs from £1,779pp in an inside cabin, including full-board and flights (pocruises.com).
Beach hopping in Barbados is where you’ll start your not-at-all-wintry Caribbean P&O cruise
Marvellous Muscat
Gentler than Dubai, Oman is a great place for an easy city break on the coast. In the capital of Muscat, the place to stay is the beachfront Chedi, with the Al Hajar mountains rising behind. Make forays to the souk and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with its Persian carpet that took 600 women more than four years to weave. Then return to the hotel’s three pools and a spa.
Top tip: Go dolphin watching in the Gulf of Oman, and keep an eye out for whales.
How to do it: Five nights’ half-board with flights from Heathrow on February 5, including a 25 per cent discount, costs from £1,964pp (bestattravel.co.uk).
Muscat’s Chedi hotel is the perfect place to stay in Oman if the country’s beaches draw you in
More than £2,000
Reef and rainforest in Belize
Not only is the Central American country of Belize English-speaking, but it’s also easy to enjoy both reef and rainforest along with some impressive Mayan ruins. Take in the 140ft-tall Mayan temple at Caracol, one of the largest man-made structures in Belize, before going tubing in the rainforest. There’s plenty of time to relax on Ambergris Caye, where you can go snorkelling, diving or take boat tours.
Top tip: Don’t miss the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves (aka the ATM Cave), with its Mayan relics and skeletons.
How to do it: Nine nights’ B&B with flights and an extra night in Miami plus transfers and some excursions costs from £2,727pp (journeylatinamerica.com).
English-speaking Belize is home to colourful huts that overlook crystal-clear waterfronts
Maldivian marvel
There’s no need to worry about getting bored in the Maldives when you stay at Siyam World. As well as the usual white beaches against the bluest of seas, the island’s attractions include a horse ranch, floating water park, go-kart track and full-size football pitch. Unlike some other all-inclusive resorts, it’s not just about the buffet – there’s no charge to eat and drink in 16 bars and restaurants, from Italian to Indian.
Top tip: While you’re waiting for your seaplane, enjoy a complimentary massage in Sun Siyam’s lounge.
How to do it: Seven nights’ all inclusive with international flights leaving January 29 and seaplane transfers, with a saving of £2,800 per couple now costs from £3,699pp (trailfinders.co.uk).
Stunning St Lucia
With its snaggle-toothed twin peaks known as the Pitons and its rainforest-filled interior, St Lucia is ridiculously scenic. It also offers plenty to keep you busy, including making your own chocolate bar at the Hotel Chocolat, a drive-in volcano with sulphur springs and zip wiring. Or you could just hit the hotel spa and chill out on the beach.
Top tip: Don’t try and climb the pitons; take a nature walk at their base to get the best views.
How to do it: Seven nights’ B&B at The Landings Resort and Spa in the north west of the island is from £2,850pp, including flights (virginholidays.co.uk).
Family Seychelles
While the Maldives wows with its azure seas, the Seychelles islands have more interesting interiors. On Praslin, take the children to meet giant tortoises and let them giggle at the bottom-shaped coco de mer in the Vallee de Mai. Raffles Seychelles on the island has a children’s club and 40 per cent off its swish villas above the beach.
Top tip: Take a boat trip to the island of La Digue, where you can hike or bike through coconut and vanilla plantations before relaxing on the beach with its rounded granite boulders.
How to do it: Seven nights’ half-board costs from £2,775 per adult and £2,285 per child under 13 sharing a room, with flights on February 4 with Qatar Airways (kenwoodtravel.co.uk).
The Nile in style
It’s worth splashing out to cruise the Nile, but first you should take time in Cairo ticking off the pyramids, the Sphinx and the new Egyptian museum. Then fly to Luxor for a leisurely river cruise. One Traveller charters its own boat for solo travellers, who enjoy single occupancy of a double cabin. Enjoy morning excursions to the Valley of the Kings and waterside temples, then relax on deck and drift through 5,000 years of culture.
Top tip: It’s well worth taking the optional excursion to the Temple of Abu Simbel, dedicated to pharaoh Ramses II.
How to do it: Ten nights, including meals and entrance tickets plus drinks on the cruise, costs from £4,990pp with flights leaving February 19, and a free transfer to Heathrow within 100 miles (onetraveller.co.uk).
South African safari
For inexpensive safaris in South Africa, go to the Kruger. But for one of the best safari experiences I’ve ever had, head to the little-known Madikwe Game Reserve, with easy viewing of the big five (African bush elephant, rhinoceros, African buffalo, lion and leopard). As an extra bonus, it’s malaria-free. During this time of the year, it’s calving season, so the predators are on the hunt. Bookend your safari with time at Johannesburg’s Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa.
Top tip: Take a walking tour of graffiti and street art in Johannesburg.
How to do it: Two nights’ B&B at The Saxon and four nights’ all-inclusive in Madikwe Safari Lodge with game drives, transfers and all flights costs from £4,201pp (yellowzebrasafaris.com).
Florida fly-drive
There isn’t a better fly-drive in the sun than the Florida Keys’ Overseas Highway, featuring the iconic Seven Mile Bridge. After a few nights in Miami, take a short flight to Key West, America’s most southernmost mainland point, where you’ll experience amazing sunsets. Tour Ernest Hemingway’s old home before following the 150-mile route back to Miami. Visit Marathon’s turtle hospital, try to fish for your dinner and see the underwater statues at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Top tip: The best key lime pie you’ll get is at Kermit’s Key Lime Shop in Key West. Try it in cordial form or frozen on a stick, dipped in dark chocolate.
How to do it: Ten nights’ room only with flights and car hire costs from £2,995pp (bon-voyage.co.uk).