Winter holiday destinations

What are the best winter holiday destinations? Here, Sunday Times travel writers Mark Hodson and David Wickers, give expert independent advice on where to find the best deals in the sun. Or you can visit the 101 Holidays homepage to see our full collection of holiday ideas.

Cheap winter holiday destinations

Tenerife and the Egyptian Red Sea resorts are all less than five hours’ flying time away, and offer year-round sunshine. We also recommend The Gambia on the West coast of Africa where you’ll find great-value hotels, lovely beaches and wildlife excursions. It’s a six-hour flight from the UK.

Tropical islands

For a taste of winter paradise, head to the Indian ocean and the idyllic island of Mauritius. You can also soak up the sun in the gorgeous settings of the Maldives and the Seychelles. With perfect beaches, stunning hotels and first-class service, they’re the perfect antidote to wintry weather.

Middle East and the Gulf

If you want to combine guaranteed sunshine with some of the world’s most stunning hotels, there really is only one destination - Dubai. If you just want to kick back and relax the spas and beaches are wonderful, but you can also enjoy dune bashing in 4×4s, splash about at water parks, or a enjoy some unrivalled retail therapy.

Jordan is a glorious country and ideal for a touring holiday in winter. Or consider a luxury Nile cruise on a historic sailing boat.

Caribbean in winter

A winter break in the Caribbean is a real treat, whether you opt for the quite charm of Grenada or the celebrity stardust of Barbados. Divers will love Bermuda, while the beaches and lush scenery of St Lucia, Tobago and Jamaica, provide the ideal backdrop for a fantastic holiday. Or try a two-centre combination of in Miami and the Caribbean.

Winter holidays in Asia

Bali is heavenly in our winter months. Try the family-friendly resorts of Sanur and Nusa Dua or stylish Seminyak. For good-value beach holidays we also recommend Sri Lanka.

We love the East Coast of Malaysia, particularly Tanjong Jara. For a luxury spa holiday, look no further than Chiva-Som in Thailand. If you want to indulge, head across to the island of Koh Samui.

Skiing holidays

If you want to hit the slopes, but time is at a premium, then a Ski Weekend is just the ticket. Pick from a choice of resorts in Italy, Switzerland and France, head off on Thursday and be back home on Monday - with four days of skiing under your belt. For a family ski trip, Esprit Ski offers 27 years of experience of making sure you and your little ones have a wonderful winter break in the Alps.

You can also a budget ski holiday in one of the top resorts in the French Alps. However, if you want to ski in real style, try The Lodge, Verbier.

Safari holidays

A safari is a great winter holiday. Choose between classic safaris in Kenya or Botswana or gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Alternatively, head to India for an amzing wildlife holiday.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Argentina is an amazing country packed with treats, and it is at its best in the European winter.