Winter holiday destinations

winter sun holiday destinations winter sun 2012 winter holiday ideas

By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays

What are the best winter holiday destinations for sunshine? Here is some 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 sun 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.

The beautiful island of Madeira is superb winter destination within 5 hours flying time. The rugged landscape is ideal for walking, or you can simply lie back and soak up the sunshine. You can stay at either a resort hotel or one of the beautifully-restored countryside quintas.

Egypt is not just about sunbathing, of course. If you want to see the Pyramids, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, we recommend this 10-night Classic Egypt holiday which combines a Nile cruise and a few days in Cairo where you can stay at the luxury Four Seasons Cairo or the small stylish Villa Belle Epoque.

beach holidays in December

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.

The Cape Verde islands off the coast of west Africa are great value and just 6 hours flying time from the UK. There are six islands where you can stay, all with different scenery from Sao Vicente – the cultural heart – to volcanic Fogo and Santo Antao, the greenest island. See the latest special offers.

The islands of Thailand offer amazing beaches, great food and excellent value. It’s best in winter to stick to the west coast islands such as Phuket.

Caribbean holidays in winter

A winter break in the Caribbean is a real treat, whether you opt for the quiet charm of Grenada or the celebrity stardust of Barbados. The soft sandy beaches and lush scenery of Tobago and Jamaica provide the ideal backdrop for a fantastic holiday. Or try a two-centre combination of Miami and the Caribbean.

As long as you avoid the peak season of Christmas and New Year, you can find some great prices. Some of the best deals are in Cuba and Mexico.

In Cuba we recommend a beach-and-city combination. It would be a pity to visit this fascinating country without exploring the capital, Havana. Try the stylish Hotel Saratoga in Havana combined with the beachfront Melia Cayo Coco.

In Mexico we like the sister hotels Dreams Tulum and Dreams Riviera Resort & Spa. Or stay a luxury boutique boutique hacienda.

Other hotels you should consider are elegant Round Hill or Sandals Royal Plantation in Jamaica (see the latest special offers), and boutique-style Laluna on the small friendly island of Grenada.

On St Lucia – another beautiful island with lush volcanic peaks and charming fishing villages – we recommend Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa, the couples-only Rendezvous and, for something really special, Anse Chastanet and its ‘big sister’ Jade Mountain.

If you prefer an adults-only hotel, The House in Barbados is a great option.

Other options in the Caribbean include a tall ship cruise with Star Clippers.

See my fellow editor David Wickers’ selection of the best Caribbean holidays.

Asia and the Middle East

You can fly to the Arabian Gulf in less than 7 hours and find guaranteed sunshine, endless sandy beaches and stunning hotels. For glamour, shopping and mouth-watering restaurants, try Dubai. If culture and natural beauty are your priorities, head to neighbouring Oman where you’ll find desert, medieval forts, remote beaches and mountains. One of the best hotels is the Six Senses Zighy Bay. See the latest offers.

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 with a heavy dose of culture we also recommend Sri Lanka.

We love the East Coast of Malaysia, particularly the gorgeous Tanjong Jara. For a luxury spa holiday, look no further than Chiva-Som in Thailand.

The mountains of Nepal offer a one-in-a-lifetime holiday. You can trek in the foothills of the Himalayas or simply soak up the astonishing beauty and spiritually of this country of ancient cities, pagodas, temples and national parks. This 10-day Magic of Nepal tour is an excellent introduction for first-timers.

If you’ve been to Asia before – perhaps Thailand or Vietnam – your next stop should be Burma. It’s not only a beautiful and fascinating country with natural and man-made wonders (such as the temples at Pagan), but the Burmese people are warm, welcoming and wonderfully gentle.

Back in the Middle East, Jordan is a glorious country and ideal for a touring holiday in winter.

budget ski holiday

Wrap up warm

Austria is one of our favourite countries for a ski trip. For families, we recommend Esprit Ski which has 27 years experience of making sure you and your little ones have a wonderful winter break in the Alps.

You can also enjoy 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. One of the best value options on the slopes is a chalet holiday (check out these late deals).

Or head west to the snow-sure Canadian Rockies where small friendly resorts such as Fernie and Kimberley offer good prices, uncrowded pistes and great instruction.

Go north for a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights – for the next two winters the chance of a spectacular display is greatly increased. You’ll also have a good chance of seeing the lights while staying at Sweden’s Ice Hotel. For a wonderful family treat, you can visit visit Santa in Lapland.

One of the world’s most under-rated holiday destinations is Canada. In winter you can explore the majestic unspoilt landscapes of the Yukon – and see the Northern Lights – or go dog-sledding and snowmobiling in the Rockies or stay at the Ice Hotel in Quebec. It’s a true winter wonderland.

If you want to get away modern commercial Christmas celebrations, head for a traditional Christmas market break in Europe. You’ll find huge markets in Cologne, Munich and Prague, along with hymn recitals, ice staking and lots of mulled wine. Lesser-known cities such as Freiburg, Koblenz and Wiesbaden are even more traditional.

Adventure holidays

A safari is a great winter holiday. Choose between classic safaris in Kenya or Botswana. Kenya offers affordable prices and a great selection of game drives, horse-riding and walking safaris. If you want a challenge, how about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

India is one of the world’s great destinations, whether you want to tour the ancient sites of Rajasthan or set off on a tiger safari. It’s easy in winter to find warm temperatures of around 25C.

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

For something completely different, consider a volunteering holiday in a choice destinations that includes Costa Rica, Thailand, New Zealand and India. It’s a chance to combine unique travel experiences with voluntary work on a local community or wildlife project.

Find more winter sun holidays in 2012. Also see our holiday weather guide.