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Where to go for winter sunshine

23 replies

BresciaBike · 24/04/2024 23:14

Just that really. Looking for ideas, inspiration and recommendations. Also, if you know of ways to do it a little cheaper (or relatively cheaper, winter sunshine won't be peanuts) then fire away!

I'm using winter loosely. Anywhere from Nov to Feb really. End of October if it massively influences price.

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ConfusedGin · 24/04/2024 23:19

Cape Verde is a decent choice for 30 degrees, 6 hour flight from London and reasonable price

XelaM · 24/04/2024 23:21

Dubai would be my choice for guaranteed winter sun

Yellowcakestand · 24/04/2024 23:22

The Gambia. The sunshine Coast:)

useitorlose · 24/04/2024 23:22

UAE and Oman. Oman is more expensive. Some great deals to be had in Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah.

bigbluefish · 24/04/2024 23:23

Hurghada, Egypt

BIWI · 24/04/2024 23:24

Depends on your budget! But - for us - Barbados every time, if we could manage it Smile

BresciaBike · 24/04/2024 23:40

BIWI · 24/04/2024 23:24

Depends on your budget! But - for us - Barbados every time, if we could manage it Smile

I imagine flights are about a grand pp in high season (flying from Scotland). How is day to day spending (food, getting around, enjoying oneself)?

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honeyandfizz · 24/04/2024 23:43

We went to Sri-Lanka in Feb for a fortnight, temperature was around 30c and it was utter bliss. I kept hunting for flights on Skyscanner and managed to get them for £650 each and then booked the accommodation separately. Food is so cheap out there but we had been before so knew the better parts to stay. We are saving to go back each winter as we love it so much over there.

Bjorkdidit · 25/04/2024 04:02

End of October won't be cheap as that's half term.

Canaries would be the obvious choice or Andalusia. Endless variety of holiday types from AI beach/pool holidays, waters ports, city breaks, hiking, cycling etc.

Lanzarote has caves, volcano park, Cesar Manrique arty stuff, vineyards as well as everything else I've mentioned.

Or somewhere like Seville. Eating out quite cheap and as well as that city you can get day trips to Cordoba and Cadiz

ThirdAidKit · 25/04/2024 04:50

Prefer to avoid the Gambia / UAE etc due to various human rights situations.

Friends just went to Cape Verde and said it was very much just a beach, not much else and very windy?!

People always say Canaries but I’m coming with another island down by there which is lovely - Madeira.

Not hot hot - 20s in winter, but beautiful mountains, botanical gardens, rocky coast “beaches”, great walking (look up levadas) I was surprised how much nicer it was than the Canaries. It’s not traditional “beach” though so depends what you want.

katscamel · 25/04/2024 04:51

I went to Valencia in December and it was nice. Otherwise as previously been suggested Oman or UAE. Qatar is ok though more restrictive on alcohol if that's an issue.
Sri Lanka is nice and fairly cheap when you are there. I actually stayed pretty much in the middle of nowhere for an Ayerverdic break.
Thailand is popular with a lot of my colleagues.

MarjorieDanvers · 25/04/2024 07:33

Agree with @katscamel but would also add Egypt (Red Sea area) for some winter sun. Pretty cheap too!

honeyandfizz · 25/04/2024 07:39

I went to Seville at the end of Feb last year and it was bloody freezing, so much so we had to buy hats, scarfs and gloves out there. By Feb I have had enough of freezing cold weather and vowed not do another city break through the winter!

chocolateisavegetable · 25/04/2024 07:43

If you’re happy with sun at around 20 in the day and cooler in the evening, then Tenerife

Cackle · 25/04/2024 07:45

Morocco, I went in February and it was 25 degrees and sunny everyday.

MarjorieDanvers · 25/04/2024 07:45

Oh I’d also add Goa (we like Palolem!)

CakeIsNotAvailable · 25/04/2024 07:52

The Caribbean is the classic option if budget allows - we went to St Lucia one January and loved it. We went to Tenerife for New Year this year - the weather was great (22-25 during the day in the north of the island).

Rocknrollstar · 25/04/2024 07:53

XelaM · 24/04/2024 23:21

Dubai would be my choice for guaranteed winter sun

Not guaranteed. didn’t you see the floods there last week?

mitogoshi · 25/04/2024 08:01

Comes down to budget. Cheapest options are the canaries, Morocco or Tunisia but we are talking mid 20's not hotter. Jan/feb the Caribbean is an excellent choice if you can afford it, but I wouldn't go earlier than December as it's hurricane season. For guaranteed 30 degrees you can't beat Sri Lanka, added bonus that there's plenty to see (just do take a warm jacket if you plan to visit tea country etc, it's high thus cold!) I've managed to book India this year for a reasonable price I think, £1400 a person 5*

VenusClapTrap · 25/04/2024 08:15

How hot do you need it to be? We went to Fuerteventura in February and it was 26 degrees, though a cardi was needed on an evening. Flights and air bnb were very reasonable, and the lovely food in local restaurants was excellent and not silly money.

BIWI · 25/04/2024 09:35

Just did a quick search @BresciaBike and Economy Classic with Virgin, travelling out on 13 October from London would be £675.39. but beware, the day you travel massively affects the price for some reason - if you went on 22 October it becomes £803.39 Confused And as high season starts in November, then prices increase even more then, so if you could travel in October, that would be better value.

(Appreciate you'd have to add in the cost of getting to London or Manchester.)

We had an AirBnB on the West coast, near Holetown, which cost us £579 for 7 nights. That was a small, one bedroomed condo but also with access to a private beach club and pool, so it was terrific value for money.

Eating out can be very expensive - but doesn't have to be, and there are loads of places to eat good food relatively cheaply.

It's a small island, so getting around is pretty easy - buses cost $3.50 (Barbados dollars) which ever bus you get/wherever you go, which is around £1.40. We hired a car for a couple of days, which was expensive - but it was delivered to our condo and picked up from us as well, so I'm guessing that added a premium. But there are loads of car rental companies - as well as loads of people/companies who do island tours if you want to see more of the island but don't want to drive.

All beaches in Barbados are public, and most/many have loungers and umbrellas that you can hire for the day - cost depends on which beach, but we generally paid $30-40 (Barbados).

In terms of 'enjoying yourself' that depends entirely what you want to do/what you mean by 'enjoyment'! The South Coast, around The Gap, is much more lively than the West Coast.

ConfusedGin · 25/04/2024 13:03

ThirdAidKit · 25/04/2024 04:50

Prefer to avoid the Gambia / UAE etc due to various human rights situations.

Friends just went to Cape Verde and said it was very much just a beach, not much else and very windy?!

People always say Canaries but I’m coming with another island down by there which is lovely - Madeira.

Not hot hot - 20s in winter, but beautiful mountains, botanical gardens, rocky coast “beaches”, great walking (look up levadas) I was surprised how much nicer it was than the Canaries. It’s not traditional “beach” though so depends what you want.

The wind in Cape Verde makes it great for things like kite surfing and other watersports. I've done pottery tours and witnessed turtle conservation on the islands.

BresciaBike · 25/04/2024 14:16

@BIWI that's brilliant info, thank you. Enjoying oneself, well, myself, means seeing any sights, eating whatever is tasty, a bit of history or culture and adding in scenery/walks/beaches/water as appropriate to the location. I don't bother much about alcohol, parties or organised fun unless a tour means a significantly more convenience or the ability to navigate regulations, e.g. Chernobyl before the invasion, scuba diving in a new area.

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