Christmas holidays - short haul and sun?

[Inafarawayland]

Would love suggestions on a good destination for a week or two over the Christmas holidays. Only condition really is to be in the sun so we can be outside. I have a 5 and 3 year old. It doesn’t need to be overly hot but I would just like some sunny days and be able to be outside and go for walks etc. For the last two years I’ve been so run down over winter. Both winters have been so long just endless grey and rain (I’m in Scotland) so I’ve decided to start saving and hopefully get away. Not sure if parts of Spain etc are still sunny at this time.

Don't rely on Spain, it can be sunny but chilly even in the South.
A lot of people go to the Canaries for Xmas.

We went to Lanzarote last Xmas. Due to a bereavement at home we had to cut it short but while we were there the weather was pretty good. Like it’s nowhere near the heat you get in the summer but it was sunny enough to sit out and ds10 braved the pool. The pool was baltic but kids never seem to care! Evenings were chilly as the sun is gone by 6pm so you do need warm stuff. Any questions just ask.

@TM1979 oh that you I hadn’t really thought about the pool I wonder if any have heated. I wasn’t too fussed about it being very hot just desperately want to be away from the grey but my kids will of course want to go in if there is one there! I know people say I should still just spend the day outside here and just dress for it but the grey and the horizontal rain just do not appeal! @Georgyporky thanks never been to the canaries will have a look. Have been to southern Spain in October and it was just perfect but guess Dec/Jan could be a whole different prospect

Cape Verde
Egypt

I've been to both and cant really say I loved them but were warm in Dec/Jan

We're going to Benidorm. Yes it's a risk weather wise but we've booked a hotel with an indoor pool.

Benidorm has a bit of a microclimate so often warmer than the rest of that area in winter.

Costa del Sol, being further south, could well quite warm, even in January. Otherwise the Canaries are likely to be lovely weather.

If you can, make sure you're in Spain on the evening of the 5th January and take DC to a three kings parade, which all towns will have. It's the biggest part of Christmas in Spain, so they should really enjoy it.

Canary Islands. Just make sure you find a hotel/villa with a heated pool.

Lanzarote will be warmer and sunnier.. but not hot like the summer.

Why not get a small villa with a private heated pool. Try Vistas Del Mar in Puerto Del Carmen.. a lovely 2 bed villa complex with private pools heated to 28 degrees with a lovely sea view. Ten minutes walk down to beach and restaurants. We are booked again for next March 😊.

Morocco. Had a great Xmas holiday there in December. Bit chilly in the mornings but by 11am it was sunbathing weather every day.

Cape Verde.
I know it has mixed reviews and you do have to appreciate that its not Europe so will be different.
There are some huge hotels that sound pretty awful but we stayed at the Melia Tortuga and loved it, we have older DC but the kids facilities looked pretty good.
There isnt a lot to do but for relaxing and swimming in the pool its great and its mostly Catholic so apparently its pretty good at Christmas, according to some people we spoke to when we were there.

Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is lovely for families. We have stayed at the Ona Las Casitas and Ona Las Brisas villas - both have heated pools, nice little on site cafe bars, and just across the road from the main front where there are lots of shops, bars, restaurants and ice cream places. Warning about the pools though - when you in they are lovely, but when you get out the pool and the wind hits you it's brrrr!!

It'll be lovely and sunny but chilly at night and can be chilly if it's very windy. Remember that the villas can feel chilly at night in winter too - tiled floors! Bring warm jammies for the kids. But if you're in the sunshine in December, enjoying the blue sky and a stroll along the front watching the sun sparkle on the sea - you won't care that you're in jeans and a sweater! I totally understand the long Scottish winter - go get some sun!

Thanks so much for all these recommendations! So appreciated. I’m going to spend this evening looking them all up and how I go about saving up ha @SingingSands absolutely don’t mind a jumper at all - at the moment have forgotten what the sun looks like.

Seville or Marrakech can be lovely and sunny at that time. Not guaranteed but often.