Help me find a destination please.....

[lifeturnsonadime]

HI I'm looking for a destination for early February for a week, not half term, where the weather will be warm.

Ideally flight times will not be excessive and the area will not be a resort where you can't leave the hotel because of the location. We quite like being able to have a mooch around a place without being restricted to a hotel.

Definitely not UAE as we don't have any interest in Dubai.

This will be for 2 adults.

If anyone has any inspiration that would be great as I'm not sure whether such a location exists at that time of year.

We didn't like it, but lanzarote is about 20degress in Feb.

Thanks, what didn't you like about it? The Canaries have never really appealed to me but I know others like holidaying there.

I’d go for Caribbean - Barbados/antigua/st Lucia type place, flight 8-9 hours so depends what you define as excessive.

I personally don’t like the canaries, I’m sure there are nice pockets but on the whole I think they’re very tacky and brits abroad and not where I’d choose to go.

Mexico. So much to see and do if you don't just want a beach holiday.

I think you're going to have to go further afield than Europe for sun in February. Even the Canaries might not meet that criteria. Caribbean is guaranteed sunshine and some interesting places to explore - Caribbean cruise to get around more?

Morocco. Marrakesh is nice.

It's quite a good time of year for Central America; Costa Rica seems very popular although I've not been myself.

If you want shorter flights as it's only a week then north Africa is probably better; Morocco in Feb was nice weather when I went. I felt comfortable looking round souks on my own - the hassle you get is much less than it was on my previous visit decades ago.

Andalucian cities have plenty of cultural interest and there's a decent chance of warm weather, with plenty to do even if it's not hot and sunny.

There's probably the most flights to Malaga but you also go to Seville from some airports but then you can easily get around by train or coach to Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Jerez, Cadiz and many other places so loads to see and do and good to visit 2 or 3 places.

You can also have a great holiday in the Canaries, we've been to Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife and usually go hiking, cycling or diving mixed with visiting places like botanical gardens, Cesar Manrique arty stuff on Lanzarote, the volcanoes etc.

Some of my best Feb holidays (I go away every February for my birthday) have been in Cape Town. The flight is long but there’s no jet lag and so much to do.
I also really enjoyed Tenerife with a car, there are some amazing roads there.
For others who would go to the Middle East, I just returned from Qatar and it fits the OP’s brief. There really is so much to do, I had a week but wished I’d stayed a couple more days. For me it’s a good balance of time in a luxury hotel and then going out and about doing something different nearly everyday too.
I haven’t been yet but would like to try Oman soon.

I went to Egypt in February, loved it and had no problems going out and about.

That's interesting re. Qatar, out of interest, what activities did you do there? My problem is that DH is anti the UEA for human rights/ women's rights issues so I am not sure I would be able to persuade him.

We went to Mexico this year, agree it is fab, although the flight time was a little longer than we want this time if possible.

What about Oman? Nothing like Dubai at all. We have had several holidays there, both in Muscat and Sallalah. An interesting country

Egypt

We go to the Caribbean every February - usually Barbados. The weather is glorious at that time of year. Flight’s only 8.5 hours and with the time difference, you get about 5 hours back. We’re usually unpacked and on our first cocktails at about 4pm local time.

I went to Barbados for a week one February. Flight didn't seem too long really and we had a really lovely break. It's nice because you can get out and explore on foot easily or do day trips by bus or taxi or on an organised tour. I really want to go again.

That's interesting re. Qatar, out of interest, what activities did you do there? My problem is that DH is anti the UEA for human rights/ women's rights issues so I am not sure I would be able to persuade him.

We did a couple boat trips, visits to museums, went to a fort, into the desert, walked around, went to a souk, had a Friday brunch, went out for lunch in different areas and people watched and was fascinated by the different architecture . Then in the hotel we swam in the pool and sea, went to the beach, jacuzzi, had lots of nice meals and happy hours, did watersports, had a spa afternoon and a treatment and did yoga classes.

If he is against UAE (which is way more than Dubai, RAK is great place) than I doubt Qatar, Oman or Egypt will be his forte too...

Have stayed at The Chedi and Zighy Bay in Oman. Both amazing. Zighy had some amazing excursions - sand dune driving, falconry, sunset camel ride/drinks etc

Gran Canaria is quite Brits abroad but that does mean you get a massive choice of decent restaurants and great shopping in the towns. I thought the actual countryside was fascinating. Is not "scrubby" like lots of hot Med countries , it's more like a very barren Scotland. Dramatic.
Great beaches ( yellow sand) and very easy to do water sports or dolphin watching and that sort of thing.

I'm glad to read that your husband does not want to go to the UAE. I'd agree with the suggestions for the Canaries.

Another vote for Barbados!

I haven't been but everyone raves about Oman, warm and safe and things to see. I have also travelled on my own in Jordan which was fab, felt very safe, but probably not warm enough in Feb I went in March and it was on the cool side. Places like The Gambia and Cape Verde where you probably would get the warmth and a shorter flight, I think you are basically stuck in the hotel. I feel like you are going to have to endure long haul, Mauritius, Thailand, Sri Lanka or Seychelles maybe or Carribbean going in the other direction. Could also look at Bermuda which is a shorter flight, but probably isn't so much there to do.

Madeira would be warm and good if you like walking

I was going to say the same. Fabulous country and nothing like Dubai. I lived there for several years.