Fancy some Winter Sun?

As a regular budget traveller I am often asked by both friends and visitors alike for my recommendations on where to go on holiday for a slice of relaxing time in the sun, especially in winter now that the nights have drawn in here in the United Kingdom and the mornings are sharp, frosty and don’t encourage you to get out of bed. Here are a couple of recommendations for you to consider, one far away and another closer to home.

Thailand

Thailand in December and January is in its peak season, with its “winter” temperatures the most habitable of all year round. Its mid-to-late twenties air temperature and generally clear blue skies cause the tourists to flock to South East Asia; note that flight prices rise accordingly. Sometimes it’s best to avoid the Christmas/New Year holidays crush, if you can, where prices soar, and hold out until February, which although slowly hotting up, is still a fine time to visit and generally has clear skies also. I try to take a beach holiday in Thailand every few years or so and I always tend to visit in February.

Where in Thailand is good to visit? Well, Bangkok is a must, featuring all the trappings of a modern city, and luxury accommodation can be found at something closer to budget prices. Tourists often then head southwards, either to the Gulf side, with the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, or over to the Andaman Side, with Phuket and Ko Phi Phi. Wherever you go, you will meet the friendly Thai hospitality and the famous broad smile.

But what if you don’t want to shell out for the £500-£700 per person airfare to Thailand? There are still reasonably warm destinations closer to Blighty that offer you a chance of a bit of Winter sun. Most popular tends to be the Canary Islands, which is part of Spain but which is far enough south that it invites the tropical temperatures even in Winter; you can expect most days to be a comfortable twenty degrees centigrade, with the sea a smidgen colder at nineteen. There are many islands in the Canaries, but Gran Canaria holidays are a popular option, as the island is burgeoning with resorts, hotels, attractions, theme parks and entertainment which is family friendly throughout (unlike some parts of Thailand). Even beachcombers can find solace on Gran Canaria, and like Thailand the food is a real highlight.

The boon of going to the Canaries for a break is its relative cheapness; all-inclusive packages can be snapped up from High Street and online travel agents for as little as a few hundred pounds per person, far cheaper than the flight to Thailand on its own.

Horses for courses, really: those seeking cheap winter sun can pop to the Canaries for their hols, and those looking for a more cultural, memorable experience might want to save up for Thailand. But one thing’s for sure: both destinations are better than staying in the UK for winter!