*This is a collaborative post
Make no mistake: winter is coming. There’s no doubt the best of the sun is behind us for a little while to come - and that it’s time to pop the central heating on again! As chilly and depressing the winter months can be, especially for those with Seasonal Affective Disorder, it doesn’t need to be a cause for hibernation.
Put simply, you don’t need to wait until the summer months for your next fix of sun. Holidays don’t need to be tied to the seasons we experience here, and plenty of destinations still experience the sunny days and warmer nights you inevitably crave between November and February. This makes them great candidates for an impromptu winter getaway. Here are just a few of the best destinations for winter sun.
The Perfect Canary Islands
First, this popular candidate for most summer holidays remains a fabulous destination for sun and sea even during the depths of the Great British winter. This popular candidate is, of course, the Canary Islands – that group of Spanish islands just off the coast of northern Africa, to which several of your friends will have probably already visited for an all-inclusive or a cheap weekend break.
Tenerife is one of the more popular islands to visit in the summer, and a little oversubscribed as a result. If holidays to Tenerife are what you fancy, consider visiting during the winter months for both minimal beach queues and softer sun. There’s much more to Tenerife than its beachy reputation, too; go inland for cultural landmarks and traditional cuisine.
Mediterranean Gems
Another incredible option for close-by winter sunning lies in the Mediterranean, where quintessential city breaks and coastal getaways are great for a little taste of the summer. The Med encompasses many sunny destinations perfect for a break from the cold weather. This includes countries like Malta, Turkey, and Cyprus.
Most of these Mediterranean destinations will have slightly lower, but still warm, temperatures for you to enjoy. If you are happy with warm(ish) temperatures, then consider places such as the southern coast of Sicily, but if a city break is what you’re after, explore options in Milan.
Long-Haul Sunshine Spots
Of course, the destinations above all lie in the northern hemisphere, and hence experience the same seasons we do; they are warm simply by virtue of being a little closer to the equator. If you want the true summer-sun experience in the dead of winter, you’ll need to cross the equator and holiday somewhere literally on the other side of the world.
For those willing to travel further, options like the Caribbean, parts of Africa, and Asia are all great options. Whilst you will have to deal with longer flight times, you’ll also be looking at higher temperatures. For example, in Thailand, you can expect temperatures in the high 20s/low 30s, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a nice tan, as well as a bucket-list type experience.
