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The world's top winter sun hotspots

Swap your clients’ winter blues for some sunshine – a little heat might be closer than they think. Ellie Mayhew highlights the hotspots across the globe, grouped by how far your customers are willing to travel.

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Swap your clients’ winter blues for some sunshine – a little heat might be closer than they think

Two to five hours: Lanzarote, Spain

Lanzarote is the closest to Africa of all the Canary Islands with a flight time of just four-and-a-half-hours, making it an ideal destination for cost-conscious, sun-seeking families keen to avoid a long-haul flight. Beyond the beach visitors can also explore attractions such as the volcanic Atlantida Tunnel, the 15th-century town of Teguise and Timanfaya National Park. Eva Connolly, product and commercial manager at Monarch, says: “The Sands Beach Resort is part of our ultimate family range. The hotel is located on the beachfront with a lagoon-style private beach and a number of watersports available. Lanzarote’s year-round sun means it is perfect for a winter sun holiday for all the family.”

 

Book it: Monarch offers seven nights’ room-only at the Sands Beach Resort, Costa Teguise for £285pp, based on two adults sharing a studio, including flights from Birmingham, departing November 26.

 

monarch.co.uk

 

Fuerteventura, Spain

Fuerteventura, Spain

Fuerteventura offers a similarly convenient option with a flight time of five hours from the UK. The island is characterised by the volcanic landscapes that the Canaries are famous for and has an array of cliffs, coves and beaches to explore.

 

Carl Catterall, marketing director, Olympic Holidays, says: “With more than 150 of the best beaches in the Canary Islands, crystal clear waters and warm winter sunshine, the island of Fuerteventura is a haven for families, couples and watersports enthusiasts alike. It really does work for couples and families with different holiday activity needs, and Olympic customers have made it one of their favourites for winter sun over the last seven years that we’ve offered options for them.”

 

Book it: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Club Caleta Dorada in Fuerteventura from £379pp, departing from Gatwick on December 8.

 

olympicholidays.com

 

La Palma, Spain

Quiet and rural, Canary island La Palma is a Unesco biosphere reserve and offers a more laidback alternative to its neighbours. Whether it’s walking in the hills and forests, savouring fresh local produce or exploring some of the island’s culture, La Palma packs a punch despite its small size.

 

David Skillicorn, general manager at Prestige Holidays, says: “The ever shifting tourist map means the Canary Islands are in the spotlight again. In troubled times British travellers revert back to the familiar and these islands are seen as a safe option with genuine winter sunshine. Their popularity has emboldened hoteliers, which has resulted in substantial year-on-year price increases. However, these are somewhat offset by keen fares from airlines that are switching capacity from North Africa and the Middle East to the Canaries. New air services are great news – easyJet will fly twice weekly from Gatwick to the little-known island of La Palma and the Iberia Express service from Heathrow to Tenerife North will continue beyond October.”

 

Book it: Prestige Holidays offers a week in a one-bedroom cottage at La Reverica from £429pp, departing November 8 from Gatwick, on easyJet’s new twice-weekly service to La Palma with car hire.

 

prestigeholidays.co.uk

 

Benidorm, Spain

Benidorm, Spain

Just two-and-a-half hours from the UK, Benidorm is a popular destination for sun-seekers year-round. From November 11-16 the annual Benidorm Festival takes place, a celebration that has grown to 30,000 people. The event includes street parties, open-air theatre, concerts, sporting contests and religious events. The celebrations come to a spectacular close on the Wednesday evening with a parade of decorated floats followed by a spectacular firework display. In line with the growing demand, Jet2.com is adding an extra 12,500 Alicante seats this November.

 

Alan Cross, head of trade at Jet2holidays, says: “This is a light-hearted, family-friendly festival, which allows people of all ages and backgrounds to join in and get involved. Jet2holidays is particularly suitable for the festival because of the flexibility of our programme, which means you can take a short break or a longer one. There is a lot of demand for Benidorm, both for the festival and throughout the winter, which is why we have increased our capacity.”

 

Book it: Jet2holidays offers four nights’ self-catering at Pierre & Vacances, Levante, Benidorm, departing from Glasgow on November 11 for £289pp based on two sharing and including transfers.

 

jet2holidays.com

 

Six to 12 hours: Muscat, Oman

Six to 12 hours: Muscat, Oman

Oman’s capital is set on the Gulf of Oman and backed by dramatic mountains. Its contrasting attractions combine upscale shopping malls with 16th-century Portuguese forts plus the grand Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, where thousands visit to worship. UK visitors can reach the destination via a six-and-a-half-hour direct flight and in November temperatures average in the mid-20s.

 

Nikki Hain, Middle East product manager at Premier Holidays, says: “In the last few years, Oman has been generating a lot of noise in the tourism sector, with a 17.7% increase in visitor numbers since 2014, to just under £5 million globally. The UK and Ireland contributed 150,000 visitors in 2015. Oman is very much the true Arabia that people think of and offers clients more than just beaches. There is amazing scenery, the warm welcoming Omani people, a gorgeous desert experience, mountain retreats and it is a safe destination. It’s the perfect place for winter sun and definitely a destination that agents should be suggesting to clients.”

 

Book it: Premier Holidays offer a four-night break staying at The Chedi Muscat in a Serai Room from £1,349pp in November. The price includes flights from Heathrow with Oman Air, private transfers and breakfast. Premier Holidays is also running an agent incentive offering £25-£150 for every inclusive Middle East booking made.

 

trade.premierholidays.co.uk

 

Antigua, Caribbean

English-speaking Antigua averages a pleasant 26-degrees during the winter months and direct flights from London are approximately eight-and-a-half-hours. The island is characterised by white and pink sand beaches, warm Caribbean waters perfect for diving and snorkelling, and lively nightlife. There is also a rich colonial history to explore.

 

Matt Rice, deputy managing director at Classic Collection, says: “Classic has added Antigua for this winter. Following a successful first year with Barbados, Antigua seemed the obvious choice in which to expand our winter sun product. It shares so many similarities with Barbados, both are former British colonies, both are members of the Commonwealth, both have an English heritage but both are proudly Caribbean too.”

 

Book it: Classic Collection offers seven-nights’ B&B at Blue Waters from £2,073pp including flights, private transfers, fast-track immigration and airport lounges.

 

classic-collection.co.uk

 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio is well and truly on the radar this year thanks to the Olympic Games. The city makes an ideal winter sun destination with November temperatures averaging 24 degrees, and reaching the destination is straightforward with British Airways’ direct flight from Heathrow, which takes around 12 hours. As well as iconic city sights such as the Sugarloaf mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue, visitors to Rio can also explore Paraty, a small colonial town, and the sub-tropical island of Ilha Grande.

 

Laura Rendell-Dunn, destination specialist for Journey Latin America, says: “Rio is one of the most glamorous and colourful cities in the world. Combined with some of the most exotic beaches, fringed by tumbling jungle vegetation, and some of the prettiest historic towns, this is our most popular beach holiday in South America.”

 

Book It: Journey Latin America offers a 10-day package that includes transfers, excursions, hotels and breakfast from £1,197pp. Flights start from approximately £600pp.

 

journeylatinamerica.co.uk

 

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s jungle conceals some of the world’s most ancient temples and cities dating back 3,000 years. Flight times vary between 10 and 13 hours from the UK to the capital city of Colombo, where December average temperatures reach 27 degrees.

 

Deepavali Gaind, India and Sri Lanka product and sales specialist at Western & Oriental, says: “With direct flights from the UK, Sri Lanka is a great destination for a winter sun getaway. It offers beautiful beaches within reach of the capital Colombo, but visitors looking to do more than topping up their tan can also book a touring itinerary that will take in the country’s cultural and wildlife highlights.”

 

Book It: Western & Oriental offers a seven-night Boutique Sri Lanka tailor-made tour staying in boutique five-star properties on a B&B basis, from £2,445pp. This includes selected tours and an English-speaking guide.

 

westernoriental.com

 

15 hours or more: Perth, Australia

15 hours or more: Perth, Australia

Offering more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in Australia and a wide choice of sandy beaches, Perth is a great spot for escaping winter. It takes 19 hours to fly from the UK to the city, which has seen plenty of new developments including hotels, shopping malls, dining venues and festivals.

 

Rachel McMurdo, assistant product manager, Oceania, Travel 2, explains: “With increased air seats from the UK to Perth, and departures from a number of regional airports, you can now be there in less than a day, yet feel a world away from home. Just a 30-minute drive from the city you can enjoy the beach, sample local wines or take in an ocean sunset. Nowhere else in the country other than Western Australia can you swim with whale sharks or stroke a cuddly quokka.”

 

Book it: A 12-day Western Australia package including flights from Heathrow, three nights in Mounts Bay Waters Apartment Hotel, three nights in Seashells Fremantle and a six-day Coral Coast self-drive with five nights’ accommodation and five-day car hire costs £1,659pp. Package valid from November 1 to December 6.

 

travel2.com

 

Fiji

Fiji’s laidback island culture and warm, sunny climate are a huge draw during the UK’s dreary winter months. While the flight time is a lengthy 21 hours, visitors can enjoy experiences such as exploring the destination’s indigenous culture, island-hopping, rafting, snorkelling and spa treatments.

 

Rebecca Turner, senior product manager, Asia and Oceania, Gold Medal, says: “While some parts of the world are celebrating a white Christmas by making snowmen and baking hot roast dinners with all the trimmings, Christmas in Fiji is a different experience entirely. About two weeks before Christmas Day, everyone gathers at the community’s largest house and celebrates there until two weeks after New Year’s Day. They sing and dance and hold parties throughout the whole month, making this a great time for holidaymakers to head to the region to take in the traditional celebrations.”

 

Book it: Gold Medal offers a Fiji twin-centre getaway including three nights at the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island Fiji from £2,849pp, including flights from Heathrow. Package valid between November 1 and December 7.

 

goldmedal.co.uk

 

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