The mercury is plummeting and daylight is limited to say the least. Winter can really get some of us down here in the UK. So it’s little wonder that the idea of a sunshine escape in the British wintertime holds so much appeal. And with more competitively priced flights, escaping the winter freeze can be really affordable.
We spoke to the experts at Holiday Gems to find out the best and cheapest winter sun destinations.
Egypt
While flights to Sharm el Sheikh are off the cards for the moment, other destinations within Egypt are still available for holidays. Hurghada, El Gouna and Makadi Bay are amongst the options for British holidaymakers looking to take advantage of the desert climate.
Even in December, you can expect temperatures around the low twenties, perfectly pleasant for basking in the sun. And if you go outside of the school holidays, prices are also incredibly reasonable. At the time of writing (28th November 2016), a 3 star all inclusive break from Gatwick departing on 12th December for 7 nights is less than £300 per person including flights and hotels.
Tenerife
The Canary Islands are perfectly pleasant in terms of temperatures right over the winter season. In December, you could expect 19 Degrees, despite the flight of just over 4 hours.
This is a destination serviced by a lot of airlines, including Jet2, EasyJet and Monarch. With a lot of flights there are plenty of departure date options.
At the time of writing, HolidayGems.co.uk has Tenerife deals departing in the next few weeks from £271pp for a 4 star all inclusive holiday flying out from Newcastle. You can browse other options on their website.
Dubai
Dubai boasts year round hot weather thanks to its desert like climate. In December, you can expect temperatures ranging from the low twenties right up to almost 30 Degrees. And with 8 – 9 hours of sunshine per day, that’s plenty of time for relaxing on the beach.
Don’t be fooled by Dubai’s millionaire playground reputation. It’s perfectly possible to bag a bargain break here too.
At the time of writing, you can get 5 star accommodation and flights packages starting at a little over £1,000 per person for 5 nights departing from Gatwick.
Morocco
Morocco is not much more than 4 hours on a flight from the UK but it’s a world away in terms of winter weather. With temperatures in Agadir ranging from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius in December, the golden sands and deep blue seas of the beaches will be very tempting.
At the time of writing, Holiday Gems has last minute options from just £280pp.
Tips for Getting the Best Bargain Holidays
Of course, whatever time of year you travel and wherever you plan to travel to, you can get better value by following these tips:
- Be flexible with your dates if you can – booking outside the school holidays could save you a huge sum of money
- Compare prices with an agent or site who sells flights from multiple operators (not just single airline operators) to get the widest scope of flights available to you
- Don’t buy your currency at the airport. Order in advance.