Chase the Sun this Winter

Today’s featured guest post is from James, representing skyscanner.net. It’s that time of year where much of the Northern hemisphere is feeling, well, a bit on the grey, cold and wet side. Luckily, there’s a whole world of warm places to visit to chase those winter blues away. James shares four options below!

Winter in the UK can be a dreary affair: cold, damp days and long, dark nights with only the prospect of the occasional party (and subsequent hangover) to break the monotony. Why not change the plan this year and treat yourself to a bit of winter sun? Take it from me, January’s a lot easier to take on with a tan and, with a little bit of research, a winter break doesn’t necessarily have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are a few sample destinations for you to consider:

The Canary Islands

The Canaries attract thousands of UK tourists each winter, thanks to a wide range of flights to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria leaving UK airports every day. The stunning volcanic islands offer easy access to all-year-round sun with winter temperatures averaging a comfortable 17C.

While some resorts are very much geared towards tourism (mainly Brits and Germans) there are still plenty of unspoiled, typically Canarian villages to visit and some of the most diverse and dramatic landscapes you’re ever likely to see.

Agadir, Morocco

Morocco offers the chance to experience the mystique of Northern African without enduring a marathon flight time – flights to Morocco from the UK on average take only 4 hours. With an average winter temperature of 21 °C, Agadir, located on Morocco’s Atlantic coast is a perfect winter destination with something for everyone: 10km of beach, lapped by warm, blue waters, great surfing, a huge range of restaurants, affordable accommodation and the fascinating Berber heritage.

Bodrum, Turkey

With an average winter temperature of around 17 °C, the port city of Bodrum, Turkey, provides an ideal destination for those who like it mild and sunny but not too hot.

In addition to its climate, Bodrum offers tourists excellent affordability due to Turkey being outside of the Eurozone.

While Bodrum is most definitely a party town during the summer season, it has a more laid-back appeal during the winter months, with cultural highlights such as Bodrum Castle (built by Crusaders in the 15^th Century) and the fantastic Museum of Underwater Archaeology drawing in the crowds.

With a wide range of flights to Bodrum available from UK airports, why not try a new bit of Turkey this winter?

The Andaman Coast, Thailand

Flights to Thailand from the UK take at least 12 hours, so you might want to have a couple of weeks to spare to enjoy this incredible part of the world.

The Andaman Coast and its people were hit hard by the devastating tsunami of 2004 but have recovered well since with resorts such as Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and Railay continuing to draw tourists every winter thanks to their stunning natural beauty, sensational beaches, cheap accommodation and food, relaxed vibe and, most importantly, average winter temperatures of 30C.

Thanks to James and SkyScanner.net for providing today’s post! Are you planning a bit of Winter sun this year? Let us know in the comments section below!

As I haven’t been (I know, I need to get out more!) to many of the destinations in this post, the photo credit goes to flickr users: JeffOliver (Bodrum Castle), Joao Maximo (Agadir Beach), szeke (Canary Island sand dunes), Tim Ove (boat at sunset in Thailand)