Our best winter holiday deals

Chill on the beach in Cape Verde

Think Cape Verde, think escapism. Get the sun you’ve been craving and lie back on long, white-sand beaches, go shopping in colour-popping villages, or soak up the mix of culture brought by its African, Brazilian and Portuguese influences. Picking an island here is tricky, though – especially considering that there’s 10 to choose from. Sway towards Sal, and you’ll find yourself on the biggest island of them all, or be tempted by Boa Vista and you’ll be strutting down picture-perfect beaches before you know it. Don’t forget to check out Sal Rei, the islands buzzing capital, either.

Average winter temperature: 28°C

Must-visit hotel: TUI BLUE Cabo Verde

Step back in time in Cuba

Cuba and its culture go together like its tropical beaches and powder-soft sands. It’s the largest island in the Caribbean, so you can expect balmy temperatures here, even in winter. Grab your camera and head to the capital, Havana where you can take photos of the classic American cars and pastel-painted streets. Or, choose beachier Varadero and relax on soft sands, don your snorkel in the surrounding bright-blue waters or tee off at the island’s only 18-hole golf course. Meanwhile, in the sleepier fishing village, Jibacoa things are taken back to basics. We’re talking a long stretch of shore and a reef just off the coast, where you can spot rays, fish and coral.  
 

Average winter temperature: 28°C 

Must-visit hotel: Iberostar Selection Bella Vista Varadero 

Get wrapped up in Iceland

More of a snow-seeker than a sun-lover? Iceland’s natural wonders will definitely give you the chills – in a good way, obviously. Hike through volcanic landscapes, get a video of erupting geysers or dip your toes in thermal lagoons. You’re pretty likely to get snow in the winter months and, if you’re lucky, you might catch the Northern Lights casting their starry-hue across the night sky. Don’t miss the Blue Lagoon either. This dreamy spot is perfect for lathering up with a mud mask, and the mineral-packed water will revive the dry skin that inevitably comes in the winter months.

Average winter temperature: -2°C

Must-visit hotel: Storm Hotel

Soak up the scenery in St Lucia

Wind down, rev up, dive in. From its bath-warm waters and secluded coves to its tropical forests and impressive mountains, the Caribbean’s St Lucia provides an excellent break from the winter blues. It’s really two islands in one. Head to Rodney Bay in the north for lazy days on powder-soft sands and tasty Creole cuisine by the marina. Or, in the south’s Soufrière, explore old plantations, candy-coloured villages and the photogenic Piton Mountains. Nature lovers can hike to jungle-clad waterfalls, climb volcanic cones or zip through the forest canopy, here, too.

Average winter temperature: 28°C
Must-visit hotel: Royalton St Lucia

Dive into Egypt’s Red Sea

There’s nothing quite like seeing Egypt’s ancient mummies close up. Go back in time at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum and peek at Tutankhamun’s death mask, earn your bragging rights with a trip to the Great Pyramid and Sphinx, or head to Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karna – the largest ancient religious site in the world. Once you’ve had your fill of history, bag some you time on Hurghada’s soft sandy beaches, and swim through world-renowned coral reefs and spooky World War II wrecks. Meanwhile, over in Marsa Alam, you’ve got footprint-free white sands on the most untouched part of the Red Sea. Dive underwater, and you’re likely to spot whitetip reef sharks and giant turtles, as well as schools of spinner dolphins frolicking in the water.

Average winter temperature: 33°C

Must-visit hotel: TUI MAGIC LIFE Kalawy

Fill your plate in Jamaica

Happy days and lively nights are at the heart of Jamaica. Spend a day in Kingston, the capital, and you’ll meet a centre studded with leafy botanical parks, tin-roofed reggae bars and colour-popping colonial towns. There’s plenty of action outside of the capital, too. Trek to the top of 600-foot waterfalls in Ocho Rios, take a boat trip to the soaring Blue Mountains and kick back on the ice-white Seven Mile Beach. Montego Bay, or ‘Mo Bay’ as the locals call it, is another one for your must-visit list. Attracting the likes of Simon Cowell and co, it’s a bit of a stud – with a three kilometre stretch of shops, restaurants and themed bars blending in seamlessly with pattie shops and historical landmarks like Gully Market.

Average winter temperature: 29°C

Must-visit hotel: Riu Negril

You’re in luck – we’ve got lots of great winter holiday deals here. Still hunting for inspiration? Have a read of where’s hot in November and December. 

 
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.  
 

Author: Lucy Perrin, Hannah Stratton and Jessica Houtby