9 OFTHE BEST Winter getaways
Escape the chill and avoid having to wrap up this Christmas… these spots are a gift for a balmy getaway
MEXICO Have a rocking Christmas at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in
Mexico. Throughout Christmas they are offering a raft of activities, including shows and watery adventures – you can even soak away your scares on an incredible 23 different slides at the Rockaway Bay water park.
For the older kids there’s BMX biking, skateboarding and dryland snowboarding to test their skills.
And for the grown-ups, the adultsonly Heaven area has three pools, a cocktail bar, private beach and a natural sea cove. THE DEAL: Seven nights from €3,368pp, all-inclusive. From Dec 23. See bestattravel.co.uk, or call 0044 020 3811 6831. CYPRUS Cyprus is a perennial favourite for winter sun. And if you fancy a romantic Christmas à deux then the five-star, adultsonly Amavi Hotel in Paphos is offering seven nights with breakfast for just over €1,000. Spend Christmas by the pool bar or push the boat out with a fine-dining Christmas celebration. Beyond the hotel, Paphos has ancient ruins, castles and monasteries to explore, as well as bright blue waters. THE DEAL: From €1,379pp, B&B, from Dec 23. Visit planetholidays.co.uk, or call 0044 01438841 270. THAILAND Take the chance to unleash your inner James Bond this Christmas at Thailand’s Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi. Take a James
Bond tour to iconic “James Bond Island” in either a longboat or 007-style speedboat.
There’s sea canoeing, a dine-at-sea experience on a floating village, island hopping and rock climbing.
THE DEAL: Seven nights from €3,381pp, B&B. From Dec 22. kuoni.co.uk, or 0044 01306 747 008. James Bond Island 4 Tour from €50 per person. MALAYSIA The elegant Danna hotel on Langkawi Island is an echo
of Malaysia’s colonial past. It has pretty courtyards, beautiful pools and brilliant beaches – and its grandly furnished dining room with spectacular chandelier is the perfect Christmas dinner setting. The nearby bustling night markets are ideal for some last-minute shopping.
On Boxing Day you could fly through the trees at the SKYTREX Adventure, where you can dangle on aerial obstacles and glide through the rainforest. THE DEAL: Seven nights from €3,362pp, B&B. From Dec 20. destinology.co.uk, or 5 0044 01204 474 801. AUSTRALIA As so many of us have family Down Under, it’s no surprise to find it high on the list for Christmas getaways. With temperatures well over 20C, Perth in Western Australia is the country’s sunniest capital. And you can now fly there direct with Qantas in around 17 hours. From the pretty capital, it’s an easy hop to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas – the “world’s happiest animals”. The Swan Valley Wine region and the swimming with dolphins attraction are also well worth a visit. But WA’S sandy beaches are the best in the world too. THE DEAL: Return direct flights from 6 €2,259. From Dec 14-28. qantas.com TENERIFE Active types will love this walking holiday in Tenerife. With dramatic volcanic scenery dominated by Mount Teide, you will traverse lush forests and incredible coastlines, and learn about exotic flora. You’ll be based in the World Heritage town of La Laguna, home to historic merchant buildings and cobbled streets. Included are services of a guide and transport to and from walks. THE DEAL: Seven nights from €1,680pp, half board. From Dec 21. hfholidays.co.uk
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EGYPT Follow in the footsteps of historian Bettany Hughes, soaking up 5,000 years of history in Egypt this Christmas as you glide along the
Nile from Luxor to Aswan. Visit the stupendous temples of Luxor, and explore the vast rock-cut tombs in The Valley of the Kings and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. You will also drive to the mammoth Statues
of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. The tour will be accompanied by an accomplished Egyptologist. THE DEAL: Seven nights from €1,852, full board. From Dec 23. discoveregypt.co.uk, 0044 02074072111.
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ANTIGUA Head to the tropics and spend Christmas on Antigua in the Caribbean, home to 365 beaches.
Try scooter snorkelling (a motorised propeller whizzing you through the water) for spotting tropical fish, sea turtles and hermit crabs. Track the island’s history on a safari, taking in rainforests, Wallings Dam and Falmouth Harbour. There are also kayaking safaris and swimming with stingrays (if that’s your thing…). THE DEAL: Seven nights from €3,689pp, all-inclusive. From Dec 21. travelrepublic.co.uk, 0044 02089747200.
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INDIA Chennai’s 120-year-old Taj Connemara harks from the days of the British Empire, when hotels were
more than just a place to stay. In the centre of the city, its sublimely elegant rooms come with four-posters, vintage artworks, colonial furniture and lavish fabrics. Dine in the Verandah restaurant with its 19th century style, or the Raintree, reputed to be one of the best in South India. Walk it off with a stroll around the beautiful gardens or a dip in the superb pool in the atrium. THE DEAL: Doubles from £150, tajhotels.com. British Airways fly London to Chennai from €625 return, ba.com