BETTER LATE THAN EVER
Last-minute booking guide
MALDIVES
Kick off the New Year in fine style with a week in the Maldives – just don’t forget to bring proof of a recent negative PCR test. Although invariably an expensive option, there are offers to be had in what is traditionally the archipelago’s high season. Save 50 per cent on accommodation at LUX* South Ari Atoll Resorts and Villas this January, a freshfeeling hotel with all the trappings of a paradise escape. Its thatched-roof beach villas have outdoor baths, while a clutch of water villas sit on stilts over the lagoon. The best come with infinity pools, cabanas and hot tubs. More eco-conscious than some of its neighbours, the resort is powered partly by solar panels and guests can get involved with conservation activities, such as volunteering with a marine biologist, adopting a turtle and planting coral. Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) is offering seven nights from £3,499pp, departing on Jan 1, including flights, transfers and breakfast.
ST LUCIA
As suitable for an actionpacked break as a fly-and-flop holiday, St Lucia is a destination that does it all – as long as visitors show evidence of a negative PCR test upon entry. The island’s west coast is home to world-beating beaches, including the golden sands of Anse Chastanet, while the famous twin volcanic bluffs of Gros and Petit Piton offer great hiking. Despite St Lucia moving firmly into peak season, there are plenty of favourable rates available, including at the all-suite Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort, which sits above one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Caribbean. This sophisticated hotel is surrounded by the island’s trademark lush mountains and attracts yachters who moor up at its attractive marina. Dark-wood, chaletstyle buildings climb up a hillside and overlook the main pool, where treats are brought out to your lounger once an hour in the lazy, relaxing afternoons.
British Airways Holidays (ba. com) is offering seven nights from £1,091.50pp, departing on Jan 8, including flights.
DUBAI
Start 2021 with a blast of desert heat in Dubai. An easy option in these admin-heavy times, the emirate allows UK visitors to take a Covid test on arrival rather than rush to secure results before travelling. This glitzy city likes to do things on a grand scale and, for a suitably supersize stay, the Grand Hyatt Dubai fits the bill. The hotel’s huge silver and black curved buildings have become a prominent feature of the Dubai skyline, but it is the outdoors that really impresses with one of the largest pools in the emirate and even a running track. Dining-wise, the 13 restaurants span everything from a steakhouse to a Singaporean seafood spot. Rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offer skyscraper views or look out over Dubai Creek, where you can watch the traditional abra boats bob back and forth. Southall Travel (southalltravel.co.uk) is offering seven nights from £678pp, departing on Jan 7, including flights and breakfast.
BARBADOS
As well as providing a negative PCR test result, visitors to Barbados must remain at their governmentapproved hotel until they receive a second negative result three days later. If the hotel is the holiday, booking an all-inclusive option, such as Crystal Cove, set on the island’s upmarket west coast, makes sense. At the heart of this village-style resort is a tiered pool flanked by waterfalls – swim through one and you will reach the Cave Bar, a memorable spot for a drink, carved into the rocks. Breakfast includes local fruits and fresh juices, while the open-air main restaurant serves Caribbean curries and fiery jerk chicken alongside European fare. Travelbag (travelbag.co.uk) is offering seven nights from £2,699pp all-inclusive, departing between Dec 29 and Jan 6, including flights.
ANTIGUA
Holidaymakers arriving in Antigua must provide evidence of a negative PCR test, though the seven-day window from which the results can be dated is more generous than most destinations, lessening any pre-holiday panic. More accessible than most paradise islands, it is a reasonable eight-hour flight away, with the reward of bright blue seas and a dizzying number of beaches (365 in total). Set in 17 acres of lush gardens and with a choice of two beaches and multiple pools, the elegant Blue Waters Resort & Spa never feels crowded. Distractions include a sweep of watersports, tennis courts and a spa with ocean views and treatments from Elemis. Even entry-level rooms offer large bathrooms and balconies and some have sea views as well.
Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com) is offering seven nights from £1,950pp, departing on selected late December and January dates, including flights, transfers and breakfast.