Winter sun with the wow factor
The world is reopening to British travellers at exactly the right time to plan a sunshine escape, says Nick Trend. So what are you waiting for?
What a week for travel. After more than 18 months of debilitating restrictions, the Government has swung a scythe through the red list and reopened the world. Key destinations like South Africa, Thailand and Mexico have got the green light, as well as more offbeat choices like Costa Rica and Tanzania. It has come at just the right time for planning your escape from the British winter.
So now you have so much of the world to choose from, how do you decide? Maybe sometimes it’s too easy to get fixated by the weather rather than the destination or the type of holiday. We are so obsessed with getting some guaranteed warmth and sunshine that there is a risk that we forget about what we might want to do when we get there.
It doesn’t matter so much if all you really want is to collapse on the sand and lie under a sun umbrella all day. But, even if you are going away for only a week, you might want to inject a little more variety into your winter break. Maybe you like to explore the local culture, or indulge in some special meals out. Perhaps you want more of an active time, or some out-and-out fun.
We have come up with some solutions, covering all bases with holidays which cater for all tastes and budgets this winter: from an African safari to a Nile Cruise; from the best restaurants in the Caribbean to a giant water park in Tenerife. And just in case all you do want to do is lie in the sun, we’ve listed what we call Islands in the Sun: our pick of places for some proper relaxation – secluded resorts on tiny islands, where peace and quiet reigns supreme.
TENERIFE: A BIGGER SPLASH 21C, six hours of sunshine
OK, so it might seem as though we are appealing to the child in you – but Tenerife’s Siam Park on the Costa Adeje seems to be just as popular with funloving adults as with the kids. It’s one of the world’s most lavish water parks, with 15 different pools and a huge variety of slides, tubes, waves and rapids all set in a slightly bizarre giant Thaithemed playground. There are also slow, lazy rides down the “Mai Thai River”, a white sand “beach” and cabanas to recover in, just in case the excitement has got too much.
First Choice (020 3451 2688; firstchoice. co.uk) offers stays at the five-star Guayarmina Princess hotel, which is about five minutes’ drive from Siam Park, from £640, half-board, based on a room with a balcony. Departs late November 2021
ABU DHABI: YAS ISLAND 30C, 10 hours of sunshine
Yas Island is all about fun. At least, that is the intention. It was conceived about 15 years ago as a way of giving Abu Dhabi city a focus for leisure as well as business activities. Separated from the centre by a network of canals and waterways, it has two impressive theme parks – superhero-themed Warner Bros, and Ferrari World, which has the planet’s fastest roller coaster (149mph) – and Yas Waterworld, which has world-beating artificial surf. There’s a golf course along one side of the island, and next to that is the Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts a variety of motorsports, including the seasonending Formula 1 Grand Prix, which this year is on December 12 and could be a thriller.
Travelbag (020 3797 0257; travelbag. co.uk) offers stays at the five-star W Abu Dhabi Yas Island from £1,259, B&B, based on a room with a balcony. Departs on selected dates in November 2021 (book by October 15 2021)
MIAMI VIBE 24C, eight hours of sunshine
Forget about the vice – few beachside cities have quite the vibe of Miami – especially South Beach, with its Atlantic sands, art-deco architecture, Latin subculture and pulsating nightlife. Our expert in the city, Shayne Benowitz, adds that it “is in the midst of a decade-long cultural renaissance. Neighbourhoods such as Wynwood, the Design District, Downtown, Little Haiti and Little Havana have injected the city with new-found energy, buzzy home-grown restaurants and hipster bars.” In short, for those looking for fun after a few hours on the beach, there is no better place to go. Virgin Holidays (0344 472 9646; virginholidays.co.uk) offers stays at the four-star Eden Roc Miami from £1,754, room only, based on a deluxe room. Departs February 26 2022
MAURITIUS 29C, eight hours of sunshine
If you are into the Club Med all-inclusive concept of lots of activities, children’s clubs if you need them, and all the facilities you could dream of on site, then La Pointe aux Canonniers in Mauritius could be an excellent winter fun spot for you. It borders the white sandy beaches of Grand Bay and is built in traditional Mauritian style, with thatched roofs and gardens scattered with palm trees. Club Med considers La Pointe as its “flagship family all-inclusive hotel in Mauritius”. If you go in the school holidays, the children can join the Mini Club Med kids’ club (ages 4-10) and there is a dedicated family pool. We’ve given a price in midJanuary, however, when you are likely to find couples enjoying waterskiing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding and sailing. Note that you will get tropical downpours in the winter months, but they’re short and there’s still plenty of sunshine. Club Med (020 3873 1396; clubmed.co.uk) offers stays at the four-star Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers from £4,292, all-inclusive, based on a superior room. Departs January 15 2022