Category: Holidays

Fact: lots of people want to escape the rainy weather and dull grey skies of Britain at this time of year. But where can you go for all-year-round sun to get yourself a revitalising break? There are plenty of options, and many won’t even require you to travel too far or spend too much. Here are some of our favourite suggestions:

• The Canary Islands. This group of islands are warm whatever time of year you visit them. They won’t necessarily be absolutely boiling, but this suits a lot of people who prefer mild temperatures where they can stay warm but still go out and do things. The scenery is dramatic and beautiful, and you will find lots of activities for the whole family.
• Cape Verde. This is the ideal destination for beach lovers. Popular with celebrities, it is a great place to relax and unwind on beautiful golden sand with a good book.
• Barbados. There are lots of beautiful resorts on Barbados if you would like to go somewhere a little more luxurious. You will enjoy it if you like sun, sea and good food.
• Dubai. You will love this destination if you are into shopping, impressive cityscapes and beaches. The temperature here might be a little higher, but everywhere is air conditioned, so you have the best of both worlds if you want sun but also relaxation.
• Florida. You will find lots to do here for the whole family, making it the ideal destination for many. Whilst it might take a little while to reach, you won’t be disappointed when you arrive.

There are lots of places you can escape for some sun this winter. Use this list as a starting point to get some inspiration and discover some beautiful new places in the world.

If you are looking for a holiday that doesn’t break the bank then you may wish to consider a January holiday. If you want to go abroad and want a holiday that will be filled with sunshine then January holidays may seem a little odd, but there are hundreds of locations all over the world that experience great heat and long sunny days in January.

Because Christmas is often an expensive time for many of us, January holidays are rarely taken, meaning that the prices for holidays tend to drop during this period. This may be the perfect time to go on that all inclusive holiday you have been dreaming on. Typical price savings on holidays take in in January compared to peak times in July can often save you over a thousand pounds per person.

Not only is the holiday accommodation often cheaper at this time of the year but also flights and excursions / entry to places of interest are often reduced too.

Some people look forward to the flight to their holiday destination whilst for others it is their worst nightmare. For some people, flying can be a scary experience and they will need to try and ensure that they have as little to worry about as possible to allow them to relax. If this is the case for you then you will need to make sure you prepare well in advance.

Firstly you need to check that you and everyone in your family has a valid passport allowing them to travel. Every member of your family now needs a passport to travel, even new born babies that were previously allowed on their mother or fathers passport.

You should also check up on luggage restrictions and what you are and are not allowed to take on the plane, will save any additional charges or possibly even loss of forbidden items. This will all be shown on the booking screen of your flights and can usually be found on the airline’s website in the FAQ section.

When booking a holiday you may have the option to go self catering, half board or all-inclusive. Not all resorts will offer all types of board and many 4 or 5 star resorts may only offer all inclusive packages.

With an all inclusive package you will receive all of your meals and often drinks for free. Sometimes the drinks are limited to house wines and spirits only and there may be a time limit on what time you can drink for free until. Sometimes snacks such as burgers and crisps are also included in the price you pay.

Although the cost of the holiday will be substantially more than going half board or self catering you will have to spend little else when you are there should you not want to. With food and drink being responsible for the majority of a families spend when away, you can often save a chunk of money by going self catering.