Although there are many winter wonderland options on our doorstep with the Alps and Scandinavia a short hop away, many of us are looking to escape the cold for further-flung destinations and a chance of some winter sun. One of the top picks for a sun-fuelled winter getaway is always the Caribbean. Their dry season runs from mid-December through April and the weather at this time is truly on its best behaviour; expect long dry days with average highs of about 28C (June to November is their hurricane season although we see more people visiting in the summer as rates are often halved and the rain showers can be present but brief). The options here for islands are plentiful. St Lucia has some of the most breath-taking scenery, Bermuda is famed for its pink sand beaches, Jamaica boasts championship golf courses, Barbados has a rich cultural heritage and Antigua is popular with those arriving by boat.
The best time of year to visit Sri Lanka is certainly between December and March although Sri Lanka is a year-round delight – from the wondrously warm water brought by the “winter” months of December to March, to the Sri Lankan summer from April to July when the island is at its wildest to the months of August until November when elephants gather and occasional rains turn the entire country into a lush emerald gem. Itinerary options here are endless; head straight to Kandy then take the world-famous train to Hatton for a few nights in the tea plantations before flying down to Weligama to end your days on the coast. Or visit the beautiful Sigiriya where you can climb the rock fortress in the morning and visit the elephant sanctuary in the afternoon. And that’s before we’ve even mentioned the national parks, Gal Oya and Yala for starters, where you can see leopards, sloths and elephants on safari.
Chile also lends itself to year-round travel although the best time to visit Santiago and the wine country is our winter months (between September and February where the weather is warm and dry) but it’s best to visit central Chile or the Patagonian Lake District in the south, in their wintertime of June, July and August. The sheer size and length of Chile explains its diversity in its weather. From glacier trekking in southern Patagonia, horseback riding with gauchos and the majestic salt flats of the Atacama Desert which can be visited all year round, combine scenic highlights with some of the best vineyards in the world for a trip of a lifetime.
The Maldives is the ultimate destination for those wanting ultra relaxation and an unforgettably magical romantic experience. Best visited in their dry season between December and April with eight hours of sun every day, it’s the perfect antidote to our long, cold and often rather miserable winters. Hop on a plane to bright blue skies and the clearest water you ever did see and explore one of their 1,192 islands (of which 198 are inhabited) amongst 26 natural atolls. You can also visit in our summer months where the hotels become more affordable in their low season, but you then must then expect the odd rain shower and strong winds.
