How To Escape The Cold This Winter

Written by Ella Cawthorne Last updated December 5th 202405/12/24

Whether you’re a fan of the winter season or not, we all dream of warmer days in the sunshine! The best way to beat the winter blues and escape the cold is to book yourself a sunny escape.

These are our favourite destinations to jet off to when we’re craving a sun soaked getaway:

January

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun has fabulous weather all throughout the year, but January is amongst the few months when you can enjoy the best weather Mexico has to offer. You can expect highs of 28°C and the skies are mostly clear and sunny, perfect for working on a winter tan!

The key to a relaxing winter break is finding the perfect hotel with a great range of facilities. Our favourite is:

RIU Yucatan

Riu Yucatan is a hotel with class and has plenty of fantastic amenities to help make your winter holiday that little bit more special. Let’s start with the pools – three huge ones throughout the grounds in fact. There’s also a separate swim up bar for the grown ups, perfect for that midday tipple, it’s five o’clock somewhere, right?!

There’s also a great array of restaurants which you can enjoy throughout your stay. The buffet restaurant serves up quick, easy and crowd-pleasing meals, and has three themed nights a week. There’s also Asian and Italian buffet restaurants, a grill and if you fancy an a la carte evening, you can experience this at the Mexican restaurant or La Margarita Steakhouse.

If you love exploring the water, then there’s plenty of opportunities to dip your toes in the Caribbean here. You can try your hand at bodyboarding, catamaran sailing or for something a bit less strenuous you can hire a pedalo.

The hotel is situated just south of Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula, so you can expect cotton-white beaches backed by luxurious gated communities and even an 8-hole championship golf course.

February

Sal, Cape Verde

Cape Verde

February is a great month to visit Sal – you can expect sunny highs of around 25°C. Water temperatures at this time of year can reach 23°C, making for great conditions for water sports enthusiasts.

With so many stunning hotels to choose from, it can be hard to make a decision, so here’s our front-runner to help make that decision a little easier:

Hotel RIU Palace Santa Maria

Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria opened its doors in February 2021 and no compromises have been made when it comes to offering guests an unforgettable stay. Water babies will be in their element here with a hefty six pools to choose from. The line up comprises two swim up bars, three other outdoor numbers and one inside. There’s even a water park onsite!

There’s one buffet restaurant and four off-the-menu places to enjoy which include an Italian, a steakhouse, a fusion restaurant and a Japanese spot. The buffet hosts themed nights three times a week. Just so you know, there’s a smart casual dress code for most of the restaurants.

The beach is the hotel’s activity hub where you can enjoy windsurfing, scuba diving, kayaking and much more! If you feel like treating yourself to a spa day, then the hotel has an amazing spa onsite. Plus, there’s a beauty salon and hairdresser if you want to get dolled up during your stay.

Sal is one of the ten Cape Verde islands and offers plenty of activities and excursions outside of your resort – you can visit the salt pans, go on 4×4 tours of the island and even visit a turtle sanctuary.

March

Tenerife, Canary Islands

The Canary Islands have a great reputation as being an all-year-round destination and Tenerife has been loved by tourists for many years. Temperatures on average reach early 20s, which is great for lounging by the pool without being too hot!

Finding your ideal hotel is what makes your holiday go from great to perfect, and we think you will love:

Villa Mandi and Siam Park

Villa Mandi is made to look like a Mediterranean village, with low-rise terracotta blocks popping up next to chunky palm trees and neatly clipped lawns. You can enjoy four swimming pools that snake their way through the grounds, one of them is reserved for kids, and there’s a waterside bar, as well.

The hotel’s main restaurant serves up delicious cuisine and you can explore Canarian cuisine as well as more well-known international favourites! After dinner throughout the summer, you can enjoy live music and dance shows. If you’re looking for a more peaceful evening head to the indoor bar.

Staying here gives you an unlimited entry pass to Siam Park, which often crops up in lists of the world’s best waterparks. It’s a short taxi ride away, or you can walk it in less than half an hour. The hotel puts on a free shuttle bus twice a day, too. If that wasn’t enough, if you stay between May and October, you will get free admission to Loro Parque, which was awarded ‘Best Zoo In The World’ by TripAdvisor in 2017!