AS the Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, I’ve racked up the air miles through the years – travelling to over 55 international locations and greater than 100 cities.
So relating to winter solar, I can in fact wax lyrical in regards to the fantastic thing about Hawaii or the gorgeous seashores of St Kitts. But I’ve additionally discovered among the largest winter solar bargains, the place you needn’t go too far.
By that, I imply nothing greater than seven hours, which edges the flight into the long-haul class, though some are lower than three hours away.
So I’ve completed the exhausting be just right for you, and located seven locations below seven hours away, the place you’ll find all the pieces from low cost inns and inexpensive wine to discount packages and delightful seashores.
Faro, Portugal
Flight time to Faro – 2hr35
The Algarve is likely one of the hottest locations to go to when searching for some European solar in winter.
And whereas most Brits fly into Faro after which go away for the coastal resorts, I believe town is value an inexpensive winter break by itself.
It’s round 16C in December, so you will get away with a t-shirt.
And there are a group of tiny islands that hardly any vacationers learn about, which are a fast boat journey from the mainland.
You can get to the ‘Caribbean of Portugal’ referred to as Ilha Deserta in simply 20 minutes.
Not solely are the seashores empty on the island, nevertheless it has only one restaurant, Estamine, the place you will get a contemporary fish tasting menu for €25 (£21.77) for 2.
And Portugal is thought for its extraordinarily inexpensive eating places and bars.
Adega Amável is the place you’ll discover the locals, and it’s a little bit of a squeeze however value it when beers and glasses of wine are lower than €3 (£2.61).
Budget inns will be discovered for £30, though I beloved 3HB, Faro’s first five-star resort (ranging from £415pp, for 4 nights with flights with easyJet holidays in November).
Loveholidays has seven-night stays in Faro in November for £199pp with return flights.
Seville, Spain
Flight time to Seville – 2hr45
One of the closest locations for some winter solar from the UK is Seville, which is likely one of the warmest locations on the Spanish mainland.
It’s certainly one of my favorite Spanish cities to go to and you may count on temperatures round 17C in December – so positively t-shirt climate.
If you wish to eat the place the locals go, attempt to squeeze into Bar Alfalfa.
You can get an genuine tostada con tomate (toast with tomatoes) and a espresso for simply €2.60 (£2.26), or a tinto de verano (purple wine and lemonade) for €1.50 (£1.31).
If you don’t wish to splash out for an costly flamenco present, you possibly can catch some dwell performances in a lot of Seville’s parks as effectively.
El Rinconcillo is Seville’s oldest bar, and you will get a big glass of wine for simply €3.20 (£2.80).
There are methods to get free tickets for among the metropolis’s prime sights, too.
The Royal Alcazar Palace has free tickets on Mondays for the final hour, which will be discovered on the web site.
And the Cathedral de Sevilla – the world’s largest Gothic cathedral – additionally has free tickets from 2pm to 3pm on Mondays.
EasyJet has package deal holidays for £166pp, when staying three nights on January 5 on the Illunion Alcora Sevilla.
Or you are able to do three nights on the Hotel Vertice Alijarafe on January 21 with Loveholidays for £139pp, with return flights.
Agadir, Morocco
Flight time to Agadir – 3hr50
Morocco is likely one of the nearest locations to the UK for dependable winter solar.
While I like Marrakech and Casablanca, certainly one of my favourites is Agadir, which was additionally named the most cost-effective package deal vacation vacation spot by Which? final yr.
The coastal city is usually twinned with Taghazout, a surfer village with an enormous seaside.
Not solely is it heat, however it’s a excellent place to refill on Christmas presents for a discount.
You can head to Souk El Had, the most important souk in Morocco, which is fairly chaotic, and you’ll find actually all the pieces.
But I beloved the Complexe Artisanal, a extra manageable market, with wicker lights, hand-painted vases and genuine picket sculptures, all for a discount.
I managed to purchase candles for below £5, the place I picked my very own important oil to go in them, which regarded an identical to those in Oliver Bonas that price £20.
A hand-glazed sugar jar set me again simply £12, and regarded similar to ones from the stylish model HK Living, which retail at £35.
TUI has seven-night holidays to Agadir from £310 every when travelling in November.
El Gouna, Egypt
Flight time to El Gouna – 5hr25
Just outdoors of Hurghada, El Gouna is a lesser-known space of Egypt that has some amazingly inexpensive vacation resorts.
The gated artifical island feels extraordinarily secure, and it’s nonetheless 24C in December, so you possibly can profit from the swimming pools and seashores.
It’s a spot for luxurious on a funds – I stayed on the Cooks Club Hotel, which was a four-star resort for round £80 an evening, however felt like a five-star.
But if you’d like an actual five-star, you’ll find stays at ones like Movenpick for as little as £130 an evening.
You can head to Downtown Abu Tig Marina for some low cost eats and seaside golf equipment, in addition to completely satisfied hours the place you get a second cocktail free.
Most of the time, you’ll spend your time stress-free on the resort pool, as it’s extra of a fly and flop vacation spot.
But there are some nice, inexpensive day journeys when you do desire a day trip, together with quad biking within the desert for below £10 with Get Your Guide.
Loveholidays has seven-night holidays in December for £399pp at numerous four-star inns, which embrace your breakfast and flights.
Boa Vista, Cape Verde
Flight time to Cape Verde – 6hr15
One of the closest African islands to get to, Cape Verde, is now simpler to succeed in due to new easyJet flights from the UK.
Most individuals head to the busier Sal, however I like to recommend going to the quieter Boa Vista.
It has 27C highs in winter, there is only one hour’s time distinction, and also you received’t see many crowds even within the busy season.
The quiet seashores – specifically Santa Monica – felt extra like a personal island within the Maldives, with delicate white sands and barely a soul in sight.
One of my fave outlets was Olaria di Rabli, a tiny ceramic retailer the place you possibly can choose up some souvenirs for only a few kilos.
Morabeza Beach Bar had extra Bali vibes, with Reggae nights and sundown events with DJs.
It’s additionally the place you’ll find an inexpensive beer, with a neighborhood bottle of Strella round €2 (£1.74), or a glass of wine for €3 (£2.61). Even a cocktail of a mojito or an Aperol spritz was simply €5 (£4.35).
Otherwise, it’s a nice, inexpensive fly and flop vacation spot the place you possibly can whereas away the times benefiting from the all-inclusive buffet, with out spending a penny additional.
Loveholidays has seven-night holidays in Boa Vista from £459pp in November.
Or, TUI has all-inclusive seven-night holidays from £686pp.
Pointe Sarene, Senegal
Flight time to Senegal – 6hr15
If you need the texture of the Caribbean on a funds, then a Senegal vacation resort is the place it would be best to head.
Not solely is there no jet lag with only one hour’s time distinction, however Senegal stays above 26C all yr spherical, with highs of 30C in winter.
It has seen a growth in reputation since 2022, when TUI launched the one direct flights from the UK.
Pointe Serene is the place you will discover a lot of the seaside resorts, and most are pretty inexpensive relating to all-inclusive packages.
I stayed on the Riu Baobab, which had all of it – swimming pool, bars, all of your foods and drinks included and an on-site water slide complicated.
You may guide day journeys, together with Goree Island or half-day safaris for lower than £60 every.
TUI has seven-night all-inclusive Senegal holidays from £901pp when travelling in November.
Doha, Qatar
Flight time to Doha – 6hr50
If you need the glamour of Dubai on a little bit of a funds, I’d suggest heading to Doha.
I flew there as a stopover when heading to Sri Lanka, however was left shocked by the inexpensive glitz.
I stayed at five-star The Ned, an extremely fancy outpost of the Soho House-owned resort, housed within the Ministry of Interior constructing.
Giving celeb member golf equipment vibes, rooms begin from £170 an evening – it’d sound costly, nevertheless it’s less expensive than the Ned London, the place costs soar previous £300.
Stay for 3 nights and also you get 20 per cent off the value as effectively.
But if you’d like much more of a funds, there are primary inns for simply £25, such because the Plaza Inn resort or the Palm Inn Hotel.
Want some seaside time? Doha Beach Club is free to go to on Tuesdays for girls, or you possibly can pay £6 off-peak peak which will get you a towel and umbrella.
If you don’t wish to spend an entire journey in Doha, Qatar Airways has its Qatar Stopover if you’re connecting within the metropolis.
Say you might be heading to someplace like Thailand or Australia through Doha with the airline, you possibly can keep within the metropolis for as much as 96 hours, and pay as little as £11 an evening at a resort earlier than hopping in your connecting flight.
British Airways has seven-night holidays from £663pp when travelling in February.
