Aside from the obvious excitement of getting away to somewhere warm and sunny, winter in the sun also gives you the perfect opportunity to try out some new swimwear. This year I’ve gone for a gorgeous black swimsuit that I absolutely adore. Check out my Instagram for the pics!
So here are some of the winter sun locations I’d love to get away to.
Australia
The ultimate sunny winter destination that everyone thinks of is Australia. They do everything upside-down over there, which means that it’s the middle of summer on Christmas Day. It has to be one of the best places to spend Christmas or perhaps New Year’s Eve.
Instead of turkey with all the trimmings, they often have a barbecue with plenty of cold side dishes. If it’s sunny enough to have your Christmas meal on the beach, then you might as well do it. You could go for a swim in the ocean afterwards or enjoy the great outdoors however you like. People love being outside and staying fit in Australia, and summer is the perfect time to do it.
Places to Stay
The Ramada Eco Beach Resort, Western Australia
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, Western Australia
Aqua Resort Busselton, Western Australia
Atura Blacktown, New South Wales
Palms City Resort, Darwin, Northern Territory
Thailand
Thailand is another popular destination for a lot of people. One of the reasons that I find it so fascinating is that there’s such a wide range of landscapes. One minute you could be in the busy city of Bangkok, and then you could be on your way to a remote island. I think if I were to spend winter in Thailand, I’d pick the islands over a more urban environment. I could lounge on the beach, rent a kayak or go snorkelling to explore everything.
But before travelling to Thailand, I would need to make sure my vaccinations are up to date. You have to ensure that you’re protected against things like hepatitis A, and maybe even take antimalarials.
Places to Stay
Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, Ko Phi Phi Don
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, Phuket
Centara Grand Beach Resort, Krabi Town
Ban Sainai Resort, Krabi Town
Rocky’s Boutique Resort, Lamai
Mexico
I couldn’t leave my beloved Mexico off the list of places to spend the winter. The problem is, there are so many places that I love, I don’t know where I could recommend the most! I’ve written about some of the places I would like to visit before on my Wanderlust Wishlist.
They range from cities to beach resorts and historical sites. There’s so much to see and do, and you can get some great weather in December. In fact, if you don’t like it too hot then it’s a better time to go. For example, the temperature averages about 24 degrees Celsius in Cancun during December. I know lots of people who think that’s a perfect temperature!
Places to Stay
Emperio Reforma, Mexico City
Sandos Palm Bay, Playacar
Occidental Tucancun, Cancun
Seadust Cancun Family Resort, Cancun
Mahekal Beach Resort, Playa del Carmen
Caribbean
Mexico has beaches on the Caribbean Sea, but if you want to get right into it, there are lots of islands to choose from. It’s difficult to pick just one of them, but I suppose you can’t beat the Bahamas. November and December are ideal times to go when you can be a beach bum and relax to your heart’s content. But it would also be the perfect place if I was looking for a party. I hear that there’s also an incredible nightlife at some of the resorts. Plus, you can see some great nature, including turtles, and colourful birds.
Places to Stay
Melia Nassau Beach, Nassau
Treasure Cay Beach, Marina & Golf Resort, Great Abaco Island
Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort & Villas, Long Island
Tingum Village Hotel, Harbour Island
Sammy T’s Beach Resort, Cat Island
Cyprus
All of these other places are pretty far away, and I live in the UK. Much of Europe is a no-go area in winter if you’re looking for sun. Even though there’s some debate about whether Cyprus counts as Europe, it is a closer place for me to catch some rays. The Mediterranean island has quite mild weather in December. So I wouldn’t be sizzling hot if I visited.
There’s still plenty of sun though, which is great to cheer you up if you have the winter blues. Paphos looks beautiful, so I wouldn’t mind spending Christmas there, or at least some of the winter holidays. It also only takes a few hours to get there, which is much better than the time it would take to get to Australia or Mexico!
Places to Stay
Leonardo Laura Beach Splash Resort, Paphos
Olympic Lagoon Resort, Famagusta
Azia Resort & Spa, Paphos
Pyla Palms Resort, Larnaca
Hylatio Tourist Village, Limassol
A winter vacation in the sun is beginning to sound better and better, don’t you agree?
