WITH frost in the air in the UK, it’s time to head somewhere warmer for a cheap winter sun.
eurochange found five destinations where the pound is strongest right now – so these are the best value destinations to visit this January.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica in Central America has it all, lush rainforests, beautiful coastlines and bustling cities like San José – not to mention great value for money for Brits.
In fact, the exchange rate is £1 to ₡669.50 Costa Rican colón so once you’ve flown there, don’t expect to pay too much for your meals or hotel stays.
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited last year, she said: “Costa Rica is one for the nature lovers, being home to five per cent of the world’s biodiversity (despite being just 0.03 per cent of the planet’s surface).
“With my own Pokémon-like list of animals I wanted to tick off, everything from sloths and coatis to tapirs and monkeys can easily be found on hikes through some of the National Parks.
“Or a boat trip to Isla del Caño ended with groups of turtles and jumping whales right by out boat. And with the country named on a number of top travel lists this year, from best hotels to being most underrated, now is the time to plan a trip.”
Costa Rica is a great place to beat the January blues as during the winter months, it sees temperature highs of 30C.
Return flights in February from London Gatwick to San Jose start from £790.
The average hotel starts from £63 per person per night and a three-course meal for two people averages at ₡25,000.00 (£37.34).
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The exchange rate is £1 = ₡669.50 (Costa Rican colón).
Turkey
Turkey is a hit during the summertime for families thanks to lots of beautiful seaside along with an ample amount of waterparks and watersports along the coast.
But during the winter months, it makes for the perfect escape with average highs of 16C between January and March.
Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire said: “Turkey really is one of those countries that has it all – great food, fascinating history, stunning beaches, beautiful nature and decent prices compared to many other top holiday destinations… it’s no wonder us Brits return to it year after year.
“In recent years, I’ve visited multiple times for markedly different trips.
A long weekend in early spring to Istanbul with my mum and aunt was filled with excellent Turkish food and souk bazaar shopping, trips to the top attractions like the Blue Mosque, and also some wonderful art galleries.”
Caroline continued: “A visit with my son to a friend in the coastal town of Urla in Turkey’s Izmir region on the Aegean sea showcased a completely different side to the country, with hardly any Brits wandering the quaint streets – that were home to several restaurants that feature in the fancy Michelin food guide.
“We swam in the sea at a local beach club during the day and hit up a couple of the local vineyards, then gorged on delicious food and cocktails at night.
“Then there was the family holiday to TUI’s flagship Holiday Village in Sarigerme, whether we did every activity under the sun and were deeply impressed the hospitality of the staff.
“It was easily the cleanest family hotel I’ve been to, and the buffet restaurant never failed to impress. Of course, at each of these destinations, I also spent far less than I would have at similarly popular European countries.”
In January, you can get return flights from London Southend to Antalya from £62.
To stay in the city of Antalya costs from £39 per person per night and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs on average ₺2,000 (£34.53).
The exchange rate is £1 = ₺57.95 (Turkish lira).
Thailand
Thailand has become more and more popular with Brits as a winter sun destination. It’s known for its cheap but tasty food, cocktails, and luxury hotels.
That’s exactly what Travel Reporter Alice Penwill found when she visited Koh Samui, she said: “The island of Koh Samui is a real a mix of luxurious resorts and bargain restaurants – but strangely neither will cost a lot.
“I stayed in the 5-star Anantara Lawana Koh Samui resort which you can stay in January from £182 per night.
“It has tree-top dining restaurants, a spa, quiet beach with waiter service and some rooms have swim-up pools.
“While the island is scattered with incredible hotels, outside you can find real bargains, tucked away along the streets are places serving up Pad Thai and spicy tom yum soup, with cocktails for £2.
“As for sweet treats, mango sticky rice is a revelation and costs as little as £1.65 from street vendors.”
There are plenty of different options around Thailand, like the Andaman Coast which is is the stunning tropical coastline in the southwest.
It’s home to islands like Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta with towering limestone cliffs, bright blue waters and white-sand beaches.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy winter sun with average highs of 32C between January and March.
You can get return flights from £786 from London Gatwick to Phuket in January.
The price of hotels starts from £53 per person per night and the average price of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: ฿1,350 (£31.99).
Exchange rate is £1 = ฿42.20 (Thai baht).
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has been named a booming travel destination of 2026 thanks to its beautiful scenery and affordability.
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey loved her trip there, she said: “Sri Lanka is a great alternative to Thailand and the Maldives, with just as beautiful beaches and even better food.
“Some of the most popular things to do on the small island country is climbing Sigiriya Rock – a 5th century fortress with 1,200 steps to the top – as well as an elephant safari.
“When it comes to beaches, expect golden sands as well as amazing surf, with some of the most popular spots being Mirissa Beach and Weligama Beach.”
Kara added: “For amazing food, you can easily find samosas and rotis from street stalls for just a pound each. Grab a local Lion beer too, with it also costing just a few pounds from food vendors.
“And for luxury on a budget, Sri Lanka knows how to do it well. I recommend a stay at Jetwing Vil Uyana, named one of the best eco-hotels in the world, from £266 a night with breakfast.”
Between January and March there are average highs of 32C, and you can get return flights from London Heathrow to Colombo from £616.
The average accommodation price starts from £48 per person per night – the price for a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: රු7,500 (£17.97).
The exchange rate: £1 = රු.417.42 (Sri Lankan rupee).
Egypt
Egypt is a classic destination for winter sun with popular resort towns like Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam.
The reason for its popularity is the high January temperatures of around 22C, not to mention you can get return flights from £80 from London Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh in January.
Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski visited El Gouna last year, she said: “Five star luxury doesn’t come with a price tag that makes you wince in Egypt’s El Gouna.
“Temperatures are in the mid 20s right now in this man-made resort town – and it’s a haven for fly-and-flop getaways thanks to the plethora of plush resorts flanking winding lagoons.”
Sophie continued: “Better still, a stay in one of these fancy hotels will cost you a fraction of what it would at a sister property in Europe. El Gouna is extremely safe and easy to walk, but why sweat it in that heat when a tuktuk will cost you less than £1 each way to travel anywhere within the vicinity?
“Catch a ride to Downtown and grab a very delicious brekkie (from around £4) in trendy cafe Daily Dose – the coffee is cheap and very good, too.
Book a lagoon tour by boat (€20 at elgouna-lagoon.com, including soft drinks) which showcases El Gouna’s weaving waterways which are comparable to those in Venice, but much less of a rip off than a gondola ride.
“Kite surfing is big in this region, too, thanks to the flat waters and blustery bays – kite rental starts from around €50 (£43.30) for around two hours.
“And if all that sounds too exhausting, a day on a sun lounger where chilled cocktails are delivered to you every hour will barely make a dent in the wallet.”
Accommodation prices vary in Egypt but can be as little as £35 per night, a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant averages around 1,100 EG£ (£17.15).
The exchange rate is £1 = 43.4251 ج.م. (Egyptian pound).
For more on winter sun, here are eight affordable holidays with FOUR TIMES more sun than Britain in January.
And here are the top 9 cheapest last-minute winter sun destinations less than 5 hours from the UK.