SUNSHINE fan Scott Dixon has spent every winter in Benidorm for the past seven years and the canny traveller insists the annual pilgrimage SAVES him money.
The 55-year-old takes his work with him on his annual lengthy getaways, saying he sleeps better and returns to the UK refreshed and energised. Sound too good to be true? Here, he explains how he gets such “staggering value’ on his winter sunshine breaks.
“It’s a no brainer,” says Scott, as he preps to jet away from his “freezing” home for the Spanish holiday resort.
“Many people think extended winter sun breaks are a luxury but I say it’s smart budgeting.
“Covid has opened up a whole new world of possibilities to work and live anywhere affordably
“I’ll have no food bills, no heating bills, no petrol bills and I’ll be spending my days in 20C sunshine instead of enduring it in freezing Edinburgh.”
For the past few years, Scott has tried out several different kinds of accommodation in Benidorm’s Old Town for the season, including self-catering long term lets, but this year he has booked two, three week half-board holidays with Jet2.
The digital nomad’s Benidorm package deals will include breakfast, evening meals with half a bottle of wine each night, flights, transfers and WiFi.
The ‘snowbird’, a name for people who move to sunnier climes for the winter, says the three weeks in December costs him £1,443 and the three weeks in February £1,205, totalling £2,648.
This, he has worked out, breaks down to a spend of £63 a day.
“To put it into perspective, my one bedroom flat in Edinburgh costs me up to £45 a week for electricity,” says Scott, who is mortgage free.
“Food is another £30 a week plus a load of other household costs.
“At home, I’m paying hundreds of pounds just to sit around in the cold, cooking for myself and keeping the heating on.
“The value for money I’m getting abroad is staggering – I’m getting sunny weather, daily cleaning with no housework and cooked meals.”
Thousands of Brits head to Benidorm every winter, with the resort’s long-stay visitors attracted by its weather and British-style pubs and shops.
“I’ve got to know a few familiar faces over the years,” says Scott, who is single and travels solo.
“Regular winter visitors, locals, bar staff and people who have become friends.
“You see a lot of the same people each year and there’s a real community feel.
“It’s become quite common for people to escape the UK winters, especially pensioners, remote workers and anyone who realises they can live well for less in the sun for a few weeks.”
While the lively, budget-conscious destination in Southern Spain has been unkindly dubbed ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ by some, the writer insists Benidorm’s Old Town is a true hidden gem.
Filled with whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and traditional architecture, this area is known for its tapas bars and vibrant nightlife.
“The Old Town is traditionally Spanish and a polar contrast to the New Town, which is where everyone forms their ‘Brits abroad’ and ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ negative opinions,” says Scott.
“People who have seen my photos can’t believe how nice and clean it is, with pristine beaches and everything you can wish for.
“It’s reliable, warm, affordable, has everything I need and only a two-and-a-half-hour flight each way.
“Benidorm is a completely different place compared to the summer peak season in general – it’s calm, clean and more chilled out.”
The weather in the winter is mild and pleasant, with an average of six hours of sunshine each day compared to less than two hours back in the UK.
“The weather is the biggest draw,” says Scott.
“It’s perfect. Not too hot, not too busy and the weather is warm enough to sit outside with a beer on the beach front, go for long walks or just have a snooze on the beach without getting burned.
“Once you’re into January and February, it can sometimes be a bit too hot to sit out in.”
Moderate exposure to sunlight is a primary source of vitamin D for most people and this vitamin produces the ‘happiness hormone’ serotonin that positively affects people’s mood, appetite and sleep.
It could be why wintering in the holiday resort always has a positive effect on Scott’s mental wellbeing.
“I started going during the winter in 2018 because I realised I didn’t need to spend it in the UK, freezing, paying high bills and feeling miserable,” he explains.
“And the first time I tried it, I honestly couldn’t believe the difference in how I felt – more energy, better sleep, a better mood and a different mindset.
“That made it a yearly habit.
“I eat better and walk more, and return home refreshed and energised – not run-down and drained.”
Scott, a consumer rights expert known as The Complaints Resolver, takes his work with him on his extended holidays – and says he usually isn’t the only digital nomad around.
“Since I freelance, I’ve built flexibility into my schedule,” he explains.
“WiFi is good, and hotel staff are used to digital nomads now.
“I have stacked my work in advance so I can relax, and do some light work in the sunshine if necessary.”
So as Scott packs his suitcase for Spain, he has a simple message for anyone thinking of becoming a ‘snowbird’: do it.
“You don’t need to be wealthy,” he says.
“Package deals in winter are cheaper than many people think and if you compare it to the cost of staying at home you may find it’s not that expensive.
“The endless days of blue skies and warm sunshine really lift your spirits and benefit your mental health, you can’t put a price on that.
“It’s a place where you can relax without thinking about life admin, bills and the day-to-day drudgery of winter in the UK.
“I couldn’t imagine spending winters anywhere else.”