FORGET Santa in Lapland or skiing in France – when winter rolls around you’ll find me sunning myself abroad, trying to find some last-minute warmth to break up the UK’s long, grey months.
Having visited 58 countries as the Deputy Travel Editor, I’ve found some fantastic places that tick all the boxes of a winter sun break, without costing a fortune.
By that, I mean warm weather, direct flights (keeping them under seven hours, for any long-haul flight haters) and some very big bargains when it comes to hotels and beers.
So here are my favourite winter sun spots, some of which aren’t that far – and with hotels from £35 a night.
Marrakech
One of my favourite spots for winter sun that doesn’t break the bank is Morocco.
I’ve explored the Hassan II Mosque of Casablanca, and visited the beaches of Agadir.
But I think the best bargain is found in Marrakech.
Not only is it perfect for some pre-Christmas shopping – I found fantastic dupes of expensive branded candles and curtains in the souks – but you can still get temperatures just above 20C in winter.
Food is cheap too, as you’ll pay just a few pounds for a freshly-made tagine meal.
For an affordable hotel stay, skip the big name chains and go for a local riad – small traditional Moroccan hotels – which you can find for as little as £35 on websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb.
These are usually fantastic locations, and usually with some free mint tea or breakfast thrown in.
Flights are cheap too – Ryanair fly there from £14.99.
We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Aqua Mirage Club from November 26, with return flights from Manchester, for £379pp on Loveholidays.com.
Cape Verde
African island, no jet lag and flights under seven hours – enter Cape Verde.
Where else can you get all-inclusive holidays from £586pp, where you’ll be basking in 27C heat?
While lots of people head to the island of Sal, I much prefer Boa Vista.
Most of the TUI hotels are right on the beach, with swim-up bars and waterparks.
But leaving the resort is worth it too.
I found white sand beaches like Santa Monica with barely anyone on them, making me feel like I was on a Maldives private island instead.
My favourite was Praia Carlota, where you can lose the days in the hippy Morabeza beach hut with fried fish and local Strela beer.
Sand-boarding, kite-surfing, boat trips; visit in February and you can go whale-watching during humpback mating season too.
We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Hotel Pontao from November 30, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £430pp at On The Beach.
El Gouna
When it comes to Egypt, one of my favourite destinations for winter sun is El Gouna.
Flights there are around 5hr30 which go to Hurghada, with a short transfer.
The gated community means it is extremely safe as only people staying at the hotels can enter, and its still around 25C in December.
Hop on a boat to explore the man-made lagoons, or go on Sunset Desert Safaris, with hiking and stargazing with El Gouna Mountain Goats.
If you don’t mind going further afield, you can even book day trips to Luxor (just expect a very early start).
When it comes to choosing a place to stay, I highly recommend Cook’s Club.
The four-star resort has it all – fantastic restaurant, lagoon-front pool, live DJs, and rooms are super chic.
And seven night stays are as little as £509 each with your flights and breakfast with loveholidays.
We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Doubletree By Hilton Mangroovy El Gouna Resort from December 9, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £379pp at Loveholidays.
Tenerife
If you’re keen not to go much further than Spain for your winter holiday, your best bet is to head to Tenerife which is often considered the warmest of the island (due to its location off the African coastline).
Temperatures are around 22C – not hot but warmer than the UK highs of 9C.
Holidays are a bargain – loveholidays has December seven-night stays for under £200 – but I highly recommend The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife.
The dusty pink building looks like something from a fairytale, complete with beautiful suites and a hidden beach you can get to by funicular.
Seven night holidays here can be found for £797pp with flights and breakfast thrown in.
If you can drag yourself away from the hotel, there are some fantastic outdoor adventures on the island such as whale watching and hiking.
Otherwise get ready for a night out on the town of Playa de las Américas, where you will find the best bars and restaurants.
Try Spain’s cheap chain 100 Montaditos, called the Wetherspoons of Spain where sandwiches are €1 (80p) and beers are €1.50 (£1.29).
We found a deal for a six-night stay at BLUESEA Interpalace from November 15, with return flights from London Stansted, from £349pp at Lastminute.com.
Dubai
Forget the idea Dubai has to be expensive – I have the best tips on how to do it affordably (while still having fun and soaking up sun).
The United Arab Emirates is currently on the safe to travel list, with Emirates still offering daily flights from the UK.
First, the hotels – I was blown away by the Premier Inns here, which are just as cheap as the UK at around £30, but some come with rooftop swimming pools. Yes, really.
Beach clubs can also be done on a budget.
Some, like DRIFT, can cost a little as £30 midweek, which can be used against your food and drink (with Ladies Days costing just £20 instead) while others like Lucky Fish are currently free to visit Monday to Thursday.
And lunch deals let you visit some of the famous restaurants without the price, like Ce La Vie offering a three-course meal for £28 rather than their dinner menu which has £30 dishes alone.
But my favourite place to go was the Grand Souk, where you’ll find breads stuffed with cheese or Nutella for £1.22, or Iranian falooda — a sorbet-like dessert made of thin rice noodles and syrup — for £1.
Return flights from the UK can currently be found for around £500.
We found a deal for a six-night stay at Ibis Styles Dubai Jumeira from November 11, with return flights from London Gatwick, from £867pp with TUI.
Doha
Similar to Dubai yet often overlooked, Doha makes for a great winter sun destination without too long of a flight.
Flights from the UK are with Qatar Airways – often being named one of the world’s best airlines – and take around 6hr40 (and around £530 return).
It is a great ‘luxury on a budget’ for some royalty without the riyal.
My favourite hotel to go for is The Ned; while not ‘cheap’ it is much cheaper than the one in the UK and feels much fancier than it costs.
As little as £102 a night (compared to London’s £330), it’s retro glamour with gorgeous interiors and an outdoor swimming pool.
If you just want a base, there are also Premier Inn hotels for around £28 a night.
Taxies are cheap, it feels very safe as a woman travelling around and one of the best attractions is affordable – go to the National Museum of Qatar (currently around £5 entry).
Otherwise head straight to the beach clubs – for example, Doha Beach Club is around £12 each (or ladies visit on Tuesday for free). What more could you want?
We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Steigenberger Hotel Doha from January 17, with return flights from London Stansted, from £705pp with On The Beach.