Who doesn't long for an intense dose of heat
and sunshine at this time of year? To satisfy those cravings, we have
come up with 10 holiday spots where the weather in February is near
perfect - in other words, sunny, with temperatures in the mid- to high
20sC, and little likelihood of rain.
Because this flat and scrubby little island boasts some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean - long curvaceous stretches of dazzlingly white, sink-as-you-step, talcum-powder sands. And, although you won't have them entirely to yourself, they will be far from crowded: Anguilla is a very exclusive place to holiday. The island has many gourmet restaurants (rustic-chic Scilly Cay, which serves barbecued lobster on its own minuscule island, is the most fun); several of the region's best upmarket hotels (Cap Juluca, strung along a mile of sublime beach, is particularly good); and some of the most luxurious villas imaginable (locally, dubbed "supervillas"). Bear in mind, however, that aside from beaches, food and good snorkelling and diving, Anguilla offers few distractions.
Getting there
Fly to Antigua, then take a 45-minute local flight on to Anguilla. With a good connection, total travelling time is about 11 hours.
Packages
£2,825 b & b at Cap Juluca, or £1,405 room only at Ku, Cap Juluca's much more affordable sister hotel, which has spacious, minimalist suites on Shoal Bay East, the island's most popular beach. Prices through Caribtours (020 7751 0660, www.caribtours.co.uk).
More information
www.anguilla-vacation.com.
To experience the Caribbean's natural landscapes at their most dramatic. Rent a Jeep, put on your walking boots and you will discover a towering interior covered in dense rainforest, thundering waterfalls and hidden, boiling lakes. Guides will take you to spots where you can view rare wild parrots and agouti (giant rodents), but you can also rely on visits from hummingbirds at the island's eco-friendly guesthouses. Dominica does have some spectacular beaches on its north coast, but they are likely to be a long drive from where you will be staying. The beaches and the island's welcoming Caribs - the Caribbean's last remaining indigenous tribe, with its own protected territory - appeared in the recent Pirates of the Caribbean films. This year should be a good one to visit Dominica, as the island is celebrating 30 years of independence from Britain, with events, such as a national hike, running throughout the year. However, Dominica isn't green for nothing - even in the dry winter season, expect some rain most days.
Getting there
Fly to one of the main Caribbean islands, such as Antigua, then take an inter-island flight on to Dominica. With a good connection, total travelling time is about 11 hours.
Packages
Caribbean Islands Club (020 8232 9781, www.carib-club.com) has several of the island's most enticing guesthouses on its books, such as Papillote and Exotica Cottages (£1,321 b & b).
More information
www.discoverdominica.com.
It's the Caribbean at its most fascinating - an unlikely mixture of arcane Communist ways, decrepit vintage Cadillacs, faded Spanish colonial architecture, fantastic music everywhere you go and the world's best cigars. Don't hole up in a resort: they are bland and isolated, and you can find better beach hotels elsewhere. Visiting Cuba should be an adventure. With a week to spare, spend a few days in Havana. Stay in one of the renovated mansions in the old part of the city, which is gradually being restored to its former magnificence; hang out in classic bars once frequented by Hemingway; and, for a night out, take in a top salsa or jazz band.
After a few days, rent a car and head west down to Vinales valley, Cuba's most beautiful corner, where striking limestone outcrops rise out of tobacco-growing fields, then continue on to Trinidad, the island's showpiece colonial town.
Getting there
Virgin flies from Gatwick to Havana twice a week, taking just under 10 hours.
Packages
Trips Worldwide (0117 311 4400, www.tripsworldwide.co.uk) specialises in tailor-made fly-drive tours to Cuba: splitting time between Havana, Vinales and Trinidad. A 10-day trip in February, staying in mid-range characterful hotels mostly on a b & b basis, costs about £1,400, including car hire.
More information
www.cubatravel.cu
For Robinson Crusoe escapism, but with 21st-century comforts. Almost all the 90 or so hotels in the Indian Ocean archipelago occupy their own mini tropical island, ringed by sandy beaches and a milky blue lagoon. Moreover, the diving and snorkelling are fantastic - it can feel like swimming in a giant, natural aquarium. Choose a hotel on one of the bigger islands, where you're less likely to go stir crazy. One of the largest is Soneva Fushi, which offers casual-chic, eco-friendly luxury, outstanding food (much of the fruit and veg comes from the hotel's own organic garden) and a new astronomical observatory (free for guests to use).
If you're after somewhere cheaper, the three-/four-star Meerufenfushi, which is encircled by a mile of stunning beaches and has room for a football pitch (weekly matches between staff and guests) and even a golf driving range, is a good bet, as long as you go for a superior room or better.
Getting there
The only way to fly non-stop both ways is on charter flights (flying time around 11 hours). Alternatively, fly scheduled - Emirates, for example, has flights via Dubai with good connection times.
Packages
From £2,154 room only at Soneva Fushi flying scheduled, and £1,070 full board in a superior room at Meerufenfushi flying charter - prices through Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk).
More information
www.visitmaldives.com.
The South Beach part of Miami Beach is a compact, walkable adult playground, filled with gorgeous art deco hotels, fashionable restaurants, hip bars and cool nightclubs. In short, it's party central - and as such, the length of the flight aside, is perfect for a decadent long weekend.
Sip cocktails in the see-and-be-seen bars of hotels such as the Shore Club, the Delano and the Standard. Refer to www.cooljunkie.com/miami for the hottest clubs - they can be pretty snooty, so ask your hotel concierge to put you on guest lists. During the daytime, skip the beach, which has all the charm of a sand-covered motorway. Instead, café and gallery hop along pedestrian Lincoln Road Mall, or learn about South Beach's art deco architecture on informative walking tours conducted by the Miami Design Preservation League. Next weekend brings the large-scale annual Art Deco Weekend bash, with concerts, street theatre and parades on Ocean Drive of everything from vintage cars to dogs and their owners.
Getting there
Fly to Miami from Heathrow with British Airways, Virgin or American Airlines - flight time is around nine hours.
Packages
For four nights, £769 room only at the swanky Shore Club, or £569 b & b at the Park Central, an affordable, small-scale classic art deco property on Ocean Drive - prices through Trailfinders (0845 050 5871, www.trailfinders.com).
More information
www.gmcvb.com.
For the top-notch upmarket resort hotels; for the shopping - the city has more than 40 malls; for the buzzing nightlife and first-rate restaurants - Gordon Ramsay's refined Verre tops the bill; and for the weather, which is normally as good as it gets for a winter-sun destination - in the mid- to high 20sC, sunny, with just the very occasional shower.
If the heat gets too much, head for the slopes and snow park of Ski Dubai, in the Mall of the Emirates.
The only blot (or blots) on the landscape is the ubiquitous building work, so choose your hotel carefully. Telegraph Travel readers' favourite resort hotel last year was the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach, which is one of the best in Dubai for families. Another option is the Madinat Jumeirah, a mock-ancient Arabian city threaded by waterways, with dozens of cafés and restaurants and its own souk. Neither complex is affected by nearby building work (though the Palm project is visible in the distance).
Getting there
There are 140 direct flights a week from Britain to Dubai, including some from a number of regional airports. The newest service is with Silverjet (0844 855 0111, www.flysilverjet.com), the estimable business-class-only airline (from £1,099 return). Flying time is around seven hours.
Packages
Through Seasons in Style (01244 202000, www.seasonsinstyle.com), £1,935 b & b at the Jumeirah Beach, or £2,155 b & b at Dar Al Masyaf, the most appealing of the hotels in the Madinat Jumeirah.
More information
www.dubaitourism.ae.
Baja California (Lower California) is that long, narrow arm of Mexico that dangles southwards from the United States border between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California for about 775 miles. On the Pacific coast there are excellent long, wide beaches in the far north while the calm, clement inland Sea of Cortez laps some beautiful bays in the southern reaches. A highway runs from end to end, which makes for a great driving holiday - you can explore the whole length easily in 10 days.
Away from the beaches there are stunning deserts, colonial towns (Loreto and La Paz are lovely), world-class diving and sport fishing, vineyards - and little traffic.
Islands in the Sea of Cortez have empty, white-sand beaches as well as impressive marine life (turtles, dolphins, seals). Down in Los Cabos, the upmarket resorts of the south, you can take a gentle voyage on a beautiful Turkish-style gulet. There is sunshine all year at this latitude, but winter is more pleasant and the Cortez, while still warm, is not bath-water sickly.
In central Baja, between February and early April, you can see grey whales that have migrated here from the Arctic; they bask in the shallow, protected waters and calve off Ojo de Liebre, southwest of the town of Guerrero Negro and in Bahía Magdalena.
There is great snack food all over, and top-notch modern Mexican cuisine in Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, Mulejé, Punta Chivato, Ensenada and Tijuana.
Getting there
Fly to Mexico City and on to Tijuana, Guerrero Negro or Los Cabos. With good connections, total travelling time is about 13 hours.
Packages
Exsus Travel (020 7292 5060 www.exsus.com) can organise a 10-day adventure whale-watching trip to Baja California, including all flights, stopover in Mexico City, surfing lessons in Todos los Santos, sea kayaking and arm's-length encounters with grey whales in Magdalena Bay. From £2,995 per person.
More information
www.discoverbajacalifornia.com; www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Baja_California_Sur
With its palm-fringed beauty, golden-templed spirituality, colourful cuisine - and wonderful white-sand beaches - Thailand is a firm favourite of the winter sun-seeking fraternity. February and March are two of the best months of the year in which to visit, particularly the resorts along the Andaman coast. Temperatures are warm (without being uncomfortably hot) and sunny weather is pretty much guaranteed.
Head for the island of Phuket or resorts such as Ko Lanta, Krabi, Phi Phi and Khao Lak. In addition to larger luxury hotels, there's a growing number of reasonably priced boutique-style properties.
Farther north, the weather is bright and crisp in Chiang Mai and the "golden triangle" close to Chiang Rai: perfect for elephant-trekking, walking in the hills, dipping a toe into Laos and Burma or simply indulging in some invigorating massage therapy.
Getting there
The following airlines all offer direct services to Bangkok (approx 12 hours): Thai Airways International (0870 60 60 911, www.thaiairways.com), Eva Air (020 7380 8300, www.evaair.com), British Airways (0870 850 9 850, www.ba.com) and Qantas (0845 7 747 767, www.qantas.com).
Packages
Tropical Locations (0845 277 3310, www.tropical-locations.com) offers an 11-night trip including stays in Bangkok, the Golden Triangle, Chiang Mai and Phuket, all international and internal flights, transfers, breakfasts and some sightseeing, from £1,895 per person; and a 13-night package, with three nights in Bangkok and 10 nights on Krabi, from £1,345 per person. Prices are valid for travel between January and March. Kuoni (01306 747001, www.kuoniworldclass.co.uk) offers a seven-night trip to the Evason Hua Hin & Six Senses Spa at Hua Hin, room only, including flights, from £1,299 per person; and a six-night stay on Phi Phi (with an extra night on Phuket), from £1,433 per person.
More information
www.tourismthailand.org
Seeing Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at London's O2 might give you a glimpse of ancient Egyptian culture, but nothing can compare with learning about the bewitching world of hieroglyphics and jackal-headed gods among the tombs and desert sands of Egypt itself. Luxor, with winter temperatures in the mid-20s, is slightly warmer than Cairo and the best base for exploring the Valleys of the Kings and Queens and the great temple at Karnak, or for joining a cruise down the Nile to Aswan and Abu Simbel. Both the Old Winter Palace and Maritime Jolie Ville hotels in Luxor have lovely gardens for R&R after sightseeing. Or spend a few days on the beach at a Red Sea resort such as Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada where there is superb snorkelling and diving - though it can be windy in February and March. The Egyptian pound is linked to the US dollar, so your money goes a long way.
Getting there
There are numerous charter flights direct to Luxor and Red Sea resorts; GB Airways (www.gbairways.com) to Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada; daily scheduled flights to Cairo with British Airways (www.britishairways.com) and Egypt Air (www.egyptair.com), with onward connections.
Packages
A two-week trip, with a Nile cruise and a week's b & b at the Maritime Jolie Ville hotel in Luxor costs from £889 per person, including a return flight and all meals and sightseeing on the cruise. £1,999 buys you a Nile cruise on a luxury boutique ship, three nights' b & b in Cairo and four nights' b & b at a five-star Red Sea hotel - return flight included. Both through Discover Egypt (0844 880 0462, www.discoveregypt.co.uk).
More information
www.egypt.travel
For its exhilarating blend of marvellous scenery, multicultural cities and vast game parks beset by the Big Five, all seasoned with some of the best food and wine in the southern hemisphere. Start in Cape Town, a 12-hour flight from Britain but with just two hours' time difference. January and February, the hottest months, are when the city moves outdoors. Nose around the shops on Long and Kloof Streets, zip up Table Mountain for startling views over the Cape, and join the beautiful people for a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc at Camps Bay. Sober up with a dose of Apartheid history on Robben Island, or head inland for more spectacular wines and Michelin-starred meals surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Winelands.
More fabulous beaches stretch along the Garden Route, while the best wildlife viewing is in Kruger Park, where private lodges provide the ultimate secluded bush experience, again with superb food and, yes, wine. The jagged Drakensberg mountains provide excellent hiking, while the languid wetlands of St Lucia are a sultry draw for bird- and hippo-watchers. Oh, and don't forget the wine.
Getting there
Virgin Atlantic (0870 380 2007, www.virgin-atlantic.com), British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) and South African Airways (0870 747 1111, www.flysaa.com) have direct flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Packages
Rainbow Tours (020 7226 1004, www.rainbowtours.co.uk) offers a two-week self-drive tour taking in Cape Town, the Winelands, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, plus three nights in Sabi Sands Wildlife Reserve, bordering Kruger Park, for £2,345 per person b & b, based on two sharing, including all flights, car hire and, in Sabi Sands, all meals and game-viewing activities.
More information
www.southafrica.net
Rather than pick 10 destinations that are simply somewhere
to flop on the beach, we have chosen places to suit more discerning
winter-sun seekers. So while Anguilla is a classic beach lover's
paradise, Dominica is for nature lovers, Cuba is for adventurous culture
seekers, Egypt is for classical culture lovers and Baja California is
for desert fans and sport fishermen.
The best of the Maldives is arguably under water and the
best of Miami Beach is definitely after dark. Thailand offers beaches
and the Bangkok buzz, South Africa adds terrific wildlife - and wine -
and in Dubai, holidaymakers tend to spend more time in air-conditioned
malls than they do on the sands fringing the Arabian Gulf.
Package prices are per person based on two sharing a
standard room in early February, including an economy return flight from
London and, unless stated otherwise, are for a week.
1. Anguilla
Why go?Because this flat and scrubby little island boasts some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean - long curvaceous stretches of dazzlingly white, sink-as-you-step, talcum-powder sands. And, although you won't have them entirely to yourself, they will be far from crowded: Anguilla is a very exclusive place to holiday. The island has many gourmet restaurants (rustic-chic Scilly Cay, which serves barbecued lobster on its own minuscule island, is the most fun); several of the region's best upmarket hotels (Cap Juluca, strung along a mile of sublime beach, is particularly good); and some of the most luxurious villas imaginable (locally, dubbed "supervillas"). Bear in mind, however, that aside from beaches, food and good snorkelling and diving, Anguilla offers few distractions.
Getting there
Fly to Antigua, then take a 45-minute local flight on to Anguilla. With a good connection, total travelling time is about 11 hours.
Packages
£2,825 b & b at Cap Juluca, or £1,405 room only at Ku, Cap Juluca's much more affordable sister hotel, which has spacious, minimalist suites on Shoal Bay East, the island's most popular beach. Prices through Caribtours (020 7751 0660, www.caribtours.co.uk).
More information
www.anguilla-vacation.com.
2. Dominica
Why go?To experience the Caribbean's natural landscapes at their most dramatic. Rent a Jeep, put on your walking boots and you will discover a towering interior covered in dense rainforest, thundering waterfalls and hidden, boiling lakes. Guides will take you to spots where you can view rare wild parrots and agouti (giant rodents), but you can also rely on visits from hummingbirds at the island's eco-friendly guesthouses. Dominica does have some spectacular beaches on its north coast, but they are likely to be a long drive from where you will be staying. The beaches and the island's welcoming Caribs - the Caribbean's last remaining indigenous tribe, with its own protected territory - appeared in the recent Pirates of the Caribbean films. This year should be a good one to visit Dominica, as the island is celebrating 30 years of independence from Britain, with events, such as a national hike, running throughout the year. However, Dominica isn't green for nothing - even in the dry winter season, expect some rain most days.
Getting there
Fly to one of the main Caribbean islands, such as Antigua, then take an inter-island flight on to Dominica. With a good connection, total travelling time is about 11 hours.
Packages
Caribbean Islands Club (020 8232 9781, www.carib-club.com) has several of the island's most enticing guesthouses on its books, such as Papillote and Exotica Cottages (£1,321 b & b).
More information
www.discoverdominica.com.
3. Cuba
Why go?It's the Caribbean at its most fascinating - an unlikely mixture of arcane Communist ways, decrepit vintage Cadillacs, faded Spanish colonial architecture, fantastic music everywhere you go and the world's best cigars. Don't hole up in a resort: they are bland and isolated, and you can find better beach hotels elsewhere. Visiting Cuba should be an adventure. With a week to spare, spend a few days in Havana. Stay in one of the renovated mansions in the old part of the city, which is gradually being restored to its former magnificence; hang out in classic bars once frequented by Hemingway; and, for a night out, take in a top salsa or jazz band.
After a few days, rent a car and head west down to Vinales valley, Cuba's most beautiful corner, where striking limestone outcrops rise out of tobacco-growing fields, then continue on to Trinidad, the island's showpiece colonial town.
Getting there
Virgin flies from Gatwick to Havana twice a week, taking just under 10 hours.
Packages
Trips Worldwide (0117 311 4400, www.tripsworldwide.co.uk) specialises in tailor-made fly-drive tours to Cuba: splitting time between Havana, Vinales and Trinidad. A 10-day trip in February, staying in mid-range characterful hotels mostly on a b & b basis, costs about £1,400, including car hire.
More information
www.cubatravel.cu
4. The Maldives
Why go?For Robinson Crusoe escapism, but with 21st-century comforts. Almost all the 90 or so hotels in the Indian Ocean archipelago occupy their own mini tropical island, ringed by sandy beaches and a milky blue lagoon. Moreover, the diving and snorkelling are fantastic - it can feel like swimming in a giant, natural aquarium. Choose a hotel on one of the bigger islands, where you're less likely to go stir crazy. One of the largest is Soneva Fushi, which offers casual-chic, eco-friendly luxury, outstanding food (much of the fruit and veg comes from the hotel's own organic garden) and a new astronomical observatory (free for guests to use).
If you're after somewhere cheaper, the three-/four-star Meerufenfushi, which is encircled by a mile of stunning beaches and has room for a football pitch (weekly matches between staff and guests) and even a golf driving range, is a good bet, as long as you go for a superior room or better.
Getting there
The only way to fly non-stop both ways is on charter flights (flying time around 11 hours). Alternatively, fly scheduled - Emirates, for example, has flights via Dubai with good connection times.
Packages
From £2,154 room only at Soneva Fushi flying scheduled, and £1,070 full board in a superior room at Meerufenfushi flying charter - prices through Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk).
More information
www.visitmaldives.com.
5. Miami
Why go?The South Beach part of Miami Beach is a compact, walkable adult playground, filled with gorgeous art deco hotels, fashionable restaurants, hip bars and cool nightclubs. In short, it's party central - and as such, the length of the flight aside, is perfect for a decadent long weekend.
Sip cocktails in the see-and-be-seen bars of hotels such as the Shore Club, the Delano and the Standard. Refer to www.cooljunkie.com/miami for the hottest clubs - they can be pretty snooty, so ask your hotel concierge to put you on guest lists. During the daytime, skip the beach, which has all the charm of a sand-covered motorway. Instead, café and gallery hop along pedestrian Lincoln Road Mall, or learn about South Beach's art deco architecture on informative walking tours conducted by the Miami Design Preservation League. Next weekend brings the large-scale annual Art Deco Weekend bash, with concerts, street theatre and parades on Ocean Drive of everything from vintage cars to dogs and their owners.
Getting there
Fly to Miami from Heathrow with British Airways, Virgin or American Airlines - flight time is around nine hours.
Packages
For four nights, £769 room only at the swanky Shore Club, or £569 b & b at the Park Central, an affordable, small-scale classic art deco property on Ocean Drive - prices through Trailfinders (0845 050 5871, www.trailfinders.com).
More information
www.gmcvb.com.
6. Dubai
Why go?For the top-notch upmarket resort hotels; for the shopping - the city has more than 40 malls; for the buzzing nightlife and first-rate restaurants - Gordon Ramsay's refined Verre tops the bill; and for the weather, which is normally as good as it gets for a winter-sun destination - in the mid- to high 20sC, sunny, with just the very occasional shower.
If the heat gets too much, head for the slopes and snow park of Ski Dubai, in the Mall of the Emirates.
The only blot (or blots) on the landscape is the ubiquitous building work, so choose your hotel carefully. Telegraph Travel readers' favourite resort hotel last year was the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach, which is one of the best in Dubai for families. Another option is the Madinat Jumeirah, a mock-ancient Arabian city threaded by waterways, with dozens of cafés and restaurants and its own souk. Neither complex is affected by nearby building work (though the Palm project is visible in the distance).
Getting there
There are 140 direct flights a week from Britain to Dubai, including some from a number of regional airports. The newest service is with Silverjet (0844 855 0111, www.flysilverjet.com), the estimable business-class-only airline (from £1,099 return). Flying time is around seven hours.
Packages
Through Seasons in Style (01244 202000, www.seasonsinstyle.com), £1,935 b & b at the Jumeirah Beach, or £2,155 b & b at Dar Al Masyaf, the most appealing of the hotels in the Madinat Jumeirah.
More information
www.dubaitourism.ae.
7. Baja California
Why go?Baja California (Lower California) is that long, narrow arm of Mexico that dangles southwards from the United States border between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California for about 775 miles. On the Pacific coast there are excellent long, wide beaches in the far north while the calm, clement inland Sea of Cortez laps some beautiful bays in the southern reaches. A highway runs from end to end, which makes for a great driving holiday - you can explore the whole length easily in 10 days.
Away from the beaches there are stunning deserts, colonial towns (Loreto and La Paz are lovely), world-class diving and sport fishing, vineyards - and little traffic.
Islands in the Sea of Cortez have empty, white-sand beaches as well as impressive marine life (turtles, dolphins, seals). Down in Los Cabos, the upmarket resorts of the south, you can take a gentle voyage on a beautiful Turkish-style gulet. There is sunshine all year at this latitude, but winter is more pleasant and the Cortez, while still warm, is not bath-water sickly.
In central Baja, between February and early April, you can see grey whales that have migrated here from the Arctic; they bask in the shallow, protected waters and calve off Ojo de Liebre, southwest of the town of Guerrero Negro and in Bahía Magdalena.
There is great snack food all over, and top-notch modern Mexican cuisine in Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, Mulejé, Punta Chivato, Ensenada and Tijuana.
Getting there
Fly to Mexico City and on to Tijuana, Guerrero Negro or Los Cabos. With good connections, total travelling time is about 13 hours.
Packages
Exsus Travel (020 7292 5060 www.exsus.com) can organise a 10-day adventure whale-watching trip to Baja California, including all flights, stopover in Mexico City, surfing lessons in Todos los Santos, sea kayaking and arm's-length encounters with grey whales in Magdalena Bay. From £2,995 per person.
More information
www.discoverbajacalifornia.com; www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Baja_California_Sur
8. Thailand
Why go?With its palm-fringed beauty, golden-templed spirituality, colourful cuisine - and wonderful white-sand beaches - Thailand is a firm favourite of the winter sun-seeking fraternity. February and March are two of the best months of the year in which to visit, particularly the resorts along the Andaman coast. Temperatures are warm (without being uncomfortably hot) and sunny weather is pretty much guaranteed.
Head for the island of Phuket or resorts such as Ko Lanta, Krabi, Phi Phi and Khao Lak. In addition to larger luxury hotels, there's a growing number of reasonably priced boutique-style properties.
Farther north, the weather is bright and crisp in Chiang Mai and the "golden triangle" close to Chiang Rai: perfect for elephant-trekking, walking in the hills, dipping a toe into Laos and Burma or simply indulging in some invigorating massage therapy.
Getting there
The following airlines all offer direct services to Bangkok (approx 12 hours): Thai Airways International (0870 60 60 911, www.thaiairways.com), Eva Air (020 7380 8300, www.evaair.com), British Airways (0870 850 9 850, www.ba.com) and Qantas (0845 7 747 767, www.qantas.com).
Packages
Tropical Locations (0845 277 3310, www.tropical-locations.com) offers an 11-night trip including stays in Bangkok, the Golden Triangle, Chiang Mai and Phuket, all international and internal flights, transfers, breakfasts and some sightseeing, from £1,895 per person; and a 13-night package, with three nights in Bangkok and 10 nights on Krabi, from £1,345 per person. Prices are valid for travel between January and March. Kuoni (01306 747001, www.kuoniworldclass.co.uk) offers a seven-night trip to the Evason Hua Hin & Six Senses Spa at Hua Hin, room only, including flights, from £1,299 per person; and a six-night stay on Phi Phi (with an extra night on Phuket), from £1,433 per person.
More information
www.tourismthailand.org
9. Egypt
Why go?Seeing Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at London's O2 might give you a glimpse of ancient Egyptian culture, but nothing can compare with learning about the bewitching world of hieroglyphics and jackal-headed gods among the tombs and desert sands of Egypt itself. Luxor, with winter temperatures in the mid-20s, is slightly warmer than Cairo and the best base for exploring the Valleys of the Kings and Queens and the great temple at Karnak, or for joining a cruise down the Nile to Aswan and Abu Simbel. Both the Old Winter Palace and Maritime Jolie Ville hotels in Luxor have lovely gardens for R&R after sightseeing. Or spend a few days on the beach at a Red Sea resort such as Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada where there is superb snorkelling and diving - though it can be windy in February and March. The Egyptian pound is linked to the US dollar, so your money goes a long way.
Getting there
There are numerous charter flights direct to Luxor and Red Sea resorts; GB Airways (www.gbairways.com) to Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada; daily scheduled flights to Cairo with British Airways (www.britishairways.com) and Egypt Air (www.egyptair.com), with onward connections.
Packages
A two-week trip, with a Nile cruise and a week's b & b at the Maritime Jolie Ville hotel in Luxor costs from £889 per person, including a return flight and all meals and sightseeing on the cruise. £1,999 buys you a Nile cruise on a luxury boutique ship, three nights' b & b in Cairo and four nights' b & b at a five-star Red Sea hotel - return flight included. Both through Discover Egypt (0844 880 0462, www.discoveregypt.co.uk).
More information
www.egypt.travel
10. South Africa
Why go?For its exhilarating blend of marvellous scenery, multicultural cities and vast game parks beset by the Big Five, all seasoned with some of the best food and wine in the southern hemisphere. Start in Cape Town, a 12-hour flight from Britain but with just two hours' time difference. January and February, the hottest months, are when the city moves outdoors. Nose around the shops on Long and Kloof Streets, zip up Table Mountain for startling views over the Cape, and join the beautiful people for a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc at Camps Bay. Sober up with a dose of Apartheid history on Robben Island, or head inland for more spectacular wines and Michelin-starred meals surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Winelands.
More fabulous beaches stretch along the Garden Route, while the best wildlife viewing is in Kruger Park, where private lodges provide the ultimate secluded bush experience, again with superb food and, yes, wine. The jagged Drakensberg mountains provide excellent hiking, while the languid wetlands of St Lucia are a sultry draw for bird- and hippo-watchers. Oh, and don't forget the wine.
Getting there
Virgin Atlantic (0870 380 2007, www.virgin-atlantic.com), British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) and South African Airways (0870 747 1111, www.flysaa.com) have direct flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Packages
Rainbow Tours (020 7226 1004, www.rainbowtours.co.uk) offers a two-week self-drive tour taking in Cape Town, the Winelands, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, plus three nights in Sabi Sands Wildlife Reserve, bordering Kruger Park, for £2,345 per person b & b, based on two sharing, including all flights, car hire and, in Sabi Sands, all meals and game-viewing activities.
More information
www.southafrica.net
