Winter sun

Thanks to an expansion of budget flights and airlines it’s now easier than ever to escape to the sunshine for a welcome break from winter in the UK. Book early and you can even get some great deals over the Christmas period.

Short haul

If you don’t crave tropical heat then there are several destinations in Europe that offer temperatures that are warm enough to give you a glow. These include the Mediterranean coast in France (average temperatures to 15ºC), Portugal and Madeira (average temperatures to 19ºC in the Algarve region), the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza (average temperatures to 18ºC) and mainland Spain (average temperatures to 23ºC on the Costa Del Sol, Costa Brava or Costa Brava). While you may not be able to brave the sea in these areas – the Atlantic can be very choppy and cold, for example – even a long weekend in milder weather can take the edge off the recent cold spots in Britain (last winter saw the thermometer dip to below 0ºC in the UK).

If you crave a little more exotic culture then the southern areas of Morocco are a good choice. A flight from London to Agadir takes little more then three hours and offers several seaside destinations along the coast that can see temperatures of around 30ºC. Combine your trip with a visit to shopping hot spots such as Essaouira and Marrakech and you get to come home with some great cultural souvenirs too.

Long haul

Push your flight time to around 7-11 hours, with at least a week away, and you can expand your horizons to include US destinations such as Florida (average temperatures to 26ºC). India, Malaysia and Thailand offer more heat (average temperatures to 34ºC) with the marked difference of culture and opportunity to get off the beaten track offering a truly refreshing experience for some weary Brits. Similarly the Caribbean offers dry winters with around nine hours of sunshine a day (average temperatures to 27ºC). If you want to laze on a beach and sip on cocktails, then this is the perfect place for you.

Head in the other direction and you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Central and South America. Don’t forget about great events such as the Rio Carnival in Brazil (2-5 February 2008), adding even more colour to your winter sun holiday.

For those who have more time on their hands – perhaps an extended break of 2-3 weeks over Christmas and the New Year – then Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia are at their hottest during our winter season. Direct flight times from London to Sydney currently come in at around 22 hours with some stopover flights taking over a day, so do allow for this. However, you could break your trip up with a day or two in another exciting destination such as Hong Kong or Singapore.

Staying insured

Whichever ‘hot spot’ you choose make sure you don’t leave without adequate travel insurance.

Please note that our policies exclude some countries from cover – for example, if you choose a destination where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk) has advised against ‘all travel’ you should check prior to booking any trips. At Direct Line you can choose from Single Trip, Annual – perfect if you want to take several trips a year – or Discoverer travel insurance, if you’re going away for a few months. Single trip policies cover you from 1 to 90 days if you are aged less than 60 years old, or up to 42 days if you are over 60 years old. Annual policies are available to those who are less than 74 years old and cover you for up to 120 days travel per year but with an individual trip limit of 42 days. Discoverer policies cover you from 91 days up to 365 days in Europe or 550 days worldwide, with an upper age limit of 54 years old, including temporary casual work placements of up to 90 days at a time.

All our policies include medical cover and insure against loss or theft of personal belongings, cancellation, curtailment and a range of activities that are covered at no extra cost, plus you can add winter sports insurance (not available on Discoverer policies) if you intend to ski or snowboard (check out our guide on winter sports destinations for inspiration on where to go). You can find out more about these policies through our online travel insurance policy documents where the full terms and conditions are available.

To benefit from Direct Line travel cover, go online for a travel insurance quote today.

If you would like helpful tips about planning your holiday and staying safe while you’re away. Why not visit the tips and advice section.