Top Ten Destinations For Late Deal Holidays
With the UK recording one of the wettest summers ever in 2009, its little wonder that many people feel cheated out of their summer holidays. With spirits low and the thoughts of cold dark mornings and long rainy evenings ahead, more and more of us find our thoughts turning to the prospect of finding late deal holidays.
Winter sun resorts are usually found at the other end of a long haul flight; but this doesn't always have to be the case. Cape Verde, Morocco and Egypt are all within a 6 hour flight from of the UK and are some of the best places to start looking for your late deal holidays.
1. Morocco: Found on the North West coast of Africa and benefitting from 300 days of sunshine a year, Morocco is a colourful, aromatic mix of beautiful beaches, fascinating Kasbahs and classic architecture. Choose from a relaxing beach break in Agadir or the magical city of Marrakech with animated markets, friendly people and bargains to be bartered for. With a three hour flight from the UK making Morocco the perfect choice for late deal holidays this winter.
2. Egypt: The breathtaking Red Sea region of Egypt is just a 5 hour flight from the UK, and provides endless sandy beaches, outstanding scuba diving and snorkelling facilities and a wonderful selection of first class hotels. Although initially famous for its iconic pyramids, fascinating temples, empowering River Nile and medieval bazaars, Egypt is also a country which is rich in beauty and warm in hospitality.
3. Cape Verde: Here's a chance to enjoy the exotic beaches of the Caribbean without the long flight. Cape Verde lies just off the west coast of Africa (further down from the Canaries) and is made up of ten small volcanic islands and five tiny islets; combining a baron landscape and deserted beaches with fertile green fields and spectacular mountain ranges to perfection. Whether it's lively and colourful Santiago or the serene islet of Boa Vista you choose, late deal holidays to Cape Verde are the ideal winter destination.
4. Florida: Clearwater Beach is on Florida's west coast and is in the Guinness World Record books for having the most consecutive sunny days; 361 days of endless sunshine make this resort the ideal winter sun destination. Perfectly situated for Universal Studios and Disney World its wide sandy beaches shelve gently into the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico making it just right for swimming.
5. Jamaica: The third largest of the Caribbean islands and possibly the most vibrant. A riot of green, red and gold, with a reggae spirit that lies at the very heart of this islands musical beat. The legendary bob Marley Museum is one of Jamaica's most iconic attractions, and the easy pace of life, white sandy beaches, tropical mountain blooms and blue mountain peaks help to create the perfect winter paradise. Peak season here is December to April so kick off those shoes, let down your hair and get ready to dance to the relaxing reggae beat.
6. Kenya: Kenya has some of Africa's best beaches and most stunning scenery, from the white edged shores of the Indian Ocean to the tips of the striking Mount Kenya, the landscape is breathtaking and swarming with captivating wildlife and fascinating alpine plants. The rolling Savannah that stretches between is home to game parks such as Tsavo East and West, Samburu, Masai Mara and Amboseli. Exploring these could mean a glimpse of some of the most exciting wild animals in the world, all living in their natural habitat.
7. Goa: Possibly the best time to visit Goa is between October and February when you'll be spoilt by a near perfect climate. Edging the Arabian Sea in India, this former Portuguese colony blends European trends with Asian culture to perfection and has long been popular with foreign visitors. The laid back pace of life from the relaxing spirit of its hippy heydays in the sixties is still very much in evidence today.
8. Sri Lanka: A teardrop shaped island nestling just off the coast of India, Sri Lanka has it all... endless white sands fringed with palm trees, and abundant mountain greenery. The island is awash with bird sanctuaries and national parks where you could see leopards, wild boar and elephants enjoying life in their natural habitat. With no less than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites this perfect island is possibly as near to paradise as you are likely to get on late deal holidays this winter.
9. St Lucia: One of the Caribbean's Windward Islands, St Lucia is cushioned between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and a close neighbour of Barbados. The volcanic island scenery is offset by the twin peaks of the Pitons which can be climbed on guided tours offering amazing views of the bay below. Temperatures can reach the lower eighties during winter months which makes St Lucia an ideal late deal holiday's destination.
10. Mexico: This Central American country connects North America to the south and is full of colour and life. Leisure time and families are the main priorities in Mexican life so you know you will receive an unbelievably warm welcome from the people here. Whilst still getting over the recent outbreak of Swine Flu, prices in Mexico are very competitive in a bid to bring back any tourism they may have lost, so now is the ideal time to look for late deal holidays to Mexico.
There's no reason you should wait for summer to come round again next year though, who's to say it will be worth waiting for anyway...look for late deal holidays now and treat yourself to some much needed winter sunshine. You can relax and recharge your batteries and prepare yourself for the impending stress of Christmas on a heavenly tropical beach. Whatever your budget is, there's a winter sun holiday out there with your name on it.
Winter sun resorts are usually found at the other end of a long haul flight; but this doesn't always have to be the case. Cape Verde, Morocco and Egypt are all within a 6 hour flight from of the UK and are some of the best places to start looking for your late deal holidays.
1. Morocco: Found on the North West coast of Africa and benefitting from 300 days of sunshine a year, Morocco is a colourful, aromatic mix of beautiful beaches, fascinating Kasbahs and classic architecture. Choose from a relaxing beach break in Agadir or the magical city of Marrakech with animated markets, friendly people and bargains to be bartered for. With a three hour flight from the UK making Morocco the perfect choice for late deal holidays this winter.
2. Egypt: The breathtaking Red Sea region of Egypt is just a 5 hour flight from the UK, and provides endless sandy beaches, outstanding scuba diving and snorkelling facilities and a wonderful selection of first class hotels. Although initially famous for its iconic pyramids, fascinating temples, empowering River Nile and medieval bazaars, Egypt is also a country which is rich in beauty and warm in hospitality.
3. Cape Verde: Here's a chance to enjoy the exotic beaches of the Caribbean without the long flight. Cape Verde lies just off the west coast of Africa (further down from the Canaries) and is made up of ten small volcanic islands and five tiny islets; combining a baron landscape and deserted beaches with fertile green fields and spectacular mountain ranges to perfection. Whether it's lively and colourful Santiago or the serene islet of Boa Vista you choose, late deal holidays to Cape Verde are the ideal winter destination.
4. Florida: Clearwater Beach is on Florida's west coast and is in the Guinness World Record books for having the most consecutive sunny days; 361 days of endless sunshine make this resort the ideal winter sun destination. Perfectly situated for Universal Studios and Disney World its wide sandy beaches shelve gently into the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico making it just right for swimming.
5. Jamaica: The third largest of the Caribbean islands and possibly the most vibrant. A riot of green, red and gold, with a reggae spirit that lies at the very heart of this islands musical beat. The legendary bob Marley Museum is one of Jamaica's most iconic attractions, and the easy pace of life, white sandy beaches, tropical mountain blooms and blue mountain peaks help to create the perfect winter paradise. Peak season here is December to April so kick off those shoes, let down your hair and get ready to dance to the relaxing reggae beat.
6. Kenya: Kenya has some of Africa's best beaches and most stunning scenery, from the white edged shores of the Indian Ocean to the tips of the striking Mount Kenya, the landscape is breathtaking and swarming with captivating wildlife and fascinating alpine plants. The rolling Savannah that stretches between is home to game parks such as Tsavo East and West, Samburu, Masai Mara and Amboseli. Exploring these could mean a glimpse of some of the most exciting wild animals in the world, all living in their natural habitat.
7. Goa: Possibly the best time to visit Goa is between October and February when you'll be spoilt by a near perfect climate. Edging the Arabian Sea in India, this former Portuguese colony blends European trends with Asian culture to perfection and has long been popular with foreign visitors. The laid back pace of life from the relaxing spirit of its hippy heydays in the sixties is still very much in evidence today.
8. Sri Lanka: A teardrop shaped island nestling just off the coast of India, Sri Lanka has it all... endless white sands fringed with palm trees, and abundant mountain greenery. The island is awash with bird sanctuaries and national parks where you could see leopards, wild boar and elephants enjoying life in their natural habitat. With no less than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites this perfect island is possibly as near to paradise as you are likely to get on late deal holidays this winter.
9. St Lucia: One of the Caribbean's Windward Islands, St Lucia is cushioned between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and a close neighbour of Barbados. The volcanic island scenery is offset by the twin peaks of the Pitons which can be climbed on guided tours offering amazing views of the bay below. Temperatures can reach the lower eighties during winter months which makes St Lucia an ideal late deal holiday's destination.
10. Mexico: This Central American country connects North America to the south and is full of colour and life. Leisure time and families are the main priorities in Mexican life so you know you will receive an unbelievably warm welcome from the people here. Whilst still getting over the recent outbreak of Swine Flu, prices in Mexico are very competitive in a bid to bring back any tourism they may have lost, so now is the ideal time to look for late deal holidays to Mexico.
There's no reason you should wait for summer to come round again next year though, who's to say it will be worth waiting for anyway...look for late deal holidays now and treat yourself to some much needed winter sunshine. You can relax and recharge your batteries and prepare yourself for the impending stress of Christmas on a heavenly tropical beach. Whatever your budget is, there's a winter sun holiday out there with your name on it.