Winter sun escapes

Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Two hours by jumbo jet into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – well, it feels like it – the nine tropical islands of the Azores are warm all year round, although you may need a jumper in January. The ravines and rocks contrast with the lush green meadows, bursts of coloured flowers and tone settlements dating back to the archipelago’s first visitors in the 1400s. Local specialities include fine liquors, cheeses and cakes.

Book with Sunvil (020 8758 4722/http://azores-holidays.sunvil.co.uk).

Beirut, Lebanon

After five thousand years of civilisation, Beirut still trembles with political conflict; but be a bit daring, and you’ll get to discover Lebanon’s capital before the crowds do. The ‘Paris of the East’, its museums and bars match those of many European cities, and Beirut’s restaurants are said to serve the best houmous in the Middle East. Visit in April or October, when the heat is in the moderate 20s.

Book with bmi (0870 6070 555/www.flybmi.com).

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town combines a sultry Mediterranean climate with African culture and a dramatic natural setting. Refugees from the grey northern winter come here frequently for the white sand beaches and the internationally famed wine valleys. Those with a taste for adventure can go diving with great white sharks, or hike to the peak of Table Mountain, where its spectacular national park stretches into the sky for over a kilometre.

Book with Virgin Holidays (0844 557 5825/www.virginholidays.co.uk).

Read our full Cape Town online city guide for information about hotels, restaurants, festivals and events, getting there and more.

Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Founded in 1549, Salvador was Brazil’s most important city for the next three centuries. Even then, it was renowned for its decadence and sensuality, and colonial buildings – some peeling and evocative, some prettified – remain the backdrop to wild street festivals, beating drum music and capoeira circles. Cool off in the tropical waters along the coast and follow your nose from the plazas to refuel with the city’s delicious African cuisine.

Book with Steppes Travel (01285 880980/www.steppestravel.co.uk).

Cancún, Mexico

The Miami of Mexico, Cancún is a more exotic version of its Floridian cousin; white-sand beach stretches around the vast lagoon of Nichupte for 22 kilometres. If you can bear to lose sight of the Caribbean, try a jungle tour in the mangrove near Puerto Morelos, and visit one of the many ancient Maya ruins; the Yucatán peninsula where Cancún is found is home to the sites of Uxmal, Kabah, Labna, Sayil, Dzibilchaltun and the impressive ceremonial grounds of Chichen Itza.

Book with Asda Travel (www.asda-travel.co.uk).

Dominican Republic, Caribbean

The Caribbean is for serious summery sunshine all year round. For vast stretches of deserted white-sand beaches, head to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Dotted with palm trees, it is surprisingly easy to walk the coast for miles without seeing anyone but the odd local sitting in the shade with a machete and mound of fresh coconuts. Inland, the mountainous rainforest offers respite from the heat and a spectacular drive that’s well worth missing a day on the beach for.

Book with Thomas Cook (0871 895 0055/www.thomascook.com).

Gambia – Kololi or Kotu

There may be no time lag to Gambia, but the six-hour flight will take you from the middle of the European winter to the height of the African summer. The palm-fringed beaches and fashionable hotels essential to any lazy summer holiday are found in Kololi and Kotu, but it would be a pity not to take advantage of a stay in this exotic land (a fave with repeat visitors – which is always proof of quality) to discover the wildlife in its parks, mangroves and islands.

Book with Gambia Experience (0845 330 2060/www.gambia.co.uk).

Fez, Morocco

If you’re travelling through seasons, you might as well travel through time. Fez was Morocco’s capital in medieval times, and little has changed since then. Stay at one of the restored palaces – Dar Roumana is a delight (www.darroumana.com) – and prepare for sensory overload. Artisans labour in colourful shopping streets as they have for hundreds of years, and the donkey is still the chosen means of transport.

Book with Atlas Blue (020 7307 5803/www.atlas-blue.com).

Sinai, Egypt

There are two ways of visiting Sinai. You can opt for a luxury resort in the spectacular diving and pampering capital Sharm El Sheikh, or join a camel safari on a rustic desert adventure to Mount Sinai, where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. Either way, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine, as even in winter the temperature peaks at 26 degrees.

Book with Co-op Travel (for a budget beach break; 01922 700 007/www.cooptravel.co.uk/Egypt); Baobab Travel (for a camel safari; 0121 314 6011/www.baobabtravel.com).

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Tenerife, the island of the eternal spring and to some the eternal party, is the largest of the Canary Islands and only a 4-5-hour flight from the UK (often included in outrageously cheap package deals). Its golden beaches may be as busy as its bars, but you can leave the resorts for a dramatic hike up Pico del Teide, the tallest peak in the Atlantic, or head north for quieter spots of cheap-rate paradise.

Book with Holiday Hypermarket (0800 916 5100/www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk/tenerife).