Joanna Booth uncovers the winter sun hotspots for the 2008/09 season, including destinations in North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean
As the rain sets in and the evenings draw in, we all start to yearn for a break from the UK weather. If it’s winter sun you’re after, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
North Africa
A combination of great weather and competitive prices is sending more travellers flocking to Egypt, with its popularity reflected by the amount of operators offering product of all kinds.
Kosmar has launched a dedicated winter sun brochure for Egypt, with departures valid from November 2008 to April 2009. It features 16 three to five-star properties in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, plus pre-bookable excursions including Cairo, Petra, boat trips and snorkelling.
Classic Collection has expanded its winter sun options in Egypt and launched a year-round stand-alone brochure for the country, which has led to a huge increase in bookings – up 197% year on year.
Meanwhile, Libra Holidays has launched winter long-stays of 21 and 35 nights in Sharm, Olympic Holidays has added three new three-star hotels on the Red Sea Riviera, and Hayes and Jarvis has a further five in Egypt in its 2009 Worldwide Collection brochure.
On the flight front, November 5 will see Flyglobespan launch its new route between Glasgow and Hurghada and a new 14-night cruise-and-stay package taking in Hurghada and a journey down the Nile. Jet2 launched flights to Sharm from Leeds Bradford and Manchester in June.
Tunisia and Morocco are gaining in popularity. Both are top winter short-haul sellers for TUI Travel.
Thomas Cook director of product Tony Hopkins said North African destinations are likely to benefit from the backlash against the euro exchange rate.
Classic Collection is offering winter sun holidays to Tunisia for the first time, with nine properties, a four-day desert safari and holidays to the island of Djerba.
Hayes and Jarvis will move into Morocco from September, with a six-strong hotel portfolio in Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains, and Sovereign has added the destination as a short-break option.
The Middle East
The Middle East provides established resorts such as Dubai (where Kuoni and Premier Holidays have added hotels) and lesser-known countries such as Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, both of which are newly featured by Premier.
Europe
In Europe, the Canaries are perennial winter sun favourites, with TUI Travel, Thomas Cook and Classic Collection reporting strong sales, and Teleticket expanding its programme to include 10 additional departures from Scotland.
The Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo are also tipped for a successful winter by a number of operators. The over-55s market could be tempted by bargains from Grand UK Holidays, with a 21-day package to Benidorm costing less than £37 a night.
As the bucket-and-spade brigade prepare to flock to European coasts, Sovereign has introduced a cities programme in Spain and Italy, and Classic Collection is offering Rome, Venice, Siena and Florence for the first time in its winter sun brochure.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean has seen strong bookings, with the appeal of its white sand and azure seas only increased by the strong dollar exchange rate – although the impact of last month’s tragic murder of British honeymoon couple Ben and Catherine Mullany in Antigua remains to be seen.
In Jamaica, SuperClubs opened a Rooms resort in Negril last month, and Couples Tower Isle reopens after a $22 million renovation project in January 2009.
First Choice will offer fortnightly direct flights from Birmingham to Aruba this winter, in addition to its services from Gatwick and Manchester. Meanwhile, Premier is adding Turks and Caicos to its brochure for the first time.
Winter sun alternatives
For a beach alternative, why not book Cape Verde? From November, Holiday Options will fly from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester with its programme based on the islands of Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente.
Holiday Options sales and marketing director Rupert Diggins said: “Cape Verde is up and coming. We have high expectations for the winter.” (For more on the destination, see Travel Weekly’s recent feature on Cape Verde island-hopping.)
Thomson is featuring Boa Vista for the first time this winter, with packages leaving from Gatwick.
For a cheap winter break, suggest Turkey. Outside the eurozone and with average winter temperatures of 20C, there are great bargains to be had. Artemis Travel is offering two-bedroom apartments from £100 a week.
For an antidote to fly and flop, Explore is targeting the winter sun market with its Beyond Jerusalem’s Walls break, departing December 4, taking in famous biblical sights such as the Wailing Wall, the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem.
Winter sun cruises
Taking a cruise is a popular winter sun option and there are many launches to tempt clients this year.
MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia, which is due to launch in December, will be the biggest European-owned ship out there, with capacity for 3,900 passengers. It will also be the first to have a ‘Yacht Club’ VIP area with six-star butler service.
The ship will take advantage of the southern Mediterranean sun with two nine-day itineraries, one departing December 20 from Genoa, visiting Rhodes, Alexandria, Messina/Taormina and Naples, from £905, and another departing January 28 from Genoa, visiting Barcelona, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga and Civitavecchia/Rome, from £965. Both prices include flights and transfers.
Hebridean International Cruises has new winter itineraries on Hebridean Spirit further afield. Passengers can spend 12 nights exploring natural wonders from the Seychelles to South Africa from £8,668 twin-share.
They will see coral atolls, dense rainforest, giant turtles and hippos – what could be a better antidote to the winter blues?
For those who like a tipple too, the 16-night Winelands and Wildlife of South Africa cruise starts at £10,420 twin-share. See the big five, learn Zulu fighting, dancing and cookery and taste plenty of wine.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jade will operate three winter cruises departing from Barcelona. The nine-night break visits the Canaries and Morocco, while the 12-night option takes in a large swathe of the eastern Mediterranean, including Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Malta and Madeira.
The two can also be combined into a 21-night cruise, from £1,399. In addition, the Festive Mediterranean itinerary cruises over Christmas with visits to Italy, Egypt, Greece and Turkey starting from £1,699.
