Add a little action to a sunny escape, suggests Katie McGonagle
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Keep a diary of the average winter-sun break and it’ll probably go something like this. Day one: stretch out smugly on a sun-lounger, sip daiquiris by the pool, maybe take a quick dip if you’re feeling energetic.
Day two: read a few more chapters, switch to rum punch instead, start feeling a slight twinge of restlessness.
Day three: boredom sets in, and suddenly that long-awaited week of relaxation starts to feel a lot less exciting.
That’s before even taking into account long-suffering partners or broods of bored children who can’t stand sitting by the pool all day. Luckily most destinations have more to offer than just fine weather, so here’s a look at how to have a little more fun in the sun.
Dubai: Desert dreams
Sun: Stellar service is the mantra of Dubai’s top-flight hotels, so it’s well suited to clients who want to relax in guaranteed sunshine, never see the bottom of their glass and never lift a finger unless they really, really want to. Pick the best hotel they can afford within their budget, and check whether they want a central spot near the buzzing Dubai Marina and malls, or a quieter getaway outside the city centre on The Palm or at JA Resorts’ main Jebel Ali complex.
Fun: Joanne Lowery, Dubai and Arabia destination specialist at Gold Medal, says: “It’s not only the weather that makes Dubai the perfect destination for a winter break. With theme parks, water parks, desert safaris and city tours, there is so much to see and do to keep active.” One of the quickest ways to gain perspective is zooming to the 124th floor of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for unbeatable bird’s-eye views over the emirate (At the Top, from £25.56 through Gold Medal), or see it from the water on a dhow cruise departing from Dubai Marina (£36.67). If sunseekers can stand to be away from the beach a bit longer, suggest dune-bashing through the desert in a 4×4 or a camel safari (£93.33).
For the kids: Choose an action-packed hotel with good on-site facilities – Atlantis the Palm is home to Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers Aquarium, while Wild Wadi Water Park is free to guests of Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab, with one complimentary visit for those at other Jumeirah properties, or £46 for non-guests. If the sun gets too strong, head indoors to miniature world KidZania or gaming paradise Sega Republic, both in the Dubai Mall.
Book it: Five nights at the four-star JA Ocean View Resort starts at £659 with Gold Medal, based on two sharing on a B&B basis, flying Emirates from Heathrow on December 3.
Or try: Neighbour Oman offers a bewitching mix of historic forts and ancient cities, rolling deserts with Bedouin camps, and phenomenal marine life around the Musandam peninsula.
Mauritius: Isle of adventure
Sun: With an 870-metre-long main beach, a list of all-inclusive cocktails as extensive as its all-inclusive dining, and 19 acres of tropical gardens, the 286-room Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers has earned its credentials as a relaxing escape.
Fun: Mauritius is the most active destination in the Indian Ocean – albeit among some of the most tranquil islands in the world – with a lush green interior offering everything from zip-lining and quad biking to helicopter flights.Visitors who would rather stay in-resort can still get their hearts pumping with a range of watersports. At Club Med, this includes lessons in waterskiing, wakeboarding and sailing; beginners’ tuition in tennis, snorkelling and pilates; plus free access to kayaks, water polo and beach volleyball.
For the kids: Free clubs are provided six days a week for kids aged four or older, or at a supplement for younger tots, with activities ranging from sports and art to stage shows or songs. A teen-focused Junior Club Med runs on selected dates.
Book it: A week at Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers starts at £2,155 per adult and £1,155 per child over six (under-sixes stay free), with all-inclusive accommodation, flights from Gatwick, resort transfers and activities, departing February 15.
Or try: Jumeirah Vittaveli shows how to tailor the rest of the Indian Ocean to suit any level of activity. The Maldivian resort offers the Talise Spa and new outdoor cinema for those who like a quieter life, or excursions to neighbouring Maafushi Island and a five-star Padi dive centre with all manner of watersports for busier types.
Goa: Eastern promise
Sun: Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides says: “Goa’s beaches are among the best in the Indian Ocean. While it’s a vibrant destination in many respects, the resorts are laid-back in the extreme and the food is superb.“For many visitors, Goa is a gentle introduction to India. India can come as a huge culture shock for first-timers and Goa’s fascinating Portuguese heritage gives a feeling of familiarity. It also boasts a superb winter climate, where it’s hot enough to stretch out on the beach or by the pool but not too hot to take a long walk along the shore.”
Fun: Goa’s beaches have their share of activities, but the real fun lies in discovering its unique Portuguese-influenced culture. Explore Old Goa, once the state’s capital and centre of trade, and now a Unesco World Heritage Site boasting the region’s most impressive 17th-century Catholic churches. On top of that, there are historic forts, Hindu temples, a diverse art scene and a network of smaller villages well worth a visit. Olympic Holidays can pre-book excursions including Glimpses of Goa to visit the churches, a spice plantation and go shopping in colourful capital Panjim; or a Jungle Book tour to see elephants, experience a traditional Goan village and sample local food.
For the kids: It’s not a classic family destination, but for clients who want to introduce their children to India, it’s an easier gateway than elsewhere in the subcontinent and doesn’t require anti-malarial tablets.
Book it: Olympic Holidays offers a week’s B&B at the two-star Resort Lagoa Azul in Baga, North Goa, from £837 for two sharing a superior room in January, with Thomson Airways flights from Gatwick and transfers.
Or try: Thailand’s idyllic islands or mainland beaches are similarly complemented by a rich culture and history, plus outstanding snorkelling and diving in its coastal resorts.
Barbados: Easy does it
Sun: The Caribbean is the reigning winter-sun champion for good reason, and Barbados is a prime example. Whether overlooking the calm waters of the west coast or surfs and swells in the south, there’s no doubting the quality of Bajan beaches. Add its easygoing atmosphere and ready supply of iconic island brand Mount Gay rum and it’s a sure-fire hit.
Fun: What you get up to in Barbados all depends on your definition of fun. If it’s late-night partying with the locals, head to Oistins for the Friday night fish fry, open-air club Harbour Lights in capital Bridgetown, or dress up for Sugar Ultra Lounge at St Lawrence Gap.If clients are all about sport, guests of Bougainvillea Beach Resort get discounted green fees and the best tee times at nearby Barbados Golf Club, plus free use of paddle boards, kayaks, windsurfing and kitesurfing to take advantage of its south coast waves. Over on the west coast, Elegant Hotels Group member Tamarind has everything from sailing to deep-sea fishing, plus horse riding, mountain biking and helicopter tours. Or, if visitors would rather explore the island’s history than its landscapes, suggest Barbados Museum or a wander through George Washington House.
For the kids: Hotel choice is paramount for families. Sandals is opening a Beaches resort in northwest St Peter in 2015, but in the meantime, Bougainvillea Beach Resort offers a kids’ club, games room and outdoor playground with pet tortoises for playmates.
Book it: Funway Holidays offers a week at Bougainvillea Beach Resort in Christ Church on Barbados’ south coast from £899 room-only, with Thomas Cook flights from Manchester departing November 27.
Or try: Tobago’s white-sand shores are well loved by winter sunseekers – that’s why British Airways has added a second weekly flight from October 27 – but with the activities on offer at five-star resort the Magdalena Grand, it could be just as popular with active types too. The all-inclusive Grand Experience package includes tennis, nature walks, cycling and a scuba introduction, plus free shuttle bus to Pigeon Point Beach for kite surfing and ocean swimming.
Cape Verde: Winding down
Sun: With a short six-hour flight, Cape Verde suits those who want to jet off in the morning and be sunning themselves by mid-afternoon. The best beaches are on main tourist islands Sal or Boa Vista, both accessible from London, Manchester and, for the latter, Birmingham.
Fun: The tradewinds that first brought the Portuguese to these West African islands also make them a top choice for watersports enthusiasts, with pretty much every sport that needs a breeze available here. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are the most popular in the winter months, but snorkelling, turtle and whale-spotting, and game fishing are all possible. If that’s not enough to satisfy, use the regular flights and ferries to hop between the 10 islands. For colourful markets and equally colourful nightlife, try Santiago or São Vicente; or for great hiking, trek through Santiago’s mountainous interior or the active volcanic crater on Fogo.
For the kids: Cape Verde has a good selection of family-orientated hotels offering swimming pools, kids’ clubs and food to suit fussy eaters.
Book it: A week all-inclusive at four-star-plus Iberostar Club Boa Vista starts at £1,199 with The Cape Verde Experience, including flights from Manchester on December 11.
Or try: To Cape Verde’s northeast, Tunisia’s beach resorts have a similar fondness for watersports in every variety, especially in popular spots such as Hammamet, Monastir and Djerba.
