Whether you’re dreaming of lying on the beach, hiking through the rainforest or getting a dose of culture along with your vitamin D, these 10 hot destinations make the perfect winter escapes…
Jamaica
Balmy temperatures, bathtub-warm waters and white-hot beaches – the sultry Caribbean island of Jamaica is the perfect antidote to winter blues. There’s more here than just sunshine and gorgeous beaches, too: Jamaica is a treasure trove of natural beauty, including sparkling waterfalls, emerald forests and soaring mountains.
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View BookMallorca, Spain
Year-round sunshine makes Mallorca the ultimate winter escape. The beaches are without doubt the main attraction, but the mountains are also great for hiking and biking. There are resorts to suit all visitors, whether you’re looking for somewhere relaxed like Port de Pollença or prefer to stay in style at glamorous Port d’Andratx. Plus, you’ll be well fed with countless award-winning restaurants and traditional food spots across the island.
DK Top 10 Mallorca
View BookKo Phi Phi, Thailand
Located 25 miles south of Krabi Town, spectacular Ko Phi Phi (pronounced “PP”) is made up of two separate islands: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The islands are famed for their swoon-worthy landscapes (Danny Boyle's The Beach (2000) was filmed here) and the breathtaking cliffs are popular with rock climbers. Nature lovers will find a haven in the coral beds, which teem with sea life.
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View BookThe Maldives
Clear blue skies over pristine white-sand beaches; coconut palms and fruit trees swaying in the gentle breeze; spectacular sunsets reflecting off turquoise lagoons... The Maldives are the perfect place to leave behind the stressful realities of modern life and experience total rest and relaxation. This clutch of idyllic tropical islands in the Indian Ocean is nothing short of paradise.
Miami and the Keys, USA
Sizzling Miami, with its unbeatable beaches, Art Deco architecture and hedonistic nightlife, is Florida’s most glamorous city. To the south, the Keys are a string of islands fringed with white-sand beaches. Just offshore lies the Florida Reef, a great wall of living coral with a dazzling array of marine life.
DK Eyewitness Top 10 Miami and the Keys
View BookNicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
If you love your sun with surf, head to the Nicoya Peninsula where the beautiful beaches are thrashed by Pacific breakers. The region’s premier resort is Tamarindo, where the well-regarded Witch’s Rock Surf School teaches novices to ride the waves and the beach is protected as part of a prime nesting site of the leatherback turtle.
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View BookCape Town and the Winelands, South Africa
Perched at the foot of Africa, Cape Town is the perfect place to soak up the sun while you hike, surf or simply relax. Within an hour’s drive from the city are hundreds of wine estates, where you can sample vintages in centuries-old manor houses or bold modern buildings decked out with local art.
DK Top 10 Cape Town and the Winelands
View BookKerala, India
Through December–February, the weather in Kerala is warm and dry making it the perfect time to explore this lush backwater landscape. Cruise along still green waters framed by rice paddies and dense coconut groves. Life here moves at the pace of a crawl in comparison to India’s frantic cities, making it the perfect place to slow down this winter.
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View BookSydney, Australia
For a city break that combines relaxed outdoor living with the energy and buzz of a sprawling metropolis, head to Sydney. You’ll have the choice between spending your days chilling on the glorious sandy beaches and in the harmonious green spaces, or exploring all the incredible sights the city has to offer.
DK Top 10 Sydney
View BookGran Canaria, Spain
Basking in eternal sunshine, Gran Canaria is the ideal sub-tropical getaway for winter. Here, you’ll find luxurious resorts and beautiful beaches aplenty, plus the capital is full of chic cafés and top-tier restaurants. The island is also a world-class hiking destination: explore sharp-tooth volcanoes, sapphire lakes, plunging ravines and ancient caves.
DK Top 10 Gran Canaria
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