Summer may feel like the priority right now, but the best winter getaway tends to sell out well before the season arrives. Whether you are drawn to snow, winter sun, festive atmosphere, or tropical escapes, planning ahead opens up the best options and the best prices. Here are four destinations worth putting on your radar for this years winter getaway.
1. Hit the Slopes with a Val Thorens Ski Holiday
For reliable snow, quality runs, and a genuinely lively mountain atmosphere, few resorts can match Val Thorens. Sitting at 2,300 metres, the highest ski village in Europe, it enjoys a season that runs from November through to May and has been voted the World’s Best Ski Resort ten times in the last twelve editions of the World Ski Awards. The resort gives access to over 600 kilometres of pistes across Les Trois Vallées, covering everything from beginner slopes to demanding black runs. A Val Thorens ski holiday is also well suited to non-skiers, with spa hotels, snowshoeing, toboggan runs and a vivid après-ski scene all part of the mix.
2. Chase the Winter Sun in the Canary Islands
For those who would rather swap snow for sunshine, the Canary Islands are hard to beat. Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria all sit off the north-west coast of Africa and maintain temperatures around 20–22°C through December, January, and February. With direct ferries from the UK, the Canaries offer reliable warmth without the long-haul commitment, and the volcanic landscapes, beaches, and outdoor activities make them far more varied than a simple sun holiday.
3. Explore Festive Magic in Central Europe
Vienna, Prague, and Budapest all come into their own in winter. Their Christmas markets, running throughout Advent, fill historic squares with mulled wine, handmade crafts, and festive lighting against backdrops of some of Europe’s most striking architecture. Each city also offers excellent museums, thermal spas in Budapest’s case, and an abundance of cafés perfect for slow, atmospheric days. A long weekend in any of them is one of the most culturally rewarding winter getaway available from the UK.
4. Escape to Warmer Shores in the Caribbean
For a fully different kind of winter, the Caribbean is the benchmark for guaranteed sunshine and high-end beach holidays. Barbados, St Lucia, and Antigua all offer warm seas, lush scenery, and a strong range of resorts between December and March, which is the islands’ dry season and peak travel period. The long-haul flight is offset by the knowledge that weather uncertainty is essentially off the table.
Whatever your preference, the window for securing the best winter options opens earlier than most people expect.
