When thinking of holiday trends, the popularity of winter getaways has escalated considerably. The hectic and sweltering summer season is often traded for the peace of winter vacations. Tourists are spoilt for choices, be it a city exploration activity, basking in the sun at a beach, engaging guided tours, or adrenalizing ski slope experiences – every preference is catered for.
When it comes to soaking up the sun, the consistent balmy conditions of Spain’s Canary Islands have always been favoured by Irish folks in the winter months for the essential Vitamin D. Gran Canaria and Tenerife draw the most visitors during this period, with southern resorts on each island promising bountiful sunshine. In Gran Canaria, well-established sunny destinations such as Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico undoubtedly satisfy tourists’ criteria, alongside the serene Meloneras resort boasting impressive five-star accommodations. In Tenerife, tourists appreciate the luxury offered by the Mare Nostrum – a three-hotel resort situated a few minutes away from Tenerife Sud airport. Its five-star Mediterranean Palace offers a lavish experience with a colossal 1,200m pool and the famous Playa las Americas or the “golden mile” on your doorstep. Prices per night commencing from €200 are available on specified dates in October and November, with one-way Ryanair ticket starting from €25.
Winter holidays are synonymous with skiing for many people. Award-winning travel agency Topflight added a brand new location this year to its collection of snow-dusted destinations – the four-star Apartments Austria in Soll. This chic property combines modern amenities with the traditional aura of the Alps, perfect for exploring Wilder Kaiser. Fully fitted with modern comforts, onsite fresh bread service and an apres-ski bar, these apartments promise a delightful stay. Prices begin at €847 for four people sharing in March, inclusive of flights, transfers and the compulsory—yet highly convenient—Topflight resort manager service. The standout feature, though, is its prime location in the centre of the village. A short stroll from the ski bus stop, visitors have easy access to a staggering 270km of SkiWelt’s offering – Austria’s largest interconnected ski region.
During the peak of summer, Seville can often be too torrid for enjoyment, causing even the natives to abandon the city. However, an autumn trip in October or November, when the temperatures descend to a pleasant 20-ish degrees, offers an ideal opportunity for sightseeing. This includes climbing up the Giralda, the 12th-century bell tower of Seville Cathedral. Following the panoramic vistas, a hop-on hop-off tour bus offers a close and personal encounter with the city. It’s significantly cooler riding an open-top bus or taking a charming horse-drawn carriage when the temperature is not scorching at 40 degrees. You could spend three nights at an enchanting place like the Hotel Las Casas de la Juderias, located just a short walk from the Plaza de Espana, with prices starting at €748 for a three-night weekend in November. One-way flights are approximately €55 with Ryanair and slightly higher with Aer Lingus at the time of writing.
Alternatively, if you’re seeking a solo escapade during winter without complete isolation, Travel Department offers a Tenerife Coast and Country package from September to November. Offering more than just a beach retreat, this venture will allow you to explore the island, including the capital city Santa Cruz, the Unesco World Heritage site of La Laguna, the grand volcano Mount Teide, the striking cliffs of Los Gigantes, and the lively Playa de las Americas. In between excursions, there will be ample time for solo exploration or sunbathing. You choose how much or how little participation you prefer, with rates starting from €799 per person for half board, lodging in a three- or four-star hotel in the Mediterranean.
Exchange the bone-chilling winters of Ireland for the comparably milder sun-soaked winters of Malta, a Mediterranean island, where the island’s temperature lingers around 15 to 17 degrees mid-winter — a haven indeed for sun-starved folks. Favoring warmer environs? Opt for a stay in the capital, Valletta, the hottest corner of the island, its winter temperatures creating an ideal milieu for exploration. The Travel Department offers numerous guided tours throughout the year— a week-long hotel stay coupled with day tours of Mdina’s medieval city, a serene boat trip via historical harbours in the tri-cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua and a one-day escapade to the island of Gozo. Get captivated by Gozo’s highlights – the inland sea at Dwejra, the Citadel in Victoria and the ancient Ggantija Temples, all starting from €999 per person sharing.
Winter offers the perfect opportunity for an adventure to the frigid locales. This is particularly true for Iceland, a land in its most extreme form during winter. Relish days that start as late as 11 am and brace for nights that draw in as early as four hours later. This gives lots of free time to make merry at one of Reykjavík’s warm and inviting watering holes, an ideal place to whittle away the hours. Take advantage of the local tourist bus services which provide expeditions to the various waterfalls and heated geysers that pierce its ice-covered landscape. A late-night expedition to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights can be an exceptional experience, even though they might not always show up. Even without them, night-time in this desolate terrain offers a surreal experience that is certainly worth the journey. The Travel Department presents a four-night package tour to Iceland inclusive of flights, transfers, and excursions, starting from €1,189 for two people sharing. Totally a steal for an experience of a lifetime.
Set Sail
Consider slowing your pace with an immersive hotel-on-the-sea experience. Trailfinders offers an extensive collection of Caribbean cruises, including a 16-night package leaving in January. This bundle includes a three-night stay in New York, then an 11-night on-board adventure on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, with stops at St Maarten, Saint Lucia, Barbados and St Kitts & Nevis. The trip is priced from €2,699, encompassing the stay inside the cruise ship, three nights in a four-star establishment in New York, a cruise around the lit-up New York City harbour, as well as flights and transfers, set for a January 13th launch.
For those who believe the perfect winter escape involves Christmas away from home, why not revel in the yule season with a week-long guided tour of Tuscany with Travel Department, leaving on December 20th? From €1,299 per person on a shared basis, guests can enjoy a seven-night half-board stay in Montecatini, a picturesque spa town in Tuscany known for its natural thermal springs. Delight in the architectural marvels of cities such as Florence, Lucca and Sienna, along with the medieval treasure of San Gimignano, all while the rest are homebound indulging in sweet treats in front of the TV.