8 affordable winter sun destinations: More sunshine for your money

Is the thought of dark skies and freezing temperatures getting you down? Some sunshine sounds like a bright idea to beat the winter blues, but long-haul destinations often come with an extra-large price tag.   

You don’t need a Maldives-sized budget to get your sun, sea, and sand fix. We’ve rounded up some of the best affordable winter sun destinations where you can escape the cold without spending a fortune – from budget breaks to affordable All Inclusive options that help you save on spending money too.    

Whether you’re looking for a shorter flight time, a guaranteed tan, or a dash of culture with your winter getaway, you’ll find a great-value option in this list.

1. Canary Islands: Around 20–24°C, ~4.5 hours flight time, best all-rounder  

2. Egypt: Around 22–27°C, ~5.5 hours flight time, best for All Inclusive value  

3. Morocco: Around 18–23°C, ~3.5–4 hours flight time, best for short breaks and culture  

4. Cape Verde: Around 24–27°C, ~6 hours flight time, best for beaches and reliable heat  

5. Cyprus: Around 17–20°C, ~4.5 hours flight time, best mild winter escape  

6. Madeira: Around 18–21°C, ~4 hours flight time, best for walking and scenery  

7. Dubai/UAE: Around 24–27°C, ~7 hours flight time, best for guaranteed warmth  

8. Dominican Republic: Around 27–30°C, ~9 hours flight time, best for long-haul All Inclusive 

There’s a reason the Canary Islands are a firm favourite when it comes to affordable winter sun breaks. Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura holidays all combine sunshine with a huge choice of hotels, resorts and package holidays. You can go Self Catering, book a simple three-star beach hotel or upgrade to a five-star All Inclusive without having to travel long haul.   

The flight time is just over four hours, and the Canary Islands are in the same time zone to the UK, so you can forget about jet lag. Depending on which month you travel, winter temperatures are warm and mild, rarely dropping below 20°C even in December and January. Plus, it’s one of those places where there really is something for everyone.    

Tenerife has the biggest variety of resorts and things to do, Lanzarote mixes beaches with striking volcanic scenery, Fuerteventura is hard to beat for long sandy beaches, and Gran Canaria gives you a bit of everything. There’s plenty of choice at every price point, from cost-effective Room Only packages to indulgent All Inclusive options.   

If your ideal winter holiday involves a sunlounger, a swimming pool and not worrying about the bill at dinnertime, Egypt is hard to ignore. Red Sea resorts like Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam are packed with large resort hotels, many offering excellent All Inclusive packages. Think multiple restaurants, à la carte options, and sundowner cocktails on tap.    

And you can really wave goodbye to grey skies and frosty windscreens here. Average temperatures on Egypt holidays to Sharm El Sheikh are around 22°C in January and 23°C in December, with very little rain. The Red Sea is also a bonus for many. Clear water, coral reefs and snorkelling mean there’s plenty to do if you do eventually decide to leave the sunbed. 

Even though the flight time is still short at five to six hours, your money goes further than it does in southern Europe. A five-star All Inclusive in Egypt can often give you considerably more for your money than a similarly priced stay somewhere closer to home.

If you want to go from big coats to shorts and T-shirts in half a day, Morocco is a solid affordable winter sun option. For beaches, choose Agadir, where you’ll find a long seafront, resort hotels and plenty of restaurants. For sightseeing, souks and rooftop dinners, Marrakech is the obvious choice. 

This is winter warmth rather than guaranteed beach heat. January daytime highs can reach around 19°C in Marrakech and 20°C in Agadir, while nights can be much cooler. However, slightly cooler temps can be a bonus if you’re planning to explore. Wandering through Marrakech's medina is considerably easier in comfortable winter temperatures than in the peak summer heat.   

You’ve also got accommodation options for every budget. Eating out is generally affordable, too, so Bed and Breakfast or Room Only packages are worth considering if you want to get a taste of the local culture. If you’re looking for a cheap but warm winter weekender, this could be a great option too, with the shorter travel times well-suited to shorter breaks. 

Want somewhere that feels far away without the long flight? Cape Verde could be for you. It’s a six-hour plane ride to this collection of islands located off the coast of West Africa, just north of the equator. That means you can expect warm temperatures of around 23°C and extremely low rainfall, even in January.    

Most Cape Verde holidays focus on Sal and Boa Vista, two islands known for huge beaches, warm temperatures and a laidback atmosphere. But don’t expect a packed sightseeing itinerary here. Cape Verde is at its best when the plan consists mainly of beach, pool, food and deciding when to order the next drink.   

Put simply, it’s ideal for travellers whose main requirement is sun, sea and switching off.   

If Hawaii is on your bucket list but the budget won’t quite stretch, the Portuguese island of Madeira offers similar Jurassic Park-style scenery for a fraction of the price. While it might not be quite as tropical as the Pacific Ocean archipelago, it’s a great alternative if you want to combine milder weather with walking, good food and a bit of exploring.   

Base yourself in Funchal and you’ve got restaurants, bars, markets and the waterfront on your doorstep, while the rest of the island is filled with mountains, viewpoints, waterfalls and the famous levada walking trails.   

January temperatures in Madeira typically sit between roughly 14°C and 19°C. So while you might not come back with a tan, you’ll certainly feel the warmth coming from a frost-bitten UK.  

Cyprus might not offer the high temperatures of long-haul destinations, but it can work brilliantly if your priority is simply escaping the worst of the British winter and getting some winter sun in Europe.   

Places such as Paphos are much quieter outside the summer season, giving you the chance to explore archaeological sites, coastal walks and old towns without the crowds or intense heat.   

Temperatures are typically in the high teens throughout winter, so think T-shirt weather as opposed to lots of poolside lounging. It’s a break much more suited to sunshine and sightseeing rather than baking on a boiling-hot beach.   

Dubai might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of affordable winter sun destinations, but behind the glitzy skyscrapers, there are some surprisingly good deals to be had. Winter is one of the nicest times to visit the UAE, with average winter temperatures reaching a beautiful 24°C on most days.    

And the quality of hotels is generally high. Dubai holidays that include flights and a high-quality four or five-star hotel can sometimes look more competitive once you compare what you'd pay for the same standard elsewhere.   

You'll also get beaches, enormous pools, water parks, restaurants, shopping, desert trips and enough attractions to fill considerably more than a week. For even more choice, look beyond central Dubai, at Ras Al Khaimah and the other Emirates too.

If you're happy to travel further, Dominican Republic holidays deliver a lot for your money. Punta Cana is the big package holiday hub, with miles of sugar-soft Caribbean beaches and a huge selection of All Inclusive resorts. It’s one of the most affordable winter honeymoon destinations, too.    

December to April is one of the most popular periods weather-wise, with Punta Cana typically seeing temperatures around 25°C to 30°C.   

All Inclusive makes particularly good sense here. Once you've paid for the holiday, you could spend most of the week enjoying the sun without ever opening your wallet.   

It depends on what you want from your holiday. If keeping the overall price low is the priority, start with the Canary Islands and Morocco. If you want All Inclusive, compare Egypt and Cape Verde. And if you want proper heat, look towards Cape Verde, Dubai or the Dominican Republic.   

For more than a just a beach, Madeira and Morocco are particularly good choices. Or, if you want long-haul luxury without your spending getting out of control, an All Inclusive Dominican Republic package could make more sense than you think.   

And remember, the cheapest package isn't automatically the best-value one. A £100 saving quickly disappears if you're paying for three meals a day, drinks, airport transfers and activities when you arrive.

Timing can make a huge difference. Christmas, New Year and February half-term are naturally popular times to travel, so you'll usually have more competition for the best-value holidays. If you have flexibility, take a look at:  

• Late November and early December, before the Christmas rush  

• January after the New Year period  

• Early February, before half-term  

• Late February and March, depending on the destination 

Being flexible with your departure airport, travel dates, and trip length can also reveal surprisingly big differences in package prices. 

Before booking, compare the whole cost of the trip, not just the package price. Check what’s included in terms of luggage, transfers and meals, and consider what you’ll need for your holiday. Think about how much you'll spend on food and drink when you arrive.    

And ask yourself how much heat you actually need. If you'll happily sit outside in 21°C sunshine, it’s not worth paying hundreds more to chase 28°C temperatures. Likewise, if you know you're going to eat three meals a day at the hotel and enjoy a few drinks every evening, paying extra for All Inclusive upfront could work out much cheaper.    

You don't need to fly halfway around the world or spend a fortune to swap dark mornings for blue skies.   

For some, the best-value winter escape will be a straightforward week in Tenerife. For others, paying a little extra for an All Inclusive Red Sea resort or stretching the budget to a Caribbean package will offer far more for the money.   

The trick is not simply finding the cheapest holiday. It's finding the one that gives you the most of what matters to you, whether that's warmer weather, better food, a nicer hotel or simply seven uninterrupted days beside the pool.   

Made up your mind to see off the winter blues? Browse the latest winter sun deals here. Or, have a read of some more of our Sundeals blog articles. 

Author: Amabel Buck