6 low-cost winter sun holidays for January

When the Christmas lights come down and the baubles are back in the loft, it can suddenly seem like there’s an awful lot of winter left to go. But jetting off on low-cost winter sun holiday in January is the perfect way to beat those winter blues.    

Once the New Year rush has ended, January can be a top time to get away without paying peak festive prices. But where is hot in January that won’t cost a fortune?   

It all depends on what you’re looking for. You could keep the journey relatively short and enjoy mild 20°C-ish sunshine in the Canary Islands, fly a little further for warmer beach weather in Egypt or Cape Verde, or go long-haul for tropical temperatures in Mexico.   

Here we’ve hand-picked six spots that work well for cheap winter sun holidays in January, taking everything from weather to on-the-ground value into consideration.  

1. Canary Islands: Around 18–21°C, ~4.5 hours flight time, best-value short haul  

2. Egypt: Around 23°C+, ~5 hours flight time, best affordable All Inclusive  

3. Morocco: Around high teens/low 20s, ~4 hours flight time, best for city and sunshine  

4. Cape Verde: Around 23–27°C, ~6 hours flight time, best for proper beach weather  

5. Cyprus: Around 16–18°C, ~4.5 hours flight time, best for mild sun and exploring 

6. Mexico: Around mid-20s, ~10 hours flight time, Best for long-haul All Inclusive 

Best for: Couples, families, easy winter sunshine and shorter flights.   

Lots of people come back year-on-year to the Canaries for their winter sun holiday, and with good reason. Just five hours from the UK, you can be swapping 2°C for over 20°C with a straightforward and cost-effective short-haul flight. If 20–22°C is warm enough for you, you also avoid paying the premium that comes with travelling long-haul.   

And as a top affordable winter sun destination, there’s everything from simple Self Catering apartments to big family resorts and five-star adults-only hotels to choose from. If you're comparing the best Canary Islands to visit, each has a slightly different personality.   

Tenerife has the biggest variety. Stay around Costa Adeje or Los Cristianos for plenty of restaurants and beaches, or head north if you'd rather explore traditional towns and greener scenery. Gran Canaria is another good all-rounder. The south, particularly around Maspalomas and Puerto Rico, is popular with winter sun seekers.   

Lanzarote works brilliantly if you want beaches plus volcanic scenery, whitewashed towns and plenty to explore. January highs can reach around 21°C. And Fuerteventura is hard to beat if long sandy beaches matter more than nightlife or sightseeing.   

Because Tenerife has such a large package holiday market, it's a good place to start if price is the priority. When searching for cheap breaks to Tenerife, don't just check Costa Adeje or the biggest resorts. Compare Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz and smaller resort areas too.

Best for: All Inclusive, snorkelling, couples, families and warmer short-haul sunshine.   

If swimming in the sea is a big part of your ideal winter sun getaway, Egypt is a solid option. The Red Sea offers clear waters, coral reefs, and sea temperatures around 22°C, which is usually comfortable enough for swimming.   

Most winter package holidays focus on Red Sea resorts such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam, which see daytime highs around 22°C in January. You’ve also got around eight hours of sunshine a day and very little rain.  

When looking for cheap breaks to Egypt, make sure you compare resorts to get the best deal. Hurghada has a huge selection of hotels, with lots of reasonably priced five-star as well as four-star options. Meanwhile, Marsa Alam can sometimes offer better value if you’re planning to stay in the resort for most of the time.   

All Inclusive hotels usually offer excellent value in Egypt too. Paying just a little more upfront can cover most of your typical spending expenses for the entire week.

Best for: Couples, food, sightseeing and short winter escapes.  

Morocco’s colourful backdrops and dry, sunny climate are the perfect contrast to a grey UK January. You’ve got two main options depending on what you’re after. Agadir is a coastal resort boasting 300 days of sunshine per year, plus a long beachfront lined with hotels, restaurants and cafes.   

If beach time isn’t essential, Marrakech has souks, rooftop restaurants, gardens and palaces to explore when you’re not lounging by the hotel pool. For a low-cost holiday here, don’t automatically choose All Inclusive. Eating out can be an enjoyable part of the trip, particularly in Marrakech, so a cheaper Bed and Breakfast or Half Board package may make more sense.  

When it comes to the weather, Morocco delivers mild winter sun as opposed to hot tropical temperatures. January can offer lovely sunny days, but mornings and nights are considerably cooler, so bring a jacket or jumper for the evenings. If your idea of winter sun is strolling the markets in a T-shirt rather than spending eight hours in a swimsuit, Morocco can be excellent value.

Best for: Couples, beaches, All Inclusive and reliable January warmth. 

Cape Verde is the ultimate mid-haul destination. You’ll feel that rush of warmth right when you step off the plane, after the six-hour flight that gets you to this African archipelago. You're travelling farther than the Canaries, but not as far as the Caribbean, for vast sandy beaches, temperatures in the mid to high twenties, and eight hours of daily sunshine.  

Most package holidays are centred around Sal and Boa Vista, which are both known for their relaxed resort atmosphere. Choose Sal if you want a bit more going on. You’ve got a long beach and a few bars and restaurants to explore when you want to venture out of the hotel. In Boa Vista, it’s more about chilling out in the resort surrounded by sand and the sea.  

There are a lot of All Inclusive resort options in Cape Verde, which means competition is high and costs tend to stay low. Meanwhile, you get more of the tropical beach experience and temperatures, without the Caribbean-sized price tag.

Best for: Sightseeing, walking, couples and mild winter sunshine. 

We’ll be crystal clear: Cyprus isn’t baking hot in January. If you’re looking for 25°C and a week beside the pool, keep scrolling. But if what you really want is blue skies, mild temperatures and a break from British winter, Cyprus is worth considering. Average temperatures sit at around 17°C, which will feel warmer when you’re coming from below freezing. It’s the perfect temperature for walking and sightseeing.  

Paphos is usually the obvious choice for an easy package holiday. You’ve got the harbour for strolling, restaurants, coastal walks, and ancient sights like the Tombs of the Kings. Limassol is another option if you want a bigger city with even more restaurants and a long seafront promenade.  

January is well outside the typical peak season for Cyprus, so there are usually some bargains to be found on flights and accommodation. Self Catering and Bed and Breakfast packages can work out especially good value if you plan to do lots of exploring

Best for: Long-haul tropical temperatures, All Inclusive, families and couples. 

If you’re willing to go a little further, Mexico really delivers on sunbathing weather. On the Caribbean coast in resorts like Playa del Carmen and Cancun, daytime highs regularly reach 28°C. Sea temperatures are around 27°C too, which is perfect for swimming.  

Cancun is the top choice if you want lots of nightlife, while the wider Riviera Maya makes more sense if you’re looking for a more relaxed base. You’ll be close to jungle sinkholes known as cenotes and ancient Mayan ruins if you feel like a little adventure.  

Vast All Inclusive resorts are dotted all along the coast, making it easy to find something that fits your budget and travel style. These hotels are perfect if the plan is mostly beach, pool and deciding what cocktail to order next. One caveat – Mexico costs more to get there, so it isn't going to compete with Tenerife on the headline package price. 

But if you’re looking for proper tropical beaches with calm turquoise waters and soft-white sand, you’ll find some of the best-value packages here compared with traditional Caribbean islands and the Maldives

If you're mainly wondering where’s hot in January without spending ten hours on a plane, the answer depends on how hot you need it. For pleasant sunshine, start with the Canary Islands. January temperatures commonly reach around 20–21°C, although cooler or cloudy days are possible. For something warmer, Egypt can give you low-20s temperatures with lots of sunshine and minimal rain. 

And if you're willing to stretch the definition of short haul slightly, Cape Verde is arguably the sweet spot, with January highs reaching around 27°C.  

There's no single answer because it depends on what you actually want. For an easy, affordable package, the Canary Islands and Egypt are top options. For a short break with sightseeing, Morocco is hard to beat. And for proper beach weather without going long haul Cape Verde offers excellent value.  

It's worth remembering that the cheapest package isn't necessarily the best-value holiday. If you're planning to spend all day in your resort, an All Inclusive in Egypt or Cape Verde could leave you spending very little once you're there. And, if you want to eat out every night and spend most days exploring, paying extra for All Inclusive makes far less sense. 

January can be a really good month for value, but timing matters. 

New Year still falls within the festive period and school holidays, so don't assume flying in the first week of January will automatically mean bargain prices. 

Once schools go back, you've got a much better chance of finding cheap winter sun holidays, particularly if you can move your departure date by a few days. That's one reason January works so well for couples, retirees, and anyone who isn't tied to school holidays. 

A few small changes can make a surprisingly big difference. 

• Travel after the New Year rush. Mid-to-late January can give you much more flexibility than the festive period. 

• Compare several UK airports. Check Birmingham, Manchester, Gatwick and any other airport you're realistically willing to travel to.  

• Search different trip lengths. Seven nights isn't always the cheapest option. 

• Compare nearby resorts. Don't only search the destination's biggest name. 

• Choose the right board basis. All Inclusive can make sense in Egypt or Cape Verde, while B&B may suit Morocco better. 

• Check you’ve adjusted your luggage and transfers as you’d like them. A cheap headline price can become less impressive once you've added the extras you need. 

• Decide how much warmth you really need. Don't pay long-haul prices if you'll be perfectly happy at 21°C. 

• Compare the whole cost. Think about what you'll spend once you arrive, not only the package price. 

You don't have to fly halfway around the world to escape a British January. If you're happy with pleasant sunshine, Tenerife, Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands give you some of the easiest and most affordable options. 

Want to turn the temperature up? Egypt offers excellent All Inclusive value, while Cape Verde gives you a much stronger chance of proper beach weather without going fully long haul. Or, if the only acceptable answer to winter is 25°C+, Mexico is ready and waiting. 

The trick isn't simply finding the hottest place you can afford. It's finding the right combination of sunshine, flight time, hotel and overall cost.  

Ready to wave goodbye to the January blues? Discover the latest winter sun deals, or check out the Sundeals blog for more inspiration.  

Author: Amabel Buck