Dreaming of balmy winter sunshine? Olympic Holidays know the hottest spots and the dreamiest hotels

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 0

There’s nothing like waving goodbye to gloomy British skies and stepping off a plane hours later to be greeted by warm sun on your face and sparkling azure seas. A dose of Vitamin D is just what the doctor ordered to banish winter blues, but how to choose where to go? Rather than scouring weather websites for the sunniest spots, let Olympic Holidays do the hard work for you. With over half a century of arranging carefully crafted trips and an in-house team of travel specialists, this award-winning company has an envious portfolio with a range of swoon-worthy destinations for year-round sunshine. Get ready to pack your sun cream…

Best for blissful beaches plus outdoor activities galore…

Tenerife or Lanzarote

Cast adrift in the Atlantic, the sub-tropical Canary Islands feel like another world with their awe-inspiring volcanic scenery – yet lie just over four hours from the UK. Year-round temperatures hover in the 20s, making the islands heaven for fresh-air enthusiasts and beach-lovers alike. It’s the perfect winter getaway, but how to choose between the archipelago’s five islands? Each has its own distinct flavour, but our top picks are Tenerife and Lanzarote. If you like to mix beach time with thrilling hikes around Spain’s highest peak, the 3,700m high Mt Teide, set your sights on Tenerife. The biggest of the Canary Islands, it boasts a diverse landscape, from its 50+ golden beaches and charming colonial towns to the lunar landscape of El Teide National Park. Superb hotels abound, from swish luxury resorts to stylish self-catering apartments. Lanzarote, meanwhile, has a low-key allure with its pretty, white-washed houses basking beneath curving palm trees and an entrancing volcanic backdrop dotted with cacti. Along with gorgeous beaches (some with inky black volcanic sand) there’s a thriving arts scene, with galleries and sculptures scattered around the island, the legacy of local-born artist Cesar Manrique. From laidback family resorts to chic adults-only hotels, there are stylish accommodation options for everyone with the added bonus of staying on UK time!

Lanzarote Winter 2023 – 3* Bed & Breakfast from £379pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 3* BLUE SEA COSTA TEGUISE GARDENS, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote from £399 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Standard Apartment (Balcony or Terrace) with flights from London Gatwick airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 12^th December 2023 For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com.

https://booking.olympicholidays.com/Search/PackageHolidays?DepartureAirports=GRPLDN&DepartureDate=01/12/2023&LastDepartureDate=31/12/2023&Duration=7&Hotels=OTSAMTSES0080&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0&SortBy=Price

Tenerife Winter 2023 – 4* Bed & Breakfast from £355pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 4* BLUE SEA COSTA JARDIN, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife from £355 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Standard Room (Balcony or Terrace) with flights from London Gatwick airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 12^thDecember 2023. For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com.

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Best for sun-bathing with a dose of culture…

Cyprus or Malta

While the rest of the Med tends to close its shutters for the winter months, Cyprus and Malta bask in sunshine year-round, thanks to their southerly locations with both home to a rich cultural heritage. If you’re after a small island packed with attractions, Malta is for you. It may be petite, but it packs a punch – from UNESCO-listed Valletta’s cathedral, palaces, and museums to the extraordinary prehistoric temples in the island’s southeast. The coast is pocketed with crystal-clear coves, perfect for a refreshing dip. Cyprus, the mythical home of Aphrodite, casts its own spell on visitors. It’s a rich blend of cultures and traditions, although most visitors come for the magnificent white-sand beaches. Delve inland, however, and there are sleepy stone villages, medieval castles and archaeological sites hidden among the olive groves Winter is a wonderful time for hiking, cycling and golf, with cloudless blue skies, perfect temperatures and a clutch of stellar hotels.

Cyprus Winter 2023 – 4+* Bed & Breakfast from £409pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 4+* CONSTANTINOU BROS ATHENA BEACH HOTEL,Paphos, Cyprus from £409 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Classic Land View room with flights from London Luton airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 06^th December 2023. For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com

https://booking.olympicholidays.com/Search/PackageHolidays?DepartureAirports=GRPLDN&DepartureDate=01/12/2023&LastDepartureDate=31/12/2023&Duration=7&Hotels=CYCY0016&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0&SortBy=Price

Malta Winter 2023 – 4* Bed & Breakfast from £339pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 4* SEAVIEW HOTEL, Qawra, Malta from £339 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Double or Twin Bed Room with City View and Terrace with flights from London Gatwick airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 02^nd December 2023. For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com

https://booking.olympicholidays.com/Search/PackageHolidays?DepartureAirports=GRPLDN&DepartureDate=01/12/2023&LastDepartureDate=31/12/2023&Duration=7&Hotels=MCYTR7539906&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0&SortBy=Price

Best for an exotic tropical escape…

Goa or Gambia

With over 100km of idyllic coastline and sun-kissed beaches framed by coconut groves, Goa is the stuff of winter sun dreams. A kaleidoscope of Indian and Portuguese culture, it’s a heady blend of vibrant markets, colourful fishing villages, crumbling forts, temples and churches. Whether you want to unwind completely, go exploring or throw yourself into water-sports such as parasailing and scuba-diving, it’s easy to find your perfect break. Don’t miss the mouth-watering cuisine, a blend of fresh seafood and delicate Indian spices. Olympic Holidays offers a range of delightful boltholes, from bijou family-run beach hotels to luxurious spa resorts set within lush tropical gardens. Prefer to try somewhere more off-the-beaten-track? The Gambia is a gorgeous, unspoiled slice of West Africa that has managed to stay quietly under the tourist radar. Blessed with talcum-soft bays such as Kololi Beach, it’s ideal for absorbing some winter rays, but there’s so much more on offer. Try a mini safari to see tropical birdlife and chattering monkeys, paddle a canoe along a tributary of the River Gambia, browse for batik art at bustling markets and sample just-caught seafood at one of the excellent local restaurants. Best of all, come home totally refreshed as The Gambia is in the same time zone as the UK, so you can wave jet-lag goodbye.

Goa Winter 2023/24 – 4* Bed & Breakfast from £1179pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 4* THE FERNS HABITAT, CANDOLIM GOA, Goa from £1179 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Winter Green Studio with flights from London Gatwick airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 30^th January 2024. For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com.

https://booking.olympicholidays.com/Search/PackageHolidays?DepartureAirports=GRPLDN&DepartureDate=01/01/2024&LastDepartureDate=31/01/2024&Duration=7&Hotels=INGO0029&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0&SortBy=Price

Gambia Winter 2023/24 – 3* Bed & Breakfast from £1079pp Olympic Holidays is offering 7 nights at the 3* SUNSET BEACH HOTEL, Kotu, Gambia from £1079 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes 7 nights’ Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a Standard Room Inland View with flights from London Gatwick airport (other UK airports available) Departures are available on 23rd January 2024. For bookings call 0208 492 6868 or visit www.olympicholidays.com.