UK Edition
The 10 holidays you should be booking right now
Summer might be over but the 2023 holiday season isn’t. From half-term sun to festive escapes and early ski trips, here are the best options
The summer may be over, but the 2023 holiday season certainly isn’t. Now is a perfect moment to think about punctuating the long, pre-Christmas run-in with a memorable getaway. So where should you go?
October half term offers a chance for late-season sun in the Med, where the mercury will still hover in the early twenties across the Greek islands and the Balearics. Yes, there will be fewer sunshine hours, but there will also be fewer tourists sharing the beach. A fair compromise.
Looking north, the aurora-spotting season starts from now until spring. Book close to Christmas and you will be able to make the most of snowy daytime activities in the classic Lapland resorts of Arctic Finland, Norway and Sweden, and pay an obligatory visit to Father Christmas if you have children in tow.
The ski season begins proper from Christmas, but there are resorts across the Alps which offer a strong chance of snow before the festivities kick off. Find resorts at 1,500m altitude or higher, ideally with slopes on a glacier, and take a look at snow patterns in recent years to maximise your chances of decent ski conditions.
Or if you’re feeling deprived of vitamin D after the washout summer, it might be time to find guaranteed sun further afield. Look east, if you’re keen to travel before Christmas, where sunny, dry weather awaits in the Indian Ocean idylls, while southeast Asia moves away from its monsoon season while still enjoying relatively warm days.
Here are 10 ways to jet off before the year is out, from whales in the Azores to winter sun in the Maldives.
Half-term sun
Family fun in Cyprus
A wise option if you have children with energy to spare. The Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Cyprus, has an expansive kids club and multi-activity pool to keep the little ones occupied. For parents, the Kalloni Spa offers a rare moment of peace. Inspiring Travel (01244 729748; inspiringtravel.co.uk) offers a package from £3,235 per family (two adults, two children) including breakfast and return flights from Gatwick, plus transfers. Price valid for travel between October 21–29.
Whale-watching in the Azores
For families looking for a different half-term escape, this trip to the “Galapagos of Europe” could be just the ticket. The itinerary incorporates a tuk-tuk tour of Ponta Delgada, visits to hot springs and volcanic calderas, plus a whale-and-dolphin watching excursion. Temperatures will lurk in the late teens and early 20s. Sunvil (020 8758 4722; sunvil.co.uk) offers a seven-night break at Antilia Hotel Apartments costing £1,554 per person (two adults, two children) including return flights from Heathrow, via Lisbon, plus transfers.
A Crete escape
With temperatures hovering around the early 20s, October is a delightful time to visit Crete, with fewer crowds and cheaper deals than you’ll find during the busy summer season, and most tavernas and hotels still open for business. Stubborn Mule’s seven-night itinerary (01728 752751; stubbornmuletravel.com) can be tailor made for every family, with options for snorkelling, cycling through orange groves or a visit to Samaria Gorge national park. Prices start from £5,995 for a family of four, including flights and activities. Departs October 21.
Festive getaways
Medieval markets in Vienna
Vienna is perhaps at its prettiest over Christmas, with its lit-up streets, elaborately decorated shop windows and little huts selling gifts, wine and cheese at the Christkindlmarkt (one of the biggest and best in Europe). Kirker (020 7593 2288; kirkerholidays.com) has a five-night itinerary from £3,695 per person, departing December 22, including return British Airways flights from Heathrow, accommodation at the five-star art deco Hotel Bristol, plus tickets to the opera next door.
Northern lights in Lapland
The aurora is most frequently seen between October and April, while winter daytimes in Lapland are best spent zooming through the snow on a sleigh ride or snowmobile tour. Abercrombie and Kent (03301 731 001; abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers a three-night itinerary to Rovaniemi, northern Finland, from £3,075 per person, including a stay in a deluxe suite with views of the Arctic landscape.
Christmas Day in Umbria
See the “world’s largest Christmas tree” (a quite spectacular giant light installation shining down from Mount Ingino) on this winter tour of Italy, visiting hill-top towns and medieval villages across Umbria and Tuscany. Adagio (01707 386700; adagio.co.uk) offers a seven-night Artistic Umbria tour from £2,029 per person, including flights, activities and local transport. Departs December 21.
Pre-Christmas ski
Tignes in December
With an altitude of 2,000m, with most runs above the treeline, Tignes is a snow-sure resort perfect for all levels. And with easy access to village bars, and a short distance to the slopes, Chalet Hotel L‘Ecrin in Claret Village (above Tignes Le Lac) is an ideal place to stay. Mark Warner (0845 322 5037; markwarner.co.uk) offers a seven-night holiday departing December 3, costing from £999 per person including return flights, transfers, breakfast and dinner.
Ski like a VIP
Blow off the cobwebs of the office festive parties with a short ski break to the French Alps, getting you back in time for Christmas dinner. VIP Ski (0203 830 0030; vip-chalets.com) has a five-night getaway at Bear Lodge in Arc 1950 (described by our ski expert as a “game changer”), departing December 15, with transfers from Geneva, from £998 per person.
Winter sun
A serene escape in the Maldives
The five-star OBLU SELECT Sangeli, situated in the northwestern tip of the Male Atoll of the Maldives, offers a care-free getaway for couples and families. The resort has some of the largest entry-level beach family suites in the Maldives (sleeping six), with snorkelling and dives on the doorstep. Kenwood Travel (0207 749 9241; kenwoodtravel.co.uk) offers seven nights from £2,927 per person through November, with flights from London and transfers.
Find your own secret beach in Thailand
If you’re looking for winter warmth with a bit more substance than the usual sun, sea and sand packages, look no further than Thailand. Take a tour of Bangkok’s city temples and go on a private boat trip to the world’s oldest floating markets in Don Wai, before an unforgettable retreat to the crystal clear waters of Koh Samet and Koh Kood. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; originaltravel.co.uk) offers an 11-night itinerary across varying dates from £4,500 per person, including return flights, tours and activities plus B&B accommodation.
