January - decent winter sun for a week?
January - decent winter sun for a week?
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Discussion

Zippee

Original Poster:

14,138 posts

264 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
quotequote all
I'm looking for some ideas as to where will be hot, relaxing and generally a nice place to be for a week from 1st Jan. We can only do 1 week (8 nights at a push - Sun to Mon) due to my wifes business, she runs a small hair salon and needs to close for a holiday so can't afford mroe time off.
We've been to the Canaries, and TBH the weather is OK, bit hit and miss.
Whats California or Florida like at that time of year? You see internet weather examples but I know how inaccurate they can be.
Alternatively the Bahamas or even somewhere like Goa? We really are open to ideas as long as the place is relaxing, has a little bit more to do than sit next to a pool (I don't swim) and clean/chav free (UK & the US equivalent).
Budget isn't huge but I guess we can alter that a little by looking at various accomodation options at the different destinations.

We'd love somewhere like Thailand but it's just too far to fly for a week, especially when internal transfers are then factored in.

LuS1fer

43,543 posts

275 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
quotequote all
I wouldn't go to Goa but further south to Kerala which is far less touristy. We went to Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)airport and down to Kovalam for a week in January 2004 and 2 weeks in 2005 because it was so fantastic.

I think they fly to Cochin (Kochi) now as well but just do it. Weather in January is fantastic. The flight is long (11-12 hours)but it's a proper tropical destination and at something like 80 rupees to the £ it's astonishingly cheap while you're there.

The Canaries are Blackpool in comparison. It's abit more hassle as you have to get a Visa from the Indian Embassy and you have to have some injections and take malaria tablets (many we met didn't bother with the latter and had no problems).

The only reason we haven't been back every year since is we have young kids so are now confined to the 2-4 hour flight (though we did do florida where the planes are a lot bigger so it's less of an ordeal). We flew with Monarch to India - not the best but cheap at the time.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.p...

My 2004 review:
http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/india/kerala/b...
My 2005 review (2nd one):
http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/india/kerala/k...



Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 7th September 14:51

Targarama

14,789 posts

313 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
quotequote all
Chav free? Good weather? Things to do? Try Muscat, Oman. There is the Shangri-la which is lovely. Or several 5 star hotels nearer town such as the Grand Hyatt (my favourite hotel).

Oman is the opposite to the UAE/Dubai with a mountainous geography. Rent a car, explore, wadi bash, etc. Loads to do.

We have a house there and spend mucho time there from around now until May.

Edited by Targarama on Wednesday 7th September 14:44


Edited by Targarama on Wednesday 7th September 14:44

andrew311

6,426 posts

207 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
quotequote all
The Gambia. Short(er) flight than most other places that will be hot not warm-ish.

Mobile Chicane

22,015 posts

242 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
quotequote all
Morocco. During the day it will be 20 - 24C at that time of year.

It's inexpensive, chav-free (probably due to the lack of beer culture), and people are polite and friendly.

Alcohol is available in restaurants, although you'll have to ask since it won't be on the menu. Alternatively, why not give your liver a rest?

mike325112

1,074 posts

214 months

Thursday 8th September 2011
quotequote all
Barbados - West coast, great beaches, no chavs, some great restaurants hire a car see some sites. We had a fabulous chill out holiday there a few years back. As I said in a thread yesterday - I would go back in a heartbeat.

The_Burg

4,853 posts

244 months

Thursday 8th September 2011
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Cape Verdi, before it gets wrecked.
Very relaxed and pleasant place.

arfur

4,016 posts

244 months

Thursday 8th September 2011
quotequote all
mike325112 said:
Barbados - West coast, great beaches, no chavs, some great restaurants hire a car see some sites. We had a fabulous chill out holiday there a few years back. As I said in a thread yesterday - I would go back in a heartbeat.
East coast is even more chilled out smile

mike325112

1,074 posts

214 months

Thursday 8th September 2011
quotequote all
arfur said:
East coast is even more chilled out smile
Only if you have a villa there....


I see what you did there wink

arfur

4,016 posts

244 months

Friday 9th September 2011
quotequote all
mike325112 said:
arfur said:
East coast is even more chilled out smile
Only if you have a villa there....


I see what you did there wink
Coincidentally I do appear to have an aforementioned villa

Zippee

Original Poster:

14,138 posts

264 months

Monday 12th September 2011
quotequote all
Thankyou to all so far, some interesting destinations and I'll do a little more research.

Anyone been to either Florida or LA at that time of year? Whats the weather like there?
Also possibly SriLanka, though is it doable for a week bearing in mind flight times?