Where do you go in the winter?
Hi all,
Looking for some inspiration....not necessarily to do with touring.
Every winter, either at the end of November or sometime in February, me and my lovely OH fly off to the Canaries for some much needed winter sun.
Do you take your caravan or motorhome to southern locations between November and March to avoid the cold? If so, where do you go and what type of weather do you normally experience?
if you lock up your beloved mobile home from home, where do you jet off to other then the Canary Islands and what type of weather do you experience?
Are destinations such as Southern Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece and the like suitable winter sun destinations or have you tried them and found that temperatures rarely get above 17 degrees and you have to wrap up warm to enjoy sitting outside?
I am just trying some ideas and alternatives to the Canaries for the end of this year or early next year.
Thanking you in advance for your input....
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We have a daughter who lives in New Zealand so we try to get down there as often as we can. Generally very decent weather but rather a long way.
Last year we had 10 days in Thailand on the way over to celebrate a birthday. Absolutely beautiful, hot and sticky in Bangkok but a nature reserve island in the north bliss. Surprising reasonable considering the distance! Have done Singapore too but very hot and sticky certainly not cheap.
Never managed the Canaries and economics suggest we won't . Maybe one day well do southern Europe in the motorhome in the winter but know it won't be as consistent as NZ 😉
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We gave ourselves an extra special treat this February with a trip to Mauritius!
At that time of year the weather is really warm (high 20s Celsius) without being oppressive and, although it's the tail end of the rainy season, the rain comes and goes and freshens everything up nicely. A very welcoming island, lots of interest beyond beaches and water sports. Can thoroughly recommend it for a special holiday.
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Thanks.
i was thinking a shorter haul than the other side of the world (New Zealand) though! I will go one day as I have lots of friends there but it will be a special trip and not the winter 1-2 week getaway.
Thailand could be a possibility but still a bit of a jaunt though.
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Thailand just 12 hours give or take a little bit. If you're planning on NZ take as long as you can months not weeks. Plenty to see do and explore but distances very deceptive not just the minimum 26 hour flight!
I love the sound of moulesy trip. Maybe one day.
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Of the short-haul destinations, The Canaries have to be the most reliable for winter weather (though as I'm sure you know, choose your destination with regard to the prevailing NE wind!). However, after a few long (6 week) trips we got a bit bored.
Weather on Malta is rather unpredictable. It is though a love-it-or-hate-it destination. (I like it; wife hates it!).
Our ultimate compromise was Cyprus which we both love. We have stayed there now over Christmas on 6 occasions: each time for around 6 weeks in privately rented apartments. Weather has varied each time, but has always included plenty of sunbathing. One year we were lounging in a nice warm sea on Christmas day. The most important thing IMHO is to make sure you choose an apartment with a nice big SOUTH facing terrace/patio.
Then we bought the caravan, and having tasted the south of Spain for nearly 4 months last winter, that will probably be our destination for the next few years. Pleasantly warm and sunny most of the time, with only a very few miserable days .... with the occasional real thunder storm thrown in for fun. T-shirts/shorts the entire time as far as I was concerned. The temperature was just starting to build (too hot for wife) as we were leaving mid-March.
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Have to agree .... Setthorns over Christmas is magical. But we've also done our winter stints in upstate NY, and Munich so time to catch up on the warmth
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We have a son in Hong Kong, so for 20 winters it has been Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Bali, India, and Sri Lanka on the way to see him. And Australia and New Zealand when he was working there. All of it independent, bit-better-than-backpacking travel, and real sunshine.
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Last December we had 2 weeks in the Caribbean, very hot and sticky. Malta was very cold last winter my son tells me (he lives there) Canaries too can get cold with wet spells. Egypt is warmer we've been in November and it was 26 - 28c most days, however it does get dark very early. Dubai is another good winter destination for a couple of weeks, 8 hours flight and consistently hot. Florida has to be another good choice also 8 hrs flight, you can rent an apartment or house for a couple of weeks quite reasonable (do it privately) winter temps are in the low 20's and the good thing is very little rain at that time of year.
We use our m/h all year so for us its off to Spain in Sept. back home for Christmas and New Year then fly off somewhere for a couple of weeks (not booked yet) then 3 weeks in Lanzarote at the beginning of March, then back to europe around mid April. Gosh that was a quick year.
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Under the duvet with the odd foray to the kitchen for hot soup.
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We went to Cape Verde in November almost 6 years ago. Fantastic hotel and complex but outside nothing to visit as such. People were so poor just like Africa on TV. Standpipes rubbish everywhere loose dogs mingling with children men sitting around. Yet hotel all inclusive complete indulgence. Took a jeep ride to isolated beach and buggy on the sand dunes. Very windy and no good for sea swimming anywhere unless you VERY strong swimmer. Since our visit, smallish plane 6 hour flight as tiny airport all external , cruise ships pull in so maybe different. Some trips involved flying to other islands so really cheap 😉 excursions. Not somewhere I want to return to.
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We had 3 weeks on Madeira this year and will be going again next year.
Would not recommend it if you want wall to wall sunshine. Better than the UK, but it can be variable (it is, after all, stuck out in the Atlantic). But the scenery is great.
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I must admit the two different people who recommended CV were the all inclusive stay in the complex types, not for me either.
Another place we visited in early March is Israel, very pleasant climate on the coast, a bit chilly in Jerusalem, and hot at the Dead Sea
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CLs somewhere in this country!
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Costa Rica - December to April is the driest time. There is a wide range of different accommodation from all-inclusive to 'intrepid traveller, there are Caribbean beaches or rain forests, waterfalls and volcanoes, you can hire your own guide, or do your own thing. There is a fantastic opportunity for photographs, with amazing wildlife literally on your doorstep.
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Interesting that you should say that, Val - it's exactly where Mrs M's got her eyes on for next February. Seems like a country just waking up to tourism and there are some very good deals out there too. We watched the recent 3 part documentary on Channel 4 about the country. I don't think she'll need to try very hard to persuade me!
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For the past ten years, since we`ve been together, Jules and I have been going to a fantastic hotel in Hammamet in Tunisia.
We honeymooned there on our fourth year, it had everything we loved. Private beach, beach bar, the staff were faultless, and because we were regulars, we always got preferential treatment, much to the chargrin of other guests, lol. we made friends out there and met up with them every year, us from the Midlands, couples from, Somerset, Southhampton, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Great times, and then it all kicked off, we were 5 km away from Sousse when the atrocities happened. So sad, so needless.
I`m not going to get into politics of what happened, we all know.
Needless to say, we will not be returning, but trying to find a destination 3hrs away with everything we want is becoming a right dilemma!!. We went to Zante last year, which was disappointing.
And this Sunday we`re off to Mallorca, east coast, away from Magaluf!!. Not been before, so hopefully it will be an enjoyable holiday.
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I feel for you. That is similar to the dilemma we face. Do we do the Canaries again...probably 15 years on the trot or do we find somewhere else within say a 4 hour flight where we can get some winter sunshine. Doesn't seem to be much of a choice so far but will take on board all the interesting feedback received so far and do some research.
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We love visiting Germany in the MH in December for the Christmas Markets (need M&S or winter tyres). For a short trip in the van we think the best time to visit Brugge is Nov - Feb (great trains to Gent, Antwerp and Brussels). These are the best months to visit Venice though we fly. If going in winter remember to check the phases of the moon before booking and try to avoid full and new moons to minimize the risk of flooding. Also room prices double at Carnival time in Feb. Wrap up warm, keep away from St Marks and the Riallto Bridge - wonderfully peaceful and at its best. If you want sun from Nov - Feb Oman is fantastic - stunningly beautiful with wonderful people and couldn't be more different to the glass towers, shopping malls and intolerance of Dubai. Its expensive to stay but cheap to eat out if you "go native" and keep away from the international hotels.
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