Where do you go in the winter?

Skar1962 replied on 06/06/2017 16:56

Skar1962

Posted on 06/06/2017 16:56

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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36 replies

JayEss replied on 06/06/2017 20:31

Member

JayEss

Posted on 06/06/2017 20:31

Barbados is my favourite winter sun destination. Not with the caravan of course

Skar1962 replied on 06/06/2017 21:50

Member

Skar1962

Caravanner

Posted on 06/06/2017 18:57 by Vicmallows

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.

Posted on 06/06/2017 21:50

Thank you for that insight. We are not yet ready for 6 weeks away but Cyprus is encouraging if it was a 2 week break. Hopefully a few good days in 14. We will look into it.

Tammygirl replied on 06/06/2017 22:32

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer

Posted on 06/06/2017 22:32

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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Skar1962 replied on 07/06/2017 08:51

Member

Skar1962

Caravanner

Posted on 06/06/2017 22:32 by Tammygirl

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.

Posted on 07/06/2017 08:51

Thanks Tammygirl

i hadn't thought of Florida. Will do some research.

Much appreciated!

cyberyacht replied on 07/06/2017 10:15

Member

cyberyacht

Motorhomer

Posted on 07/06/2017 10:15

Under the duvet with the odd foray to the kitchen for hot soup.

byron replied on 07/06/2017 14:34

Member

byron

Posted on 07/06/2017 14:34

I have heard good reports about Cape Verde & The Gambia, we have enjoyed walking holidays in Madeira and The Azores in the off season

Bakers2 replied on 07/06/2017 17:40

Bakers2

Motorhomer

Posted on 07/06/2017 17:40

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.

IanH replied on 07/06/2017 19:37

Member

IanH

Posted on 07/06/2017 19:37

I think Cape Verde is a place for peope who never leave the hotel grounds.

Not for me.

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IanH replied on 07/06/2017 19:41

Member

IanH

Posted on 07/06/2017 19:41

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.