Winter break's a winner

IT'S not just charcoal salesmen who are still bitter about the Met Office promise of a barbecue summer - as rain batters the country, who isn't?

But a BBQ winter beckons... if you head abroad for a grilling on the beach.

Prices are even lower than when the crunch began to bite this time last year, so it's even easier to persuade yourself to hop on a plane - although you must now factor in the scandalous rise in Air Passenger Duty.

The expansion in the travel market over the last ten years means that there's more supply than demand in hotel rooms, so there's scope for haggling with operators.

The high-end hotels in long-haul locations are suffering most so that's where prices have tumbled furthest.

Even with a great reduction you're still looking at a big bill for the Caribbean or Indian Ocean islands, but there are plenty of deals at all levels nearer to home.

A Barrhead Travel spokesman said: "The majority of our winter offers are for the Canary Islands, where you are pretty much guaranteed the weather in winter.

"Benidorm and the Algarve have always been popular as they are great value and there are many half-board and all-inclusive options."

Egypt and Turkey are also hot, literally, with year- round sunshine and good prices.

And the best deals can be found NOW - as demand is lowest from November to Christmas because people aren't suffering from quite so much sun starvation as they do around February.

The festive period is expensive, but you can slash the cost if you don't mind travelling on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day.

Early January is great for bargains as it's the doldrums for sales, and March is also ace because it misses school holidays.

And the knowledge you have a hol booked will keep you cheery in the dead of winter!

TUNISIA

TUNISIA has an average temperature of 21°C and seven hours of sunshine a day in November - and its traditional souks add an exotic appeal to the endless white sandy beaches.

Thomson has a week's all-inclusive at the three-sun Sahara Beach Resort - set on a long ribbon of sand, surrounded by 22 hectares of manicured gardens, with four outdoor swimming pools and several al fresco restaurants - from £324, leaving Glasgow on December 6.

GAMBIA

THE West African country is only available in winter and you have to fly from Manchester, but with a tropical climate averaging 31°C in December it's worth the drive - or train it direct to the airport. The hot and dry summer lasts to July so the chances of sunshine are a lot better than a Met Office forecast.

As well as unwinding by the pool, you can admire dazzling wildlife and, if you're feeling adventurous, take an excursion to rural areas in a Swiss army truck.

Thomas Cook has a week's B&B in the four-star Corinthia Atlantic Resort on Banjul Beach from £339pp, leaving Manchester on December 5.

EGYPT

EGYPT is guaranteed sun all year and there's practically no rain.

Four-star resorts have amazing all-inclusive deals right now, and it's only five-and-a-half hours to reach some of the world's best scuba diving and snorkelling spots.

Flyglobespan has a week's half-board at the two-star Sultana Beach Resort Hotel in Hurghada from £289, departing Glasgow on December 16.

Archers Direct's Wonders of the Nile cruise is just £599 including UK flights on selected dates until Christmas. It takes in sights from Luxor to the Aswan dam, including the Temples of Karnak and Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings and Philae Temple.

It's all-inclusive on the ship, plus your guide will keep you right on all the gods and make sure you aren't pestered by the hordes of other guides.

First Choice has a week all-inclusive at the four-sun Coral Sea Resort in Nabq Bay from £636 per adult and £492 per child, leaving Glasgow on January 10.

Airtours has a week's all-inclusive at the four-star Sunrise Island View Resort in Sharm el Sheikh from just £472pp, leaving Glasgow on January 14.

THE CANARY ISLANDS

THE islands are some of Spain's greatest treasures, blessed with sun all year and a tropical climate. November is a great time to go because the water is still warm after being heated in the summer months.

Barrhead Travel has a week's self-catering at the three-star Maspalomas Lago in Gran Canaria from £229pp, leaving Glasgow on November 23.

They also do a week's self-catering at Tenerife's three-star Malibu Park from £239pp, departing Glasgow on November 26.

And a week's self-catering at the three-star Lanzarote Paradise Club is from £219, departing Glasgow on November 26.

First Choice has a week's full-board in Gran Canaria's five-sun Lopesan Baobab Resort - which is new for 2009 and built in an African style - from £684 per adult and £430 for the first child. It departs Glasgow on December 7.

Flyglobespan has a week's self-catering at the three-star Los Alisios Apartments in Las Americas, Tenerife, from £180pp, departing Edinburgh on December 11.

Airtours have a week's all-inclusive at the five-star Bahia Principe Hotel in Costa Adeje from £637pp, leaving Glasgow on February 7.

THE SPANISH MAINLAND

IT doesn't come with guaranteed good weather, but Spain is great value and it'll be nicer than here.

If you take some warmer clothes and make sure that your accommodation has heating, it's definitely worth considering.

Flyglobespan has a week's half-board at the three-star Prince Park Hotel in Benidorm from £215pp, departing Glasgow on December 16.

Barrhead Travel has a week's half-board at the three-star Regente Hotel in Benidorm from £239 leaving Glasgow on December 12.

THE ALGARVE

THE southern end of Portugal is popular all winter with pensioners who can linger longer abroad to avoid the dreich Scottish weather - we could all learn a thing or two from the canny old codgers.

The climate is balmy and according to the Post Office's annual survey of essential holiday items like suncream and a cup of coffee, prices have plummeted here.

The survey checks the cost of a 'shopping basket' of the same ten things across the world - and the Algarve was back in the top ten for the first time in two years.

Sunset has a week's self-catering at the three-star Santa Eulalia Beach Club in Albufeira from £268pp (based on three sharing) flying from Glasgow on March 28, when the sun really has his hat on and comes out to play over there.

Flyglobespan has four nights' self-catering at the four-star Luna Forte Da Oura Apartments in Albufeira from £120pp, departing Edinburgh on December 13.

Barrhead Travel has a week's self-catering at the three-star Club Praia Da Oura from £249, departing on March 7 or 14 or April 18.

TURKEY

THIS is an all-year-rounder just like Egypt, with a warm climate and plenty of sunshine, and there are so many hidden resorts that you can go back year after year and find new treasures.

Because it's outside the eurozone, it's also great value - and one of the cheapest places to eat and shop once you are there.

Thomas Cook has a week's half-board at the three-star Hotel Alaiye in Alanya from £323pp, departing Glasgow on April 25.

MEXICO

NOW that swine flu is running amok in the winter, it's safe to escape to where it started!

First Choice has a week's all-inclusive in the four-sun Riu Caribe from £739 per adult and £495 per child on December 3. You have to fly from Gatwick but you get Caribbean beaches and as much ay caramba as you can cope with.

CHRISTMAS DEALS

FLYGLOBESPAN has a week's half-board at the three-star Hotel Flamingo in Torremolinos from £279pp, including a Christmas Gala, departing Glasgow on December 19.

The company also has a week's half-board in Majorca's three-star Alexandra Hotel in Can Pastilla from £179pp, departing Glasgow on December 18.

Eurocamp is keeping some parks open over winter for the first time, and a week starting on December 23 at their Vilanova Park, half-an-hour from Barcelona on the Costa Brava, costs just £199 for the whole family, staying in a two-bedroom Superior mobile home with heating (sleeping a maximum of seven), accommodation only.

Direct Holidays has two weeks' all-inclusive at the four-star plus Maritim Pine Beach Resort in Belek, Turkey, from £669, leaving Glasgow on December 23.

FLYGLOBESPAN: Call 0871 987 1689 or see flyglobespan.com

SUNSET OR THOMAS COOK: Call 0844 412 5970 or see thomascook.com

AIRTOURS: Call 0844 871 6636 or see airtours.co.uk

FIRST CHOICE: Call 0871 200 4455 or see firstchoice.co.uk

ARCHERS: Call 0871 423 8638 or see archersdirect.co.uk

EUROCAMP: Call 0800 406 0402 or see eurocamp.co.uk

DIRECT HOLIDAYS: Call 0871 664 7764 or see directholidays.co.uk

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