WINTER SUN IDEAS

Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain

Best for: Partying

In Benidorm the party goes on throughout the winter. Bars in the Rincon de Loix area are quieter than in the summer but still lively and there are plenty of venues where you can dance till dawn. Not to be missed is an excursion to Benidorm Palace, probably the most famous cabaret in in mainland Spain.

Benidorm offers lots of retail therapy, including a weekly flea market, and the out-of-town La Marina shopping malls are stuffed with trendy boutiques and shoe shops.

The resort has two of the best beaches in the Mediterranean and, as the temperature only drops below 15C from December to February, they can be enjoyed for most of the winter.

Agadir, Morocco

Best for: Romance

In Benidorm the party goes on throughout the winter. Bars in the Rincon de Loix area are quieter than in the summer but still lively and there are plenty of venues where you can dance till dawn. Not to be missed is an excursion to Benidorm Palace, probably the most famous cabaret in in mainland Spain.

Benidorm offers lots of retail therapy, including a weekly flea market, and the out-of-town La Marina shopping malls are stuffed with trendy boutiques and shoe shops.

The resort has two of the best beaches in the Mediterranean and, as the temperature only drops below 15C from December to February, they can be enjoyed for most of the winter.

Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Best for: Families

With temperatures a balmy 18C to 21C throughout the winter, Tenerife is one of the safest bets for a warm winter holiday.

The island has great sandy beaches and Costa Adeje will keep any family happy. Costa Adeje has more five-star properties than its raucous neighbour Playa de las Americas, which has lots of entertainment for younger children including water parks and family shows in the evenings.

During the day head to Teide National Park, crowned by Mount Teide, which is the highest mountain and volcano in Spain. The park is filled with unique flora and wildlife. Santa Cruz, the island's capital, is also worth a visit.

Algarve, Portugal

Best for: Activities

Portugal's southern coast has excellent golf courses and many first-class hotels offer a choice of activities. Many have spa facilities for some added rest and relaxtion.

The winter weather is ideal for an active holiday as sunshine is almost guaranteed. Temperatures hover around 20C, dropping to around 16C from December to February.

The resort of Vilamoura has four championship golf courses and more than 50 tennis courts. The protected woodlands to the northwest offer good hiking.

Libya, Middle East

Best for: Culture

Libya is less than a four-hour flight from the UK and boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Leptis Magna, one of the most complete examples of a Roman city, and Sabratha, best known for its well-preserved theatre.

At the eastern end of the country are the remains of Cyrenaica, at one time the second most important city in North Africa. Tripoli, the capital, has a beautiful old medina and its Archaeological Museum is worth a visit.

In the caves and rock formations of the Sahara Desert in southern Libya you can see rock paintings dating back 12,000 years, which make up one of the world's best collections of pre-historic art.