From the coast ot Cape Verde to sunny getaways in India and Senegal, these are some of the best ways to escape the cold and head for the sun on a budget.
Published: 03:02 EDT, 26 October 2026 | Updated: 04:15 EDT, 26 October 2026
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With the cost of living crisis showing little sign of abating and the October Budget looming large, securing good value for money on our holidays is more important than ever.
So here’s our guide to getting the biggest bang for your buck when booking winter sun getaways over the next few months.
We’ve trawled the best-value offerings and picked the cream of the crop. By trying somewhere you may not have considered such as Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean, The Gambia in West Africa, India, Sri Lanka or Tobago, in the Caribbean, you can enjoy a getaway without breaking the bank.
And if you stay for a fortnight, the price per day drops away, with hoteliers offering discounts, especially if you pick off-peak weeks. So if you want to be a canny long-haul traveller this winter, read on...
Spending two weeks in Boa Vista, Cape Verde, is a top African choice
Jet away to Boa Vista, Portuguese for ‘good view’, on the Atlantic archipelago of Cape Verde, with its wonderful rolling dunes and some of the best beaches in Africa (Cape Verde is considered part of the African continent, despite being 280 miles off the coast of Senegal).
It’s perfect for a sun-lounger break and you’re guaranteed sunshine galore with average daily highs of 24C-27C (75F-80F) to from November to February. The more active can go snorkelling or try kitesurfing.
Boa Vista is 19 miles from top to bottom and 18 miles at its widest. Base yourself in the resort town of Sal Rei on the north coast at the three-star Hotel Estoril, which has a pool, windsurfing, canoes and bike rental – plus comfortable, simple rooms and a massage centre.
A fortnight is from £831pp B&B with Manchester flights
For budget-friendly beaches, opt for Mount Lavinia in Sri Lanka
Around seven miles south of central Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, you come to the peaceful suburb of Mount Lavinia, which is next to a ‘golden mile’ of sandy beaches and is dominated on the shore by the Mount Lavinia Hotel, which sits on a rocky promontory.
The hotel was built in the early 1800s as a residence of Sir Thomas Maitland, a British governor of Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was known during colonial days; the name ‘Lavinia’ derives from his mistress Lovina Aponsuwa, a local dancer. It is a tranquil spot with a pool on a terrace facing the Indian Ocean, modern rooms, a spa and a restaurant down by the sands.
The architecture is neo-classical and the hotel is set in smart gardens. Restaurants and bars are a short walk away – and the temples, museums and tuk-tuk tours of the capital are within easy reach.
The tropical landscape of Tobago is enough to lure in Britons in search of winter sun
Expect hummingbirds hovering by your hotel terrace and rich tropical surroundings on this beautiful sister island to Trinidad.
At less than 2,000 square miles, it’s easy to explore with highlights including hikes in Main Ridge Forest Reserve (home to 220 bird species), the 54m Argyle Waterfall (with a beautiful bathing pool), colourful, down-to-earth fishing villages, the bustling capital of Scarborough, reef-snorkelling, quiet bays and sandy beaches.
Base yourself at Bacolet Beach Club, a five-minute taxi from Scarborough, set on a private bay with three pools, two rum bars, a charming restaurant and a spa. Rooms come with balconies, most facing the sea.
The daily high from November to February is 28C-29C (82F-84F.
A fortnight is from £1,442pp B&B with BA flights from Gatwick
Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay, St Lucia is a fun choice for a Caribbean sunshine escape
For lively nightlife in its many late-night rum bars playing reggae and Calypso music – with a famous Friday night ‘Jump Up’ street party each week at neighbouring Gros Inlet – Rodney Bay on the north-west coast of St Lucia is a fun choice.
It’s set around a man-made lagoon, with the most popular stretch of sand on St Lucia, Reduit Beach, plus a marina, lots of restaurants/street-food stalls serving traditional Caribbean food and the Splash Island Water Park.
You can relax after enjoying your nights out at the Coco Palm family-run boutique hotel with its large central pool set in a quiet, well-tended garden, pleasant poolside bar, gym and smart, minimalist bedrooms.
Book it: A fortnight is from £1,649pp B&B with BA flights from Gatwick (love holidays.com).
A fortnight is from £1,649pp B&B with BA flights from Gatwick
Stunning fishing villages are on the agenda for a Gambia getaway
This tiny, narrow country, following the River Gambia and bordered on each side by Senegal, is a birdwatcher’s dream – featuring no fewer than 621 species.
Boat trips along remote creeks offer a chance to see birds close up, while another popular attraction is the Kachikally crocodile pool in Bakau (home to dozens of the creatures).
Other days out include visits to traditional fishing villages to watch catches being brought in, shopping at the craft market at Bakau and trips to cultural centres to learn about the slave trade at Juffureh and Albreda.
Set by the beach at Kololi, the most popular beach resort, with its lively bars and restaurants, Senegambia Beach Hotel – offered by The Gambia Experience, the specialist operator that can organise excursions – has good-value rooms with balconies or terraces, a large pool and swim-up bar.
A fortnight is from £1,129pp B&B with Gatwick flights
For the safari of a lifetime, head to Tsavo East National Park
Enjoy staying by a beach facing the Indian Ocean and also being able to join day trips to see wildlife including lions, elephants and zebras at Tsavo East National Park while basing yourself in the Kenyan resort of Mombasa.
You can visit Watamu Marine Park to go snorkelling and canoe through mangroves – or embark on intriguing tours of Mombasa’s old town, dating back more than 800 years.
Particularly well-priced packages to a selection of hotels are offered by Loveholidays. Cocoa Luxury Resort, Nyali, comes with three pools, a poolside bar, a driving range, spa and plain but spacious rooms with balconies/terraces. A decent spot from which to explore the coastline – or simply relax by the golden sands.
A fortnight is from £1,369pp B&B with Heathrow flights; or add £130 for Manchester flights
The Dominican Republic's national parks, such as the Three Eyes National Park, stand out
It may be famous for its all-inclusive resorts, where some guests never leave the confines of hotels for their entire stay (and there’s nothing wrong with that if you’re just seeking relaxation in the sun).