Thankfully, the experts at True Luxury Travel have comprised a comprehensive report of the top 50 destinations for a warm-weather getaway, called the Global Winter Sun Index. Below we’ve highlighted the top 10 winter sun holiday hotspots from the roundup. See our news section for more expert tips and product launches The report revealed the best destinations for awintersunholiday by analysing crucial factors including temperature, rainfall, humidity, seasonality and coastline. The researchers analysed the bestwintersundestinations with a thorough examination of weather conditions alongside leisure factors including hotel quality, coastline, ocean health, seasonality, Instagrammability, and sea temperature. The top 10 is the overall average after taking all of these factors into account, but some countries topped individual section without making into to the top 10 over all (like the Maldives, which won the temperature section but came in at number 15 over all).
Discover the top 10 winter sun holiday destinations
1. THAILAND
Not only is Thailand a white beach-blessed paradise, it also had one of the lowest humidity levels in the study, making it a comfortable escape. Gleaming temples, foodie beach huts, friendly smiles, tropical forests, rice paddies, and cultural curiosities abound.
2. PHILIPPINES
Did you know that the Philippines is a beach-lover’s heaven? It boasts 36,289km of stunning coastline to explore. There’s also verdant rice paddies, the friendliest people, and over 7,000 tropical islands to choose from, from beach-hopping in Visayas to deserted stretches of powdery coastline in Palawan.
3. AUSTRALIA
While we’re shivering in bone-chilling temperatures during December to March, Australia is basking in glorious sunshine from cosmopolitan Melbourne through to sun-baked Sydney and bohemian Byron Bay. Eco travel is an increasingly important concern for holidaymakers and, when travelling to a country where we might be taking a dip in the sea, we want to know that, firstly, the water is clean and that, secondly, the water is being protected and we won’t be causing a negative impact. The study used the Ocean Health Index to look at the ocean health of each country, which took into account clean waters, biodiversity and coastal protection. The country with the best ocean health in the ranking was Australia, giving us yet another reason to visit.
4. MALAYSIA
Head to this southeast Asian country for icing sugar beaches, wildlife-rich rainforests and historic colonial architecture in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. No surprises that Malaysia came in high on the study’s Instagrammability section.
5. BRAZIL
Jet off to Brazil for a 7,491km stretch of beautiful coastline and plenty of Insta-worth vistas everywhere, fro powdery white-sand beaches and verdant rainforests to wild, fun-filled cities (hello, Rio), coral-fringed tropical islands.
6. ARGENTINA
The study highlighted Argentina as offering a great selection of luxury hotels and being one of the most Instagrammable countries and seasonal, meaning everything is open for business in winter. It also came out second in the lowest humidity list. Described by the Lonely Plant as ‘one formidable cocktail of wanderlust’ it seduces with its epic vineyards, bustling streetside culture, the majestic Andes and a host of natural wonders and wildlife-rich landscape.
7. JAMAICA
The home of Bob Marley, this rhythmic island is bursting with ambient cafes, street life, and spots to relax under the fringes of a swaying palm tree or two.
8. CUBA
Magical Cuba is bursting with colourful colonial buildings, oozing a timeworn beauty. Havana, Trinidad, Remedios and Camagüey are particularly atmospheric.
9. INDONESIA
Beautiful Indonesia topped the most Instagrammed of the winter sun destinations with a whopping 95,866,645 mentions on the platform. This is no surprise as the country is a hot spot for tourists, with mountainous jungles and gorgeous sandy coastlines.
10. PANAMA
Get the best of both beach worlds in culturally-diverse Panama; Caribbean vibes on one side and surfer’s paradise on the Pacific side. Wildlife tourism (think breaching whales and screeching howler monkeys) and off-the-beaten-path adventures set around every corner. For the full top 50 Global Winter Sun Holiday Index click here.
