Winter sun plus city break

[obob]

I am looking for somewhere interesting to go in December, a nice city (was thinking Istanbul) and then a nice beach resort for some winter sun. What's the weather like in Northern Cyprus over Christmas? Anyone been?

Any other ideas? On a bit of a budget this time so looking for £1500 for 2 people for 3 nights in a city and 7 nights on a beach. B&B basis as we don't often eat in the hotel and like to explore.

[petemurphy]

obob said:

I am looking for somewhere interesting to go in December, a nice city (was thinking Istanbul) and then a nice beach resort for some winter sun. What's the weather like in Northern Cyprus over Christmas? Anyone been?

Any other ideas? On a bit of a budget this time so looking for £1500 for 2 people for 3 nights in a city and 7 nights on a beach. B&B basis as we don't often eat in the hotel and like to explore.

we've been looking and thought theres no guarentee of sun there so are probably going to cuba - if you can do long haul you can just get that in your budget and havana is awesome + will be all inclusive so cheaper

[Zippee]

We did Gran Canaria last year and most days were around 25-30deg, though this isn't guaranteed.

Whats Cuba like? Safe to wander around? Wheres best to go? Don't really want long haul but for early Jan we're very limited in terms of destinations (Canaries only for short haul and a good chance of warmth)

[obob]

petemurphy said:

obob said:

I am looking for somewhere interesting to go in December, a nice city (was thinking Istanbul) and then a nice beach resort for some winter sun. What's the weather like in Northern Cyprus over Christmas? Anyone been?

Any other ideas? On a bit of a budget this time so looking for £1500 for 2 people for 3 nights in a city and 7 nights on a beach. B&B basis as we don't often eat in the hotel and like to explore.

we've been looking and thought theres no guarentee of sun there so are probably going to cuba - if you can do long haul you can just get that in your budget and havana is awesome + will be all inclusive so cheaper

Whereabouts in Cuba are you going?

[petemurphy]

Zippee said:

We did Gran Canaria last year and most days were around 25-30deg, though this isn't guaranteed.

Whats Cuba like? Safe to wander around? Wheres best to go? Don't really want long haul but for early Jan we're very limited in terms of destinations (Canaries only for short haul and a good chance of warmth)

its awesome havana is amazing and the beaches typical carribean - theres various tourist all inclusive enclaves where you wouldnt know what country you are in but then you can go out to the villages havana etc.

perfecty safe if you are sensible like anywhere

any time after nov is fine as thats when hurricanes stop - jan would be perfect

[petemurphy]

obob said:

Whereabouts in Cuba are you going?

probably "Guardalavaca, Cuba - Holguin"

I have been before to cuba where i did it myself and booked a hotel on the beach outside havana which was cool as could pop into havana. this time with child wantd a more "package" holiday although its in an area that looks really interesting - only downside is it would be a flight to havana.

The other main tourist area is valedero which is about 2 hrs from havana although not many flights from thomson go there from gatwick which is what we wanted.

probably going here although havent booked it yet:

"Sol Rio de Luna and Mares Resort "

[petemurphy]

just noticed ure up north in which case varadero is for you as they go from manchester although v package but that can be broken up with trips to havana.

that said ive always wanted to go to istambul! but i need a warm beach this year!

eg 7 night varedero for £1300 all inclusive although is travelling that far u might want to stretch to 14

http://www.thomson.co.uk/thomson/page/byo/booking/...

other place we looked at is goa which has the sun and is bnb which u might prefer

[obob]

Any other ideas, considering Havana rather than Varadero as more to see but would consider other options.

[a311]

Said this in several of these type topics now, Cape Town. £1500 pp is doable I found it very inexpensive one out there, £1.20 for a pint of Peroni and in high end restaurants you'll struggle to find a main course that costs more than a tenner. You could explore Cape Town then head 10 mins away to Camps Bay for some beach time.

[obob]

a311 said:

Said this in several of these type topics now, Cape Town. £1500 pp is doable I found it very inexpensive one out there, £1.20 for a pint of Peroni and in high end restaurants you'll struggle to find a main course that costs more than a tenner. You could explore Cape Town then head 10 mins away to Camps Bay for some beach time.

Noooooo, 1500 total for 2 people. Anyway Cape town will be twinned with when I can afford to go on Safari.

[Amateurish]

Istanbul is a good shout, and you could travel to the South West of Turkey for some good beach resorts. Although the good weather is far from guaranteed at that time of year. To get guaranteed good weather for not much money, the Canaries are your best bet.

[danneth]

petemurphy said:

probably "Guardalavaca, Cuba - Holguin"

I have been before to cuba where i did it myself and booked a hotel on the beach outside havana which was cool as could pop into havana. this time with child wantd a more "package" holiday although its in an area that looks really interesting - only downside is it would be a flight to havana.

The other main tourist area is valedero which is about 2 hrs from havana although not many flights from thomson go there from gatwick which is what we wanted.

probably going here although havent booked it yet:

"Sol Rio de Luna and Mares Resort "

We have booked to get married here next oct.

got a great deal, and know a few people who have also been and recommended it.

[driverrob]

Little bit further than Cuba (least interesting country of all those we've visited), how about Brazil?
Some years ago we had a few days in Rio - amazing city - followed by the rest of the week at a beach resort in Bahia.
We only had a half-term week. Longer would have been even better.