2016 has seemed like whirlwind and the past 11 months have gone past in the blink of an eye. Winter has crept us up on awfully fast and you can be forgiven for wanting to get away.
And with many tempting destinations around the world covered by the guys at Owners Direct you can be on the plane and in your rental accommodation before you know it.
Without further ado, here are 3 great locations for last minute winter breaks:
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges looks like a fairy tale all year round, cobbled streets, narrow alleys, horse drawn carts, striking towers and enough chocolate shops to leave Willy Wonka envious, but during Christmas time it becomes even more magical.
It’s a struggle to find many more beautiful settings than that of medieval Bruges during the festive season. The city hosts a mesmerising snow and ice sculpture show whilst the squares around the city are decorated with colourful lights.
The Christmas markets look like something straight out of Santa’s workshop, each of them illuminated with numerous festive goods tradition to Belgium on sale.
The Grote Markt boasts an ice rink and a winter trip to Bruges would not be complete without a skate on the ice.
Tenerife, Spain
If you’re looking to escape the winter chill, then Tenerife is the perfect destination. Winter holidays on the south coast tend to see an average high temperate of 21C, thus the perfect solution to some inter sun. A visit to Tenerife during winter allows for a fascinating insight into how the Spanish celebrate the festive period.
Celebrations take place throughout Christmas with carolling proving to be very popular. Head to the peak of Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain for some stunning 360 degree views of the island.
And to escape the typical high-street Christmas shopping experience and mundane winter food of soups and stews back home, head to La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre which boasts fantastic shopping, an immense tapas scene and some awe-inspiring architecture with 400 years’ worth of history.
And because the weather is still warm during winter, there is no standstill and the scene is still thriving.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakesh is another fantastic winter holiday destination.The Moroccan city boasts temperatures of 20 degrees during the day, perfect for basking in some winter sun.
However, the Arabian nights are much cooler and allow for you to make the most of those cosy riad spaces.
The roaring fires, snugly cushions and secluded spots are perfect during winter so sit back and sip some warm mint tea, which just happens to be very popular in Marrakesh.
The souks, a labyrinth of shopping are far emptier in winter than summer, and the majority of crowds are locals. The museums and various other attractions are also pretty much empty meaning you can enjoy your holiday without having to jostle through the crowds and just another reason why winter in Marrakesh is a great idea.
The winter sunsets of Marrakesh are also reason enough to visit during winter, around an hour before sunrise and sunset, the sunlight penetrates the atmosphere and filters out harsher blue hues which creates a glorious setting.
Enjoy a cocktail on the roof top of an 18th century riad as you take in the stunning sunset of an evening.
