Where’s hot in February? From winter sun in Tenerife to family fun in Orlando

A guide to failsafe sun for escaping winter gloom

Better book quick for Tenerife – the Canary Island is filling up fast (Shutterstock)

Although February is the shortest month, it can often feel like the longest. Whether it’s freezing fog, cold damp days or just the wrong kind of snow, the weather in Britain can often make you want to disappear somewhere hot for a while. If you still haven’t booked a winter getaway – or a February half-term holiday – have a look at some of these ideas.

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Tenerife

Holidays in the Canary Islands are getting booked up rapidly as winter-sun-seeking tourists are wary of going to Tunisia and Egypt. And now the recent turmoil in The Gambia has put more pressure on the Spanish islands. Sovereign (sovereign.com) still has availability for 8 February at the tranquil Hotel Botanico in Puerta de la Cruz in Tenerife’s north. Set in extravagant tropical gardens, the hotel has an award-winning spa and outdoor pool. Seven nights’ B&B costs from £1,199pp, including flights and transfers.

New Zealand

It’s high summer in New Zealand, which you can explore on a self-drive tour. Start in Auckland in the north before discovering the beaches of Coromande, the hot springs of Rotorua and the vineyards of Napier before crossing to the lakes and mountains of the South Island. A 13-day tour with New Zealand Sky (newzealandsky.co.uk) costs £2,699pp, including flights, accommodation, car hire, transfers and a touring pack, for departures throughout February.

Orlando

A family break in Orlando is one way of escaping the February gloom. Once you’ve had your fill of all the Disney and Universal theme parks, check out the golf courses and bargain outlet shopping. Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) has a seven-night holiday in a three-bedroom villa with a pool starting at £599pp. The price is based on two adults and two children under 12 and includes flights and car hire, departing 11 February.

Phuket

With temperatures in the high 20s, it’s no wonder Phuket’s beaches can get overwhelmed in February. Escape the crowds by heading to the west coast and hiding out in the secluded tropical gardens of Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. This laid-back luxurious resort overlooks a quiet stretch of Layan Beach and features villas with private plunge pools as well as suites. Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) has a week’s B&B holiday at the resort from £1,430pp, including flights and transfers for departures throughout February.

The secluded Anantara resort in Phuket, Thailand (Facebook) (facebook)

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Corsica

May is a heady time to be in Corsica, with fragrant landscapes in bloom and sea temperatures starting to warm up. Go north to l’Île Rousse, an enchanting town of cobbled streets and long sandy beaches that won’t be filled with summertime crowds yet. Simpson Travel (simpsontravel.com) has a beautiful galleried apartment in a historic house in the town centre, with sea views from both its sun terraces. A week’s rental from 7 May costs £680pp based on four sharing (or £921 for just two), and includes flights and car hire.

Sicily

Spring in Sicily means temperatures in the low 20s and a profusion of wildflowers. It’s a pleasant time for a slow exploration of the south-east of the island and its baroque towns and hilltop villages, the setting for the TV drama Inspector Montalbano. Adagio (adagio.co.uk), part of Ramblers Holidays, offers a seven-night guided tour that takes in Ragusa, Modica, Siracusa and the Cava Ispica gorge. The price of £1,450pp includes flights, transfers, half-board accommodation and guides, departing 17 May.

Enjoy excellent wreck diving around Bermuda

Bermuda

Summer comes early to this Atlantic island and its pink-sand beaches. Divers are already aware of Bermuda’s fascinating underwater world littered with more than 300 wrecks. On the eastern side of the island is Grotto Bay Beach Resort, which has its own 500,000-year-old underwater caves to dive into. Or you can just chill out on the resort’s private beach and pools. Seven nights’ room only with Classic Collection (classic-collection.co.uk) departing 9 May costs from £1,839pp and include flights and transfers.

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk