Escaping the winter

EdInvestor · 17 September 2006 at 7:47PM

Does anyone have any experience of going to warmer climes for three or four months to get away from the cold weather?

Is it better to look for hotels or villas/self catering? What are prices like?

Where to go? Some favoured summer hotspots seem to be quite cold themselves in winter.Is adequate heating a problem?

Any good websites for long stays, and any money saving tips?

ManAtHome · 17 September 2006 at 8:26PM

Not done it myself yet (probably starts next year hopefully..), but a couple of years ago talked to a few people who have been wintering in Benidorm for some time. Most of them stayed in apartments, particularly the blocks with 24-hour reception - useful if you need anything medical at strange hours and seen as more secure. Allegedly weather normally reasonable - was a bit like UK spring in mid-January, but not exempt from the strange weather patterns we seem to be having recently.

At the time, you could get good deals for 3 or 4 month lets - obviously the holiday packages dry up, but the buildings are still there. Most of the hotels seem to be open most of the year, so could be good deals on either - would just try Googling.

Money-saving tips - don't offer to take EVERY senor(ita) to dinner, avoid buying UK branded food, the Spanish equivalents are often as good.

babiebeany · 17 September 2006 at 9:09PM

Tenerife is an ideal place for warmth during the winter months. We recently bought a place over there specifically for this purpose when we are a bit older. The plan is to rent it out and enjoy it for ourselves now and then become swallows later on.

Swallows are people who spend the UK winter in warmer climes and return to the UK for the summer for those that are wondering.

You do need to travel that bit further to get away from the cold winters as it can get very cold in Benidorm etc just like here.

seven-day-weekend · 17 September 2006 at 10:53PM

I live in southern Spain (although I'm in the UK at the moment) and it is bl&&dy freezing in the winter once the sun goes in!

However, I'm in the mountains and the altitude has a lot to do with it ;1000m (4000ft) above sea level, which is higher than the summit of Snowdon.

Having said that even in the winter it is sunny in the daytime, but I never had an electric blanket until I came here!

EdInvestor · 18 September 2006 at 7:57PM

babiebeany wrote:

Tenerife is an ideal place for warmth during the winter months. We recently bought a place over there specifically for this purpose when we are a bit older.

That area does look to be the best weather wise.Any idea if there are people already renting out long stay villas there in the winter? What sort of prices do they charge?

tootles_2 · 18 September 2006 at 9:21PM

Tenerife would be my choice too.............try doing an internet search for log stay lets...........there are hotels that do packages for longer stays too.

babiebeany · 19 September 2006 at 8:05PM

Try visiting:

https://www.ownersdirect.co.uk

which is where we advertise our place (ref c455 for anyone interested in a look). Often if you see a place you like and enquire with the owner, then they will be able to give you a price for long stay rentals. Ours is a one bed apartment and we charge £230 for long stays which we class as over 4 weeks and that's a £50 per week saving which isn't bad.

Hope this helps.

EdInvestor · 20 September 2006 at 8:30PM

Thanks for that suggestion.

I suspect the long stay winter idea isn't really yet well understood when you compare it with what happens in places like Florida, where it's a big business for condo owners.

But no doubt time will tell

Mrs_pbradley936 · 3 October 2006 at 2:04PM

Florida without a doubt. If you want to stay more than 90 days at a time you have to have an interview at the Embassy and prove you can be self supporting for that long because you are not allowed to work. Food and petrol prices are very cheap. You must have medical insurance the one we get is for accident and emergency only if you do find you have to have a doctor for something minor reckon on about $80 for consultation and market prices for any medicine prescribed. My husband got flu one year which lead to chest infection and tablets cost $90. I like South West Florida around the Fort Myers area. Climate mostly in 70s November to March with a few odd cold days – but you never need boots, gloves or a winter coat.

Lara · 3 October 2006 at 3:40PM

My son lives in Malta and their climate is good all year round. It can get a little chilly in the evenings but not any colder than Tenerife.

Ted_Hutchinson · 3 October 2006 at 5:11PM

You may find it interesting to play with the calculator here to see if you can still make vitamin d thoughout the Winter at your selected winter destination.

You can also use the archive at Erythemal UV Index — Forecast and Archive
to see if there is a remote chance of getting sunburnt midwinter. The darker the blue the less chance of making vitamin D. It's reducing levels of vitamin d which decrease the ability of your immune system to cope.

Escaping the winter

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