Sunny swaps: 10 alternative warm weather holidays to book now

Words: Tracey Davies

Welcome to sun-seekers swap shop. This season, why not switch up your favourite winter hotspot with a destination doppelgänger? Savvy holidaymakers are swapping their favourite places for alternative escapes, which still deliver all the winter warmth but often without the crowds... or the hefty price tags.

Maybe trade the Bahamian blue skies for the fascinating history of Barbados, or swap Malta’s culture-rich cities in favour of Madeira’s lush volcanic landscape and scenic hiking trails? Finding a destination dupe is a great way to discover alternatives to popular winter sun hotspots, whether it’s exchanging the soft sands of Koh Samui for the empty beaches of the Perhentian Islands or the sultry souks of Marrakech for those in Doha. Check out our favourite destination doppelgängers for this winter.

1. Swap Malta for Madeira

Lying 400 miles east of Morocco, Madeira’s unique position in the Atlantic Ocean means its sultry subtropical climate is warm even during the winter months. With a dramatic volcanic landscape criss-crossed with levadas, it’s an appealing and nature-driven alternative to Malta’s culture-drawn crowds. Funchal blooms with pink clouds of bougainvillea and purple blossom jacaranda trees and Madeira Botanical Gardens and Palheiro Gardens abound with rare tropical plants and birds such as the jazzy Madeira firecrest. And Malta’s prickly pear liqueur is no match for the marvellous Madeira wine.

Fly to Madeira

2. Love Tobago? Try Turks and Caicos

If you’re looking for a more eco-positive Caribbean holiday, Tobago is a great beach escape along similar lines to Turks and Caicos. Still fringed with beautiful sun-soaked beaches, the island is decidedly low-key with a diverse landscape of rainforest, stunning bays and nature reserves. Spend winter days snorkelling, go hiking in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve or try kiteboarding on the warm trade winds around Pigeon Point. February is carnival time – a colourful cacophony of masquerades and nighttime parades to the sound soca and calypso.

Fly to Tobago

3. Try a different kind of Caribbean beach bliss

Balmy beaches and bougie resorts, the Caribbean is an easy go-to for winter sun seekers. If your usual go-to is the Bahamas, you'll likely love Barbados. Named one of National Geographic’s Best of the World destinations, it has gorgeously balmy temperatures (up to a sizzling 29°C). And while both Caribbean islands offer blissful beach days, Barbados also benefits from a wealth of history from the capital Bridgetown, now a Unesco World Heritage Site, to the new Barbados Heritage District to Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest rum distillery.

Fly to Barbados

4. Discover Doha instead of Marrakech

Grand sandstone palaces, enigmatic mosques and colourful souks vibrant with local life: Marrakech is a way to combine culture with winter sun. Doha is a worthy doppelgänger. A pearling village in the early 20th century, Qatar’s capital has grown into a vibrant, buzzy city packed with modern architecture and culture and yet still threaded with tradition. Pick up rare spices, shop for hand-woven souvenirs or come face-to-beak with a falcon in Souk Wafiq. Sail down the Corniche on a dhow, see the Katara Mosque and visit the Museum of Islamic Art.

Fly to Doha

5. See a different side of Southeast Asia

Already ticked Thailand off the list? Why not consider Malaysia. With their paradise beaches, ancient temples and incredible food – the two countries have much in common. Shift your Southeast Asia escape up a gear and swap the lively resorts of Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi for the quieter beaches of Selangor, Pangkor and Tioman Island, all within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur. For a boho beach escape – and the vibe of Thailand 20 years ago – head to the Perhentian Islands off Malaysia’s northeast coast and swim in aquamarine waters where you might be lucky enough to spot hawksbill turtles and manta rays.

Fly to Kuala Lumpur

6. Switch South Africa for Ghana

South Africa, particularly Cape Town, has long appealed to winter sunseekers thanks to its glorious golden beaches, fancy coastal towns and abundant wineries and wildlife. But with popularity comes the crowds. A good sub for South Africa is Ghana, which also runs the full gamut of palm-fringed beaches, colourful seaside cities and wildlife-rich nature reserves. A Ghana holiday can easily combine the cosmopolitan nightlife of Accra, the sweeping beaches of the Cape Coast and some possible elephant spotting in Mole National Park.

Fly to Accra

7. Swap the Maldives for Madagascar

Blue-on-blue waters, shimmery white sands, thatched bungalows stilted over the sea – sometimes only an Indian Ocean holiday will do. While many flock to the coral atolls of the Maldives, a less trodden alternative is Madagascar, lying off the southeast coast of Africa. Madagascar and her islands still promise sugary beaches and iridescent seas but also baobab trees, chameleons and ring-tailed lemurs. Hop around the Nosy Be islands on a traditional dhow and dock at Île Sainte Marie, home of the only pirate cemetery in the world.

Fly to Madagascar via Johannesburg

8. Substitute Hong Kong for Singapore

Former British colony and beloved pearl of the Orient, Hong Kong’s blend of east and west has long held appeal for xenophiles. Like Hong Kong, Singapore has its fair share of dusty temples smouldering with incense, and fragrant street markets selling everything from chicken feet to fist-sized rocks of jade. And, also like its once-colonial sibling, the city is lush with parks, botanical gardens and nature reserves. Whether you’re sipping Singapore Slings in the Raffles Hotel or tasting the world’s best street food in Chinatown, Singapore is a worthy exchange.

Fly to Singapore

9. Trade margaritas in Mexico for micheladas in Costa Rica

Both delivering heavenly beaches, lush jungles and ancient ruins, Mexico and Costa Rica have plenty in common. For an alternative to the former, swerve the glitzy all-inclusive beach resorts of Cancún and Tulum on the Yucatán Peninsula, and head to the quieter and less commercial shores of Costa Rica. If you still want a swish beach resort – but without the crowds – head to the Papagayo Peninsula, while Puerto Viejo combines a laidback surf vibe with adventure, from zip-lining through a cloud forest to trekking in the jungle.

Fly to Costa Rica

10. Sub Key West for the Cayman Islands

With palm-fringed beaches and consistently warm temperatures, the Cayman Islands certainly match the appeal of the Florida Keys. Soak up the sun on Seven Mile Beach, crowned one of the Caribbean’s best beaches, or visit shallow sandbars where you can snorkel. The islands are a dream for divers, thanks to the epic marine life you might glimpse at Bloody Bay Wall and the Kittiwake shipwreck. Nature lovers can visit the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park or hit the Mastic Trail through the last remaining untouched old-growth forests in the Caribbean.

Fly to Cayman Islands