Lift your Spirits with our Winter Sun Hotlist

07 October 2008

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The ultimate guide to catching some rays this winter

If you’re suffering after a summer that never really got off the ground with the prospect of months of grey winter weather ahead, there’s only one thing for it - get yourself a dose of medicinal winter sun. First things first, check out our winter sun hotlist for the latest chic retreats in hot spots around the globe.

Thanks to those big wigs at i-escape.com we have have sought-out a selection of stylish sanctuaries in the sun, each offering something a little special, from a luxe cave in the Canaries to a brand new eco-retreat on an Indonesian private island. With prices starting from £40 per room per night, sun-seekers can choose to get their fix in a far flung destination or opt for somewhere a little closer to home.

The brand spanking new Dar Bibine in Djerba, Tunisia is a seriously chic 4 bed maison d’hotes. It’s brilliant white walls and cerulean blue doors are reminiscent of a Greek island but the designer furnishings are straight off London’s Kings Road, Philippe Starck dressing tables sit alongside Descampes bath robes. Enjoy the hearty breakfasts, top up the tan on the tranquil roof terrace, relax beside the pool or immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the old medina. Dar Bibine costs from £95 per room per night, including breakfast and a bottle of wine.

Next stop on the winter sun trail is the Canarian island of Lanzarote, off the coast of west Africa, which offers guaranteed year-round sunshine only 4 hours' flight from London. Stay away from the over developed coastal resorts and escape inland to the hippy hideaway of Casa El Morro, with its shady gardens, big pool, Balinese daybeds and yoga/massage tent in the grounds.

Choose from seven warmly decorated apartments, sleeping 2-5 people, each with a fully equipped kitchen and shady terrace. There are shops and weekly markets in nearby Uga (or you can push the boat out and book a chef); Timanfaya National Park is on your doorstep, for dramatic hikes and horseback rides through stunning volcanic desert-scapes.Suite for 2 from £62 per night; suite for 4 from £98 per night.

Head to the recently opened Riad Dar Rabia in Marrakech, Morocco, if you’re looking for a quiet retreat in this bustling city. This stylish, contemporary villa sleeps 6 and is a wonderfully, tranquil bolthole after the madness of the Medina.

Located a short stroll from the Djemaa el Fna, this place is a bold blend of oriental and western design – mosaic tiled bathrooms and Moroccan silks combine with sleek beds and modern TVs. Lie back on a slick wicker sunbed and enjoy that all important sunshine on the spacious roof terrace. The Riad sleeps six and costs from £166 per night, including breakfast.

Newly opened this year, Nikoi Island combines barefoot luxury with eco-friendly principles. Located just 2 hours from Singapore, this Indonesian private island offers the ultimate Robinson Crusoe experience – white sandy beaches, gin-clear waters, coral reefs and a rainforest teeming with birds.

Nikoi Island is so unspoilt you feel you've rented the whole thing for yourself; especially because there are only 6 beautiful Indonesian beach houses. You'll not be short of things to do - choose from snorkeling, island hopping, fishing, sailing, beach-combing, wildlife spotting or just reclining on a daybed, cocktail in hand. A one bedroom beach house costs from £117 per night, room only.

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