On the hunt for some winter sun but can’t face the thought of feeling sluggish for days? We’ve done the hard work for you and found the hot-weather destinations that minimise jetlag and maximise your time off
Words Hannah Hopkins
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Gambia
This small sliver of West Africa is in the same time zone as the UK and ideally place for fly-and-flop escapes. In terms of raw temperatures – they float between 32C and 35C during the window of December-March, and it’s a surprisingly inexpensive holiday destination too.
Morocco
Morocco also keeps in step with GMT. Easily accessed from UK airports, you won’t get super hot temperatures, but you can still hope for a pleasant 19C if you flit to Essaouira between December and April.
Tenerife
Tenerife, in the Canary Islands keeps to about 20C between December and March and is the perfect blend of Spanish food and culture and a near-Africa location.
Lanzarote
Lanzarote is a year-round haven which bathes in a 20C glow during the European winter.
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Seville
Andalusia’s capital Seville is a magical slice of Unesco-listed Moorish heritage and Spanish sophistication, which is back up to 20C by March.
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Cape Verde
This African archipelago, 350 miles west of Senegal, is often overlooked but can provide stunning stretches of sand and heat of 25C between December and March. Opt for Sal and Boa Vista islands for the best beach tourism.
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Cape Town
South Africa’s most celebrated city has a bit of something for everyone. History, shopping, beach relaxation and some of the best food in the world. Did we mention the temperature is a balmy 25C during Europe’s chilly period?
Namibia
Next door and to the north of Cape Town, Namibia drops the temperature by two degrees, but is a prime proposition for a safari in January or February.
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Brazil
A curiosity of the clock sees ten states in the south-west of Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, adopt daylight saving time from October to February – even though the rest of the nation does not follow suit. This means, oddly, that Rio is only two hours behind GMT in December – while Salvador, the capital of Bahia, languishes at GMT-3, despite standing further east.
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Kenya
Perfect for a last minute safari, Kenya’s savannah is packed with lions, elephants, giraffes and more but also boasts ocean escapes.
Zanzibar
Dreamy Zanzibar is a picture-perfect location for winter sun and warm waters, with temperatures in winter hitting 28C. We’re sold.
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Argentina
Slotted into the Southern Hemisphere at GMT-3, the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires boasts temperatures of 30C making daily promises of al fresco lunches in the gilded districts of Palermo, Retiro and Recoleta.
