As the clocks go back in the UK this weekend and the long nights start to smother our daylight hours, now's the time to think about a long haul break; to feel the warmth of the sun again, at 5pm in the evening.

Let's look at a few of the options for a low-cost holiday before Christmas.



The Turtle Beach by Rex Resorts Hotel is directly on a mile-long sandy beach at Great Courland Bay, on the north-west coast of Tobago. The beach is regularly visited by nesting Leatherback turtles, usually between March and July, who turn the beach into home to lay their eggs. The hotel is 7 miles from Tobago`s capital Scarborough and 2 miles from the Mount Irvine golf course. (£602 for 7 nights).



The Sandos Caracol Eco Beach Resort and Spa sits on the exclusive Mayan Riviera in Mexico, ten minutes away from the charming village of Playa del Carmen. This all-inclusive beach resort is in a naturally beautiful area at the edge of an exotic jungle surrounded by mangroves and natural lagoons making it the ideal destination for taking things easy. (£861 for 7 nights - all inclusive).



The Hotel Shaw Park Beach Spa sits on a private beach on Cutlass Bay, Jamaica. Ocho Rios is approximately two miles away. The hotel is next to the mouth of the White River and three miles from the Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, a 25 acre reserve with waterfalls and tropical plants in a stunning hilltop location overlooking the Caribbean. (£713 for 7 nights - all inclusive).



The Grenadian Hotel has the choice of two wide, white-sand beaches; one dedicated to water sports and the other for simply relaxing in the hot Caribbean sun. The hotel rooms are modern and spacious, some with ocean views across Tamarind Bay to the capital of Grenada, St George's - six miles away. (£612 for 7 nights).

If money's a little tight in the lead up to Christmas, you can't go wrong with Goa.


The Peravel Beach Holiday Homes sits on a quiet lane less than a five-minute walk from Candolim Beach. Candolim village has a modest selection of local stores and eateries and Panaji, the capital of Goa, is ten miles away. Candolim beach is wide and sandy and is quieter and more relaxed than some of the towns.(£444 for 7 nights - B&B).

If you are a fan of the long, cold, dark nights (I know my sister is) - try Iceland or Norway. A selection of chilly, ice hotels coming soon.