As November rolls on, our longing to escape the British winter for some sunshine increases. For warm weather and beaches, winter sun destinations like Dubai or the ever-popular Canaries take some beating, both for guaranteed warmth and for value. Winter sun is not the only option however – we wanted to give you a few ideas and so have  found 4 great January deals which give you affordable inspiration, no matter which type of holiday you’re thinking of booking!

Beach: The Gambia
4* All Inclusive from only £440 p/p

In the last decade or so, The Gambia’s inviting beaches and warm weather have helped gain it considerable popularity among savvy holidaymakers from across Europe. For example, we’re currently offering 7 nights all inclusive the Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa in Brufut Heights on The Gambia’s Atlantic coast from only £440 p/p. You’ll be able to explore the many small fishing villages dotted along the coast and, if you head along the River Gambia on a leisurely river cruise, do some birdwatching in the mangrove forests and lush nature reserves.

HDC beach2

City Break: Palma de Majorca
3* Bed and Breakfast from only £116 p/p

Mallorca and the Balearics are enduringly popular with Brits throughout the long summer season. However, that’s not to say they don’t offer much for tourists outside this peak period. You can enjoy 7 nights bed and breakfast at the family-run Hotel Araxa near the historic centre of Palma de Majorca for as little as £116 p/p. Just a 5-minute walk from Catedral and the cluster of narrow medieval streets around the waterfront, you’ll be able to explore the cultural and culinary highlights. Average temperatures in January are just over 10 ˚C with highs of 15 ˚C, which will feel positively balmy compared to the UK.

HDC city break

Ski: French Alps
3* Self Catering from only £188 p/p

There’s more than one way to get a tan. After 7 nights self-catering at the 3* Sunotel in the family-friendly village of Les Carroz, you – or the kids, at least – will be feeling fully recharged. Part of the Grand Massif in the French Alps, the resort of Les Carroz is perfect for intermediate skiers looking for a good mix of nursery slopes and steeper off-piste runs. The village is traditional and quieter than those of the neighbouring Chamonix valley, but there’s still more than enough lifts and runs to keep the whole family happy.

HDC ski

Long-haul: Mexico
3*All Inclusive from only £510 p/p

For a younger crowd and a final, long-haul option, the resort of Cancun on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula offers glitz and glamour, warm weather and a vast stretch of white sand. Mexico’s most famous resort also offers great value: you could enjoy 7 nights all inclusive at the Imperial Las Perlas from only £510 p/p. Once there, you’ll be ideally placed to explore the Cancun’s energetic heart, so famously congested with American students throughout Spring Break. Head away from the beachfront, however, and you can find the canunenses enjoying the taco stands and best local bars.

Are you planning a winter escape to the sun or a January ski trip? Let us know your favourite destinations by commenting below or on Facebook.

Images via Flickr: D Piris, Price Travel Pictures, Paul Appleton, Gatanass, dronepicr.