Tulum, Mexico, 28C
Tulum, on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, is the site of a clifftop Mayan ruin, backdropped by a beach and the sparkling Caribbean sea. The spectacular setting attracts large, daytime crowds, so sunrise is the best – and most beautiful – time to visit. Tulum Playa has plenty of restaurants, bars and boutique hotels. The Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve is a protected area of mangrove swamps and wetlands, where local fishermen act as guides. Other unmissable activities are swimming and diving in nearby cenotes (underground caves and tunnels), and snorkelling around the coral reefs. Coba, a 30-minute drive inland, is another ruined Mayan city. It is centred around two lagoons and includes a pyramid that can be climbed for panoramic views over the jungle. Cabanas La Luna is an eco-resort with a collection of thatched, wooden huts that is right on the Luna beach.
• Cabana for two from £60, minimum three-night stay, cabanaslaluna.com. American Airlines (americanairlines.co.uk) has flights to Cancun for £642 return in November and December
La Orotava, Tenerife, 21C
La Orotava is an aristocratic town in north Tenerife. Wealthy families settled here after the Spanish conquest, and their mansions and churches still line the cobbled streets. There are quirky museums, formal and botanical gardens and opulent restaurants. The town sits in the Orotava valley, between Mount Teide and the Anaga mountains, which is a beautiful area for walking, cycling and wine-tasting (there are around 30 vineyards in the region). The lively nightlife and volcanic sands of Puerto de la Cruz are three miles away – El Bollullo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón are relatively uncrowded beaches. Hotel Alhambra dates back to the 18th century and has an Arabic flavour, and can be found right in the centre of La Orotava.
• Doubles from £72, alhambra-teneriffa.com. Air Europa (aireuropa.com) is offering return flights for £149 in December
Miami, US, 26C
Winter in South Beach, Miami, means sun, shopping and strutting your stuff on the sand, but there are cultural offerings too. Museums, art galleries and theatres abound, while a foodie walking tour of the art deco district offers a historical insight, as well as the lowdown on the best street food and restaurants (miamiculinarytours.com). The hip Pelican Hotel, just a few minutes from the beach, has 25 kitsch rooms with themes ranging from "Best whorehouse" to "Me tarzan, you vain".
• Doubles from around £125 a night, pelicanhotel.com. BA (ba.com) has return flights from £430 in November
Essaouira, Morocco, 21C
Essaouira, a beach-side town with a laid-back attitude and a stiff sea breeze, is an alternative to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. There are great views out to the Atlantic from the ramparts surrounding the medina – the wind-whipped waves are a clue to the popularity of kitesurfing in the area. Camel and horse rides are good ways to explore the long, sandy beaches and surrounding countryside. Essaouira is known for the arts, from woodwork and raffia to painting and music. The wood-carving workshops are open to visitors. Hotel Vent des Dunes is a small, simple hotel with a roof terrace, close to the beach.
• Doubles from £24 ventdesdunes.com. EasyJet (easyjet.com) has return flights to Marrakech from £111 in November and December. Buses to Essaouria take around 2½ hours
Diani, Kenya, 31C
Diani Beach is a resort on the Indian Ocean, just south of Mombasa. The beach itself is 16 miles of soft white sand, with dhow cruises plying the shoreline. The area is known for its colobus monkeys – Colobus Conservation (colobusconservation.org) will take visitors on a guided monkey walk. Whale sharks are another notable species and the East African Whale Shark Trust runs shark safaris (giantsharks.org) to snorkel alongside them (peak season for whale sharks runs from October to March). Kaya Kinondo, a sacred forest for indigenous groups, can be visited as part of an ecotourism project (kaya-kinondo-kenya.com). Stilts Backpackers is a budget way to experience the high life – its forest treehouses are just 200m from the beach.
• Treehouse for two from £20 a night, kenyacoast.biz. Turkish Airlines (turkishairlines.com) has return flights to Mombasa from £405
Ko Lanta, Thailand, 31C
Ko Lanta is an island in the Andaman Sea off the south-west coast of Thailand. It has nine white, sandy beaches and is often used as a base for divers – being the closest island to the fantastic Hin Daeng and Hin Muang dive sites. The island is home to a fascinating mix of cultures, including sea gypsies, who have settled in a coastal village but still have their own language, beliefs and rituals. Lanta old town and the Khao Mai Kaew caves both make great day trips. The Relax Bay resort has its own stretch of beach and a choice of bungalows or luxury tents with sea views.
• Bungalows from £21, relaxbay.com. Vietnam Airlines (vietnamairlines.com) has return flights to Bangkok from £420. Thai Airways (thaiairways.co.uk) from Bangkok to Krabi from £102 return, where there is a ferry to Ko Lanta
Puerto Rico, Caribbean, 29C
San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, makes for an interesting winter sun destination. There is a magnificent fortress and citadel on either side of the old town's narrow streets, and numerous historic buildings inside the ancient city walls. El Condado and Isla Verde have the best beaches. Beyond the city, the El Yunque national rainforest has numerous walking trails – La Mina leads to a waterfall-fed pool for swimming. It is possible to camp in the forest with a free permit, although there are no camping facilities (see elyunque.com for details). A dryer, warmer option is the Gallery Inn in old San Juan, a unique boutique hotel created from six townhouses by its artist owner.
• Doubles from £84, thegalleryinn.com. United Airlines (united.com) has return flights from £507 in December
Kent, England, 30C
Kent may not be known for its tropical temperatures but thanks to the Beach Sun Retreat in Dymchurch, it is possible to bask in English winter sun. The house has a beach bar and the gardens lead directly on to the beach. Sun not shining? That's where the sunroom comes in. It uses sunshine-simulating light therapy that gives the benefits of real sun, safely, with sand underfoot and the sound of the ocean. There is also a cinema room and jacuzzi. Dymchurch is a seaside village just along the coast from arty Folkestone.
• From £780 for a three-night weekend or a four-night midweek stay, sleeping six, oneoffplaces.co.uk.
Temperatures average November high
