Update: The lockdown in the UK is finally lifted! You can start planning your much-needed holiday, or the winter sun getaway you’ve been dreaming about for so long. With Eddy Travels, using a simple to use AI travel assistant, you can make the whole process of planning your travels as easy as ABC.
But where to go?
Our choices may be limited just now, but there are still so many great destinations waiting to welcome you with open arms. To make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 quarantine-free destinations close to home to get you excited, and ready to start packing your bags.
Whichever destination you decide on, we’d like to remind you to keep up to date with the latest travel restrictions, regulations, and requirements for traveling safely and with peace-of-mind. Most of the destinations we’ve recommended require a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. Be sure to check each destination's individual requirements.
1. Dubai, UAE
Whatever you want from your holiday getaway, Dubai promises and delivers a whole menu of unique adventures and experiences to suit every taste. Choose from some of the best and most luxurious hotels in the world, where you can relax by the pool or lounge by the sea under radiant blue skies with the promise of constant sunshine.
Even Dubai’s architecture is a sight to behold; comparable to New York, Singapore, Sydney, or the other great city skylines around the world. For lovers of shopping, Dubai hosts some of the best and most famous retail outlets to be found anywhere. Sprinkled plentifully with high-end shopping malls, featuring designer stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Chanel, Dubai is a shopper’s paradise.
All of that shopping can create quite a hunger, that’s why Dubai is also a city dedicated to food, even featuring its own yearly food festival. From fine dining to beachside food trucks there is an unlimited variety of dining options that are sure to remind you of the taste of Dubai for years to come.
2. The Maldives
Welcome to the ultimate holiday paradise. Situated in the shimmering turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, and set beneath a gleaming tropical sun, the postcard-perfect archipelago of the Maldives is the vacation destination of a lifetime. Regularly regarded as one the most amazing travel experiences in the world, the Maldives are awash with pure luxury, the ultimate in relaxation, and scenic beauty beyond comparison. Visitors can look forward to experiencing gin-clear sapphire blue waters lapping on the shores of deserted talc-white beaches.
Casting aside the superlatives to describe the Maldives, the islands offer much more than meets the eye. With no visa requirements - 30-day visas are issued on arrival - the islands are easily accessible to everyone. And, with over 1,200 islands, the archipelago is mainly uninhabited leaving plenty of space to enjoy the tranquility, natural beauty, and a host of adventurous and not-so-adventurous activities without the bustle of crowds.
3. Madeira, Portugal
The Portuguese island of Madeira, and its sister island of Porto Santo, only 3 hours flying time from the UK, are the year-round refuge of sun-lovers. Madeira is steeped in history, dating back to the era of great discoveries. Portuguese explorers used the island as a staging point on their voyages to South America and beyond. It’s for this very reason that the island is home to a myriad of colourful tropical vegetation. Banana plantations vie with all manner of exotic fruits and blooms, making the island a riot of delicious colour, 12 months of the year.
Due to the constant and comfortable climate of approximately 22 degrees, the island is the ideal destination to experience warming winter sunshine. From the beautiful green capital, Funchal, following the coastal path along a necklace of quaint fishing villages, to the rugged mountain peaks, Madeira is also a nature lover's haven of total escape. And, with an abundance of fine dining, welcoming local bars and clubs, and markets bursting with fresh produce, Madeira is the break you’ve never had, and the one you will never forget.
4. The Azores, Portugal
The 19 islands which go to make up the Azores archipelago - an autonomous Portuguese offshore region - is more than just a holiday destination, it is an entire collection of the most unique and inspirational travel experiences. Despite not being generally regarded as a beach destination, the tropical Azores does indeed possess a variety of beaches. Besides its beaches and warm swimming coves, the Azores are renowned for the range of activities to be experienced. From biking and bird watching, kayaking and canyoning, hiking and health spas, to horseback riding, golf, and whale watching, visitors will be spoiled for choice.
Although small in size, the islands come crammed with tastes to embrace every food lover. Whether you want to sample a hearty cozido - or stew - cooked in steaming volcanic fissures, or a huge assortment of seafood, including one local speciality, cracas, cooked barnacles - Azorean cuisine is most definitely worth a try. The Azores are full of unique flavours to suit every palate, both gastronomically, and otherwise. One thing you can be sure of, is that any visit to these stunning remote tropical islands will last a lifetime in memory.
5. Tenerife, Canary Islands
Update: Canary Islands were removed from the UK’s travel corridor list on December 12, but you can still travel to one of the other seven destinations freely.
Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, needs little or no introduction to lovers of sun-filled, fun-filled holidays. With year-round sunshine guaranteed, Tenerife has long been a winter retreat for the rich and famous - thankfully those days are gone, and the island’s doors are now wide open to everyone. When the name Tenerife crops up, thoughts usually turn to sunshine, beaches, and nightlife, but if you’re willing to dig a little deeper, you’ll discover a whole universe of new and unforgettable experiences. Take a cable car to the summit of Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, and the third-highest volcano in the world. Hike in the prehistoric laurel forests of Anaga National park.
Experience original Spanish colonial architecture while wandering the picturesque streets of La Laguna. Have a splashing day out at Siam Park, Europe’s largest water park, or simply relax on the long golden toasted sands of El Medano beach. And, as the sun sets, turning the ocean to liquid gold, let the night begin with some of the most delicious food to be found anywhere in Spain.
6. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Update: Canary Islands were removed from the UK’s travel corridor list on December 12, but you can still travel to one of the other seven destinations freely.
From Las Palmas on the north of the island to Maspalomas on the south, the landscapes of Gran Canaria are as diverse as the range of enjoyment to be found here. As part of the Canary Islands archipelago, Gran Canaria benefits from the same year-round sunshine as its near neighbours. The north of the island, and the capital Las Palmas, sits like a green rival to the more rugged and sun-baked south. This duality offers the promise of hiking in the cool shade of pine and eucalyptus forests, exploring the shaded backstreets, cafes, bars, and restaurants of Las Palmas. Drive through the volcanic central highlands, and cross the island’s stunning highest point at the Pico de Las Nieves - and yes, it does snow occasionally here. From here keep traveling east or south until you reach the sun-splashed beaches for which the island is famous.
The beaches are numerous and are usually deserted. From the giant golden dunes of Maspalomas to the small secluded hideaways of Puerto Rico and Playa de Amadores, on the south-west coast, you’ll always find your own personal paradise. Exploring this wonderful, sunny island, is like exploring a whole new world.
7. Corfu, Greece
Deposited like scattered jewels on Greece’s western coast are the islands of the Ionian Sea. Among them is the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), a holiday-makers heaven influenced by a long 2)and multicultural history, adding to its international appeal with tourists from far and wide. In Corfu’s old town - a UNESCO world heritage site - the architectural styles of the Renaissance, Classical, and Baroque eras rub shoulders, adding to the pleasures of dining al-fresco in the city’s many squares, backstreets, and secluded courtyards. The island itself has long attracted lovers of sun, natural beauty, and the warm and genuine welcome of the locals. Whatever your needs to make the perfect holiday, Corfu can provide. From long lazy days on sandy beaches, cooling swims in the sparkling crystal-clear waters, visits to historical sites, castles, and museums, or sampling the hearty multi-influenced cuisine wherever you go, every day can be a whole new range of experiences in Corfu.
Corfu is especially popular with families, most notably for the welcoming hospitality shown to children. Romantic couples and solo travellers are also welcomed with open arms among beautifully instagrammable settings and landscapes. Regardless of who you are, or where you come from, Corfu continues its longstanding tradition of embracing all newcomers to their idyllic Ionian island.
8. Crete, Greece
Crete (Kriti), the largest of the Greek islands, and the one with the greatest potential for discovering everything you need for a vacation with family, friends, or even a deliciously romantic getaway for two. The island is described as being a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures which may need a lifetime to discover fully. But even without a full lifetime to spare, you can still pack as much, or as little as you want, even on a short break on this island of the Gods. Steeped in history dating back to the dawn of true civilization, no matter where you go on Crete you are always close to the past. Across the rolling mountainscapes, or through the deep fertile valleys and gorges, ancient Greece’s inspiring history walks hand in hand with your discoveries. When a long day of hiking in the hills, or relaxing on secluded beaches is done, there is no finer occasion than the setting of the sun to frame the atmosphere of Crete.
Sitting on the welcome veranda of a family taverna, or the balcony of some luxurious eatery, the burning skies of a Cretian sunset will be forever imprinted on your memory. And, if food is your passion, the Cretian kitchen presents a banquet of tastes that can only be presented with a genuine love of hospitality, and a respect for the best ingredients the earth and sea have to offer.
9. Rhodes, Greece
It is no coincidence that the Greek island of Rhodes (Rodos) was the fabled home of Apollo, the God of the Sun. With year-round sunshine and outstanding natural beauty fit for the Gods, Rhodes is one of the most perfect winter holiday destinations. Especially prized are the island’s multiple award-winning beaches. Tsambika and Charak in the east, and Kiotari and Glystra in the south, are just a small example of the huge selection of beaches to while away the hours under the sun in pure unbridled relaxation. The island's coasts are also beloved by surfers and windsurfers, while the mountainous centre of the island becomes the playground for hikers, bikers, explorers, and nature lovers. Rhodes is also highly regarded as an ideal destination for winter breaks and family vacations. Children of all ages will never be short of activities to keep them amused; water parks, horse riding schools, go-karting, golf courses, tennis courts, sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and lots more.
Throughout the millennia, Rhodes has been a hub of trade and commerce for cultures right across the Mediterranean. It is this long tradition that ensures that welcomes on Rhodes are genuinely warm for every visitor to their shores.
Find Your Winter Sun Break Safely
With thousands of great hotel deals, Eddy Travels can help you find the perfect winter sun holiday, in the perfect destination. Just sign up to Eddy Travels and start saving today.
Whatever destination you choose, from Madeira to Dubai, Eddy Travels will help you find safe and sanitised accommodation to suit families, couples, or a group of friends in need of escape during these difficult times.
And remember, always be sure to take note of the latest COVID-19 rules and regulations - both at home and at your destination, to keep you and the others around you safe as you travel.
Get latest information about the UK travel corridors here. Check the coronavirus travel advice before you go: