As the mercury drops, there's nothing like the prospect of some colour in your cheeks to keep the winter blues at bay.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places within a few hours of these chilly shores where you can indulge your favourite pastime - be it opera or scuba diving - and feel the sun on your face, too.
And this winter, there's more choice than ever. New scheduled flights from GB Airways to favourites such as Cyprus (Paphos), and the Canary Islands (Tenerife North and Fuerteventura) - once the preserve of charter airlines - have made civilised departure times and irregular durations a possibility. Hotels are raising their game, too. Whereas high-rises and faceless chains used to be the norm, a growing number of boutique-style properties are cropping up across the Mediterranean and beyond.
The new kid on the block
Fuerteventura
What's it got to offer? Fuerteventura's main appeal lies in its natural attractions - wild, undeveloped beaches, and a strong headwind which appeals to watersports enthusiasts.
Windsurfers in particular head for the relaxed resort of Caleta de Fustes, on the eastern coast. The larger Corralejo, in the north, is popular with sport fishermen, divers and surfers attracted by the sealife and Atlantic breakers off the tiny, offshore Isla de los Lobos.
Otherwise, people come to Fuerteventura primarily to relax. And when it comes to clothing, some are more relaxed than others. Thanks to the undeveloped nature of the island, it's popular with nudists - particularly the white sandy beaches of Jandia and Sotavento. If you haven't any naked ambition, don't worry - there are more than 150 other beaches to choose from. And if you're worried about being seen, don't be - goats outnumber people by more than two to one, so getting away from the crowds is never a problem.
Where should I stay? The new Gran Hotel Bahia Real (0034 928 535251, atlantishotels.com) is definitely a clothes-on type of place, and a luxurious one at that, with a focus on spa and wellness breaks. Doubles from around £200 per night.
Budget option: The Era de la Corte (0034 928 878705, terra.es/personal/eradelacorte/ingles.htm) in Antigua. A small, rural hotel, doubles from £64 per night.
Getting there: GB Airways (0870 8509850, ba.com) from £169 return from Gatwick.
Average temperature: Dec 19C; Jan 17C; Feb 20C; Mar 21C.
Flight time: 4hrs, 15mins.
Time difference: none.
Arts and culture
Tenerife
What's it got to offer? If all you've seen of Tenerife is Playa de las Americas, be prepared for a shock. This September saw the opening of the Auditorio in Santa Cruz, a spectacular concert hall designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish architect behind the much-lauded City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. Also trained as an engineer, Calatrava specialises in audacious shapes that test the limits of his materials - this one features an enormous concrete wave breaking over the roof. The 1,700 seat venue is the permanent home of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra - UK ticketing specialist Liaisons Abroad (020-7376 4020) can arrange tickets from around £35.
Santa Cruz itself is a pleasant Spanish city, but the rest of the island demands exploration, particularly the volcanic Mt Teide national park. Its weird landscape was formed by a massive eruption several million years ago and is ideal for walkers, particularly in the cooler months.
Where should I stay? The Hotel San Roque (0034 922 132435, hotelsanroque.com) in Garachico, not far from Mt Teide and about an hour from Santa Cruz. Every room is different in this converted 17th-century manor house, and every piece of furniture a design classic. Choose from Le Corbusier, Mies van de Rohe or Charles Rennie Mackintosh armchairs. Singles from around £115 per night.
Budget option: The Hotel Victoria in Orotava (0034 922 331 683, victoria.teneriffa.com). A 16th-century mansion, close to Mt Teide national park; doubles from £70.
Getting there: BA (0870 8509850, ba.com) from £169 return.
Average temperature: Dec 17C; Jan 16C; Feb 18C; Mar 18C.
Flight time: 4hrs, 20mins.
Time difference: none.
Shopping and clubbing
Palma, Majorca
What's it got to offer? Smart shops and frenetic nightlife in a smaller, sunnier and more chilled out version of Barcelona. The best thing about Palma is that it can be covered on foot - great news for serious shoppers. You'll need a comfy pair of shoes though, so pop into Camper on Avenida Jaime III first. The iconic shoemaker is Majorcan and you'll pay far less than you would back home. Jaime III leads into Passieg d'es Born, which has big branches of Spanish chains Mango and Zara, as well as lots of smaller boutiques.
You can show off your purchases later at any of Palma's stylish bars. Our favourite is Abaco. It's not cheap (cocktails around £10), but its opulent decor - think tropical foliage, caged birds and exotic murals - make it a must-see.
Clubbers should check out Tito's (entry around £15), which plays anything from cheesy Euro-pop to house, or Pacha (entry around £13). Like its more famous sibling in Ibiza, anything goes here, and usually does.
Where should I stay? The newly opened Convent de la Missió (0034 971 227347, conventdelamissio.com). Once a 17th-century convent, this slice of designer heaven now preaches the gospel of minimalism, with its chic white interior, art gallery and rooftop Zen Garden. There's also a Turkish bath and spa, and a log fire in the bar for winter evenings in. Doubles from around £115 per night.
Budget option: For something more authentically Majorcan, Hotel Born (0034 971 712942) is a rustic but comfortable 18th-century mansion. Doubles from £66.
Getting there: easyJet (0871 7500100, easyjet.com) from £56 return.
Average temperature: Dec 15C; Jan 14C; Feb 15C; Mar 16C.
Flight time: 2hrs, 20mins.
Time difference: +1hr.
Sightseeing
Tunisia
What's it got to offer? A sense of history: if you've any interest in the past, then Tunisia won't disappoint. Its most famous site, Carthage, was once the second largest city in the ancient world. After the Punic Wars, it became its largest ruin. Between 264BC and 146BC, the Carthaginians and the Romans fought three savage wars against each other, and despite Hannibal's memorable crossing of the Alps - complete with elephants and thousands of troops - Rome came out on top. At Carthage you can sense the might of their retaliation: the city was almost razed to the ground.
The colosseum at El Djem has fared better over the years, but the best preserved remains are at Dougga. Both can be seen on day trips from Carthage.
The famous Bardo Museum in Tunis houses Christian and Islamic artefacts, but, again, the Roman collection is the real attraction - it's one of the most comprehensive outside of Italy.
Where should I stay? Hotel Dar Said (00216 71 729 666, darsaid.com.tn) in the pretty village of Sidi Bou Said. The high whitewashed walls of this luxurious townhouse conceal 24 rooms around four courtyards, with antique furniture and hand-carved ceilings. Carthage is a five-minute taxi ride away; Tunis is about 20 minutes by train. Doubles from around £110 per night.
Budget option: If you'd rather be in the thick of things, the Hotel Majestic (00216 71 332 666) is one of the few surviving turn-of-the-century hotels in central Tunis. Doubles from around £30.
Getting there: Tunisair (020-7734 7644, tunisair.com) from £157 return.
Average temperature: Dec 18C; Jan 17C; Feb 19C; Mar 21C.
Flight time: 2 hrs, 50mins.
Time difference: +1hr.
Wellbeing
Cyprus
What's it got to offer? An ever-increasing number of stylish spas. The Cypriot-owned Thanos Group started a trend when it built the Anassa, a secluded bolt-hole tucked away in the unspoilt Akamas peninsula. Built in the style of a Greek village, it takes good, healthy living very seriously. Its restaurant's fruit and vegetables come from its own organic farm. As well as the spa, there's a PADI dive centre, sailing club, and tennis courts.
Since the Anassa opened, Cypriot hoteliers have been building spas and wrapping people in seaweed as if there's a world shortage. The latest luxury property to open in Paphos is the Elysium. Its main selling point is an Aveda spa, which claims ayuvedic massage as its signature treatment. If that all sounds too new age, there's a gym and fitness club on site and two golf courses nearby.
Where should I stay? If you want to get away from it all, choose the Anassa (00357 26 888000, thanoshotels.com) - it's in a secluded part of the island. If you'd rather be near a resort, the Elysium is also luxurious (00357 26 844 444, elysium.com.cy). Doubles at the Anassa cost from £228 per night; from £120 per night at the Elysium.
Budget option: At the Park Mansion (00357 26 945645), a listed 18th-century building in Paphos old town; doubles from £20.
Getting there: Cyprus Airways (020-8359 1333, cyprusairways.com) from £185 return.
Average temperature: Dec 19C; Jan 18C; Feb 20C; Mar 21C.
Flight time: 4hrs, 15mins.
Time difference: +2hrs.
Diving
Egypt
What's it got to offer? Value for money and varied dive sites - from wrecks to reefs - have made the Red Sea the number one spot for British divers. There are plenty of resorts along what the tourist office calls the Red Sea Riviera, not all of which are as crowded or built up as Sharm el-Sheikh. All feature in the major diving operators' brochures, but specialist Hayes & Jarvis recommends somewhere smaller such as Marsa Alam or El Quseir if you're after something less commercial.
Average water temperature in winter is around 20C, and from December to March you can see red snapper, jellyfish, grey reef sharks and the much rarer white-tip reef shark. Above water, weather is mild during winter, and desert safaris and sightseeing excursions are popular alternatives to taking the plunge.
Where should I stay? Hayes & Jarvis (0870 8989890, hayesandjarvis.co.uk) offers seven nights' B&B at the Kahramana resort in Marsa Alam from £459pp, including flights and transfers. PADI open dive courses cost £245; if you're already qualified, five-day dive packs (two dives per day) cost £129. All equipment is included.
Average temperature: Dec 20C; Jan 19C; Feb 18C; Mar 19C.
Flight time: 5hrs.
Time difference: +2hrs.
· Air fares are quoted with tax; hotel rates are on a B&B basis.
