Chilly Brits looking to get away from the cold, dark UK winter nights can bag last-minute holidays for a few hundred pounds including the likes of Turkey, Egypt, Greece and Portugal.
If the post-Christmas, dry January trudge is getting a bit much, then a trip away somewhere warm may be in order.
While everywhere in northern and western Europe is far too cold and frosty for a trip to the beach, in the south of the Continent the mercury has started to climb towards more reasonable levels.
There are also some great bargains to be grabbed in northern Africa if you're willing to travel a little further.
Below are some of the last minute winter sun bargains currently on offer.
Looking for more inspiration? We've also got a guide to some of the best hot holiday destinations for March if you're looking to plan a little further ahead!
Malta
The small Mediterranean archipelago is a great place to visit at any time of the year.
Even if the sun isn't shining quite enough to allow for a whole day's lounging on the beach, the . It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and its subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers are there to fill you full of awe.
From March 10 to March 17 you could stay at the Ax The Victoria Hotel from £340 per person, with breakfast and flights from Gatwick included.
Alternatively the same week at the Corinthia Hotel St. Gerorge’s Bay, without board but with flights from Gatwick, is currently on offer from £433 per person.
Meanwhile, easyJet Holidays is offering four-night Malta city breaks from £225pp based on departures from February 6.
The Canary Islands
The Spanish islands are some of the warmest places in Europe in the winter, with temperature averaging 20C in January and getting warmer as the Spring approaches.
Loveholidays is currently offering seven nights at the HL Paradise Island Aparthotel & Waterpark in Lanzarote from February 2 for £468 per person.
The deal is all inclusive and comes with return flights from Birmingham Airport with Ryanair.
From February 21 you could head to Broncemar Beach in Fuerteventura for a week, where all inclusive board and Ryanair flights from London Stansted will cost you £445 per person.
A particularly good feature of the hotel is its enormous central pool that sits along a smaller one decked up with slides for the kids.
The resort town of Caleta de Fuste is just a five-minute walk away, where guests can enjoy the abundance of shops, bars and restaurants before heading back to watch the sunset from their balcony or patio.
Greece
Greece tends to be a little cooler than the Canary Islands, yet is still treated to weather within the low 20s in January and February fairly often.
One particularly nice spot is the island of Rhodes, where you can stay at Rodos Palace for seven nights from 27 March for £388 per person, with return easyJet flights from Edinburgh.
If you're able to manage a really quick turnaround, the Ipsos di Mare Hotel is available from £431 per person for seven nights from January 30, with return flights from London Heathrow included.
The Corfu hotel is very close to the beach and features a restaurant, seasonal outdoor pool, a bar and garden, as well as balconies off each room.
Portugal
At this time of the year the south of Portugal is a lovely place to visit.
Great waves roll in from the Atlantic Ocean onto the coast, where fishing villages on low cliffs overlooking sandy coves are particularly beautiful as the weather begins to warm up.
A week's stay at the Be Live Palmeiras Village Hotel in the Algarve can be yours from £378 per person, including flights from London Luton with Ryanair.
This 4-star hotel sits in a central position in the town of Armacao de Pera and has two poolside bars, a lounge bar, and two buffet-style restaurants - one of which has a spacious outdoor terrace and serves a wide range of local and international dishes.
Down the road guests will find Albufeira, the picturesque old town with white-washed walls, making for an ideal place to see out some shade in the cobbled alleyways or visit the town's churches that date back to the 1500s.
You could also stay at the nearby Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort, which has a huge pool and great views of the sea.
It is available from 15 February for four nights, with return flights from London Gatwick, from £357 per person.
Turkey
This year is a great one to visit Turkey, due to the ease of getting there on one of the many flights departing from across the UK, and its relative cheapness due to the value of the lira.
Antalya in the south of the country is a great place to visit in the winter, with temperatures sticking in the high teens in January.
The Side Royal Palace is a hotel as grand as its name suggests and can be yours from £400 per person for a week from February 18, with return flights from Gatwick included.
The hotel has several restaurants serving Italian and Turkish cuisine as well as a swimming pool and spa.
The Sensitive Premium Resort & Spa is not too far away and offers a week from February 18 from £371 per person, with flights from London Gatwick.
It boasts an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a private beach area and onsite waterpark.
Morocco
Many people make the mistake of visiting Morocco during the summer months, when the North African country can become unbearably hot.
In January the usually hot and sticky Marrakech is a much more manageable 20C on average, with little chance of rain and plenty of sun.
Five days at the Barcelo Palmeraie starts from £360 per person with breakfast and flights from Manchester included from March 12.
The Imperial Holiday Hotel & Spa is a bit cheaper from £300 per person from March 4 to March 11 with flights running from London Stansted.
Both hotels provide good bases from which to visit Marrakech, its stunning Medieval forts and the bewitching medina.
For those after an all-inclusive holiday, First Choice has breaks in February from £446pp including a number of 4* and 5* hotels.
Egypt
The sunniest country of those we have featured is also the furthest away, with a flight from the UK to resort Sharm el Sheikh taking around six hours.
Once you've made the trip you'll be treated to average temperatures of 22C in January and hours of sunshine each day.
The Dive in Resort has a huge central pool that is lined with palm trees and can be stayed it for seven days from February 22 from £498 per person, with flights from London Luton.
Meanwhile TUI is currently offering £100 off Egypt holidays departing before January 31, when your total booking costs at least £1,000.
- Prices based on two adults travelling, unless otherwise specified. Packages correct at the time of writing but can be subject to change and availability.
