February holidays

Enjoy a beach holiday in february

If it seems as though there’s far too much of the year ahead, an all-inclusive holiday or package holiday in exotic Goa will soon help you leave the dark days well and truly behind.

While many people are just beginning to turn their thoughts to the holiday season, here in Goa, it’s in full swing, with daily temperatures which rarely drop below 30 degrees C.

Offering a real taste of India with a cosmopolitan edge born from its popularity as a winter sun getaway, Goa’s coastal villages are scattered with picturesque houses and the remains of fortresses, while as you venture inland the scenery gets increasingly dramatic. And of course, with 85 miles of palm-fringed coastline, there is plenty of space for stretching out and soaking up the sun.

As holiday backdrops go, the view of Table Mountain from most of Cape Town takes some beating, and in February you can catch the city at its best, just before it begins to retire into its low season.

The Atlantic Ocean provides the coastline with a rich variety of wildlife, including whales and penguins, while the Victoria and Albert Waterfront is a tourist magnet for its craft shops, cafes and restaurants, and designer boutiques.

You’re also just a short distance from one of the world’s most productive wine regions, and many of the estates offer tours including a chance to taste the fruits (literally) of their labours.

enjoy some sunshine in phuket

Thailand’s favourite resort, Phuket, is all about its fabulous beaches and busy nightlife, but there’s also plenty to appeal to couples.

Lying in the Andaman Sea, and attached to mainland Thailand by a causeway, it also offers its share of more sedate attractions, notably the Wat Chalong temple, whose glass-festooned facade creates an amazing sight, and the Big Buddha, a more modern landmark which towers over many parts of the peninsula.

If it’s the full experience of beaches and partying that you’re after, then head for Patong; otherwise, the beach at Kata is quieter and hence attracts a more family-orientated crowd.

take to the slopes on a skiing holiday

The French have concocted a word – Paradiski – to encapsulate the essence of the resort of La Plagne. Comprising 10 separate villages, there is a mix of both ski-in, ski-out accommodation and more traditional bases at lower altitude. Together with neighbouring Les Arcs, visitors have more than 250 miles of piste to tackle, and can base themselves in either charming, traditional lower-altitude villages, or purpose-built accommodation offering ski-in, ski-out convenience at higher levels.

Skiing classes encompass every level of ability, while the resort is very family-friendly, with tobogganing and snow play areas, along with plentiful childcare facilities.

Chamonix, meanwhile, is the country’s oldest and largest ski resort, where the attractions for skiers co-exist alongside more traditional and well-established facilities including a wide range of shops and other services, and a great choice of après-ski diversions away from the slopes.

Another child-friendly resort, here you can take them to visit the zoo or nature reserve if you fancy some time away from the slopes.

In the shadow of France’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, Chamonix has 100 miles of piste, ranging from nursery slopes to black runs, with plenty of off-piste possibilities to spice things up!

book a February holiday in america

Jackson Hole is one of America’s top 10 ski resorts, attracting extreme skiers and winter sports fans from all over the country, while earning an excellent reputation for the quality of its ski and snowboard school.

A relaxed and casual après-ski is a big attraction, with more than 70 restaurants to choose from, as well as breweries, bistros and cafes.

A former frontier town, older areas still exude a Wild West atmosphere with lots of line dancing and country and western music on the entertainment programme, while several guest and dude ranches allow guests to experience an authentic cowboy lifestyle.

The resort’s two main mountains offer 111 ski runs between them, varying from deep powder to fast cruising, with beginners’ areas well segregated and marked.

enjoy some sunshine in bangkok

Just getting into its summer, Bangkok offers plenty of variety, the city’s renowned hustle and bustle, and a climate which puts many other holiday destinations in the shade – especially for British visitors in February!

Visually the city is stunning, with vast, modern skyscrapers erupting from the shadows of ancient wats (temples), and an array of museums and galleries strung along the banks of the Chao Phraya river presenting a feast for the eyes.

Feasts of a different kind are in store for lovers of good food, as you can discover the real origins of the cuisine of a country which has made its mark on the world in recent years. Street restaurants abound, which are completely informal, and offer quick, cheap meals in sometimes chaotic, yet totally authentic surroundings.

take in the sights at ho chi minh city

Visit Ho Chi Minh City in February, and you will find yourself in the height of its dry season, yet at a time when the weather is slightly cooler than the rest of the year, although still pleasantly warm.

Formerly Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital is a throbbing metropolis of five million people – all of whom seem to be out on the streets much of the time, if the constant buzz of traffic and movement is anything to go by.

Look out for remnants of its French colonial past, which stand out in stark contrast to the bleak, utilitarian style of Communist-era buildings.

Yet the Lunar New Year often falls in February, and is one of the peak seasons for inbound visitors, although the main holiday season is starting to draw to a close by this time.

take a shopping trip to rodeo drive in february

Glamour is never out of season, and so Los Angeles is a year-round holiday favourite. However, February, the end of the west coast’s rainy season, sees the weather strike a happy medium between the winter chill which has just passed, and the sometimes oppressive heat of high summer.

The seductive delights of Hollywood beckon, while a trip down Rodeo Drive will show you how the other half lives – and shops – with its exclusive designer names crowding the pavement.

Music lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the House of Blues, the city’s original home of lives blues music where a surprisingly good-value meal might be accompanied by tunes from some top-name artists.