It’s appropriate that the island at the crossroads of Europe and Africa should offer both winter sun and winter sports. It’s not as hot as Hurghada, or as snowy as Chamonix, but skiing in the Troodos Mountains in the morning and hitting the beach in the afternoon is entirely possible in Cyprus. Paphos is the place to stay: unlike resorts such as Ayia Napa and Protaras, it remains open year-round, and if you avoid December and January – when most of the annual rain and all of the annual snow falls on the island – you can expect balmy days and cool nights.

The classic Follow the winding path through the fragrant tropical gardens at the Annabelle by the light of the full moon over the wine-dark sea, and it’s easy to imagine encountering Aphrodite and Adonis, frolicking at the water’s edge. The goddess of love emerged from the sea just down the coast, and her handsome lover-boy was conceived in a fabulous royal palace right here in Paphos, which archeologists say was almost as luxurious as the Annabelle. The price is £983, with Sunvil Specialist Cyprus (020 8758 4758, www.sunvil.co.uk).

The twist Where the Annabelle does deluxe, the Almyra does design. Think big white sofas, black-slate pools and a Café del Mar soundtrack. Think sushi instead of souvlaki, day beds instead of sun loungers, and more Zen-influenced precision than you can shake your yoga mat at. On paper, it looks too cool for school, but it’s not. It’s happy, friendly, oozes old-fashioned Cypriot hospitality and loves children. The price is £566, with Original Travel (020 7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk).

EGYPT
How far? 5hr
How hot? 71F

If winter sun means cloudless skies and zero chance of rain, then Egypt is your best bet. The coolest month is January, but that doesn’t mean much here: temperatures are delightfully balmy and, for eight hours a day, the only thing crossing that clear blue sky is the sun. Such perfect conditions mean that demand is high for this time of year, so the tip is to book early.

The classic Forget Cairo, Alexandria and landlocked Luxor, and head instead for the Red Sea riviera. That’s right, the Red Sea riviera – the land God created and man walloped with the ugly stick, building resorts such as the utterly charmless Sharm el Sheikh. If you look hard enough, however, oases of decorous tranquillity can be found. Just outside Hurghada lies the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh, offering refined relaxation amid acres of date palms and bougainvillea, and half a mile of dazzling, deserted white beach. Prices start at £1,310, with Scott Dunn (020 8682 5075, www.scottdunn.com) The twist In Marsa Alam, at the wild southern end of the riviera, try the vast Port Ghalib resort: three five-star hotels, and a four-star annexe for your butler, set around the second-largest sea-water swimming pool in the world. Built by the company behind South Africa’s Sun City, it’s new this winter, so likely to be a little rough around the edges, but deals are to be had. Thomas Cook (0870 750 5711, www.thomascook.com) has a week in the five-star Sahara Sun Oasis from £599.

MADEIRA
How far? 4hr
How hot? 68F

If you want winter sun without baking beaches and sticky sunbeds, try Madeira, the isle of eternal spring. There is a seaside, but it’s usually a long way down a steep slope, so loafing here involves terraces, pavement cafes and long lunches. Exercise options include worldclass golf, downhill rides in wicker luges and exploring the 1,600 miles of levadas – the irrigation channels that run like arteries across the island.

The classic Reid’s Palace still has a billiards room, where an avuncular attendant will chalk your cue and keep score. It still offers tango lessons, and it still insists on whites for tennis and a jacket for dinner – the black-tie code has, sadly, been dropped. Every room has a sea view, and the dry martini is the driest in the world. How classic do you want it to be, for Pete’s sake? The price is £1,295, with Elegant Resorts (01244 897777, www.elegantresorts.co.uk). The twist The alternative to the formality of Reid’s Palace is the Choupana Hills Resort and Spa, a distinctly Asian-looking collection of temples to self-indulgence that somehow suit their lush, jungle-like setting high above Funchal. Designed by Kerry Hill, it’s all Zen this and feng shui that, with trickling water, wind chimes and fat little buddhas peeping out of the undergrowth. You can get a week’s R&R from £885, with Classic Collection Holidays (0870 402 0126, www.classic-collection.co.uk).

MAURITIUS
How far? 12hr
How hot? 83F

Back when the NHS had a bit of cash, those suffering from any degree of ennui would be packed off to the seaside to convalesce. The idea was to sit still and do nothing while the sea breezes and sunshine chased your blues away. The 21st-century equivalent is called Mauritius. The hotels are among the most gorgeous in the world, the water is warm, the beaches are dazzling and the sightseeing is nonexistent. So you’re forced to sit still and do nothing while the sea breezes and the sunshine chase those blues away.

The classic These days, those staying at Le Saint Géran and Le Touessrok tend to be reading Hello! magazine, rather than appearing in it – and, despite their indisputably lovely locations, both seem a little dated. So, if you’re looking for exclusive luxury, try the elegantly understated Royal Palm, on the northwest coast. Grand is the word to describe this hotel, and, by coincidence, Grand Baie, the island’s only night out, is a short stroll along the beach. Abercrombie & Kent (0845 618 2212, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk) has a week in a junior suite from £2,859.