Christmas is coming early this year. If you need a burst of winter sun, travel in the weeks leading up to the festivities: bookings have been scarce and tour operators are slashing prices by up to 50% on brochure prices. Go on – treat yourself.

KENYA

December is a great month, both for viewing game and lounging on beaches. Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk ) has a three-night safari in the Tsavo National Park, full-board, combined with four nights, half-board, at the four-star Leopard Beach Hotel. Depart on December 17 and the price drops from £1,534 to £795.

Or skip the safari and crash out at the five-star Flamingo Beach Hotel, set in lush tropical gardens on Shanzu beach, near Mombasa. Two weeks, full-board, is reduced from £1,199 to £589 with Lastminute.com (0870 443 9902, www.lastminute.com ).

INDIAN OCEAN

In the Maldives, a fortnight at the four-star Meeru Island Resort costs £849, all-inclusive – saving £666 – if you depart on December 9 with Hayes & Jarvis (0871 664 0246, www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk ).

Or try the Seychelles, where a week’s half-board on Denis Island is reduced by £530 to £2,255 with Seasons in Style (01244 202000, www.seasonsinstyle.com ).

In Mauritius, a week at the Oberoi costs £1,640, saving £435, with The Ultimate Travel Company (020 7386 4646, www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk ). And Club Med’s La Plantation d’Albion is reduced by £385 to £1,827, with meals, drinks, sailing, golf and tennis included, departing on December 7. Bookings: 08453 676767, www.clubmed.co.uk .

CARIBBEAN

Barbados over Christmas costs an arm and a leg, but there are bargains to be had in the preceding weeks. Funway Holidays (0844 557 0770, www.funwayholidays.co.uk ) has a week’s all-inclusive in a junior suite at the four-star Turtle Beach Resort for £1,329, saving £950.

At Settlers Beach, a week self-catering in a villa for two with shared pool is reduced from £1,214 to £910 with CV Travel (020 7381 7494, www.cvtravel.co.uk ).

In St Lucia, a week’s all-inclusive at the five-star Jalousie Plantation, departing on December 2, has been reduced by £500 to £1,292 with Harlequin (020 7821 4050, www.harlequinholidays.com ).

In Jamaica, Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort offers “ultra all-inclusive”, which includes scuba-diving and unlimited golf at the nearby Sandals Golf & Country Club. A week costs £999, down £379, with Virgin Holidays (0870 990 4215, www.virginholidays.com ).

GAMBIA

For budget winter sun it’s hard to beat the Gambia, where a week’s B&B at the five-star Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa costs £495, reduced by £238, with Olympic Holidays (0870 429 4242, www.olympicholidays.com ).

At the three-star Hotel Sunset Beach in Kotu, a week’s B&B departing from Manchester on December 11 costs £335, saving £100, with Thomson (0870 160 4529, www.thomson.co.uk ).

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk ) has nine nights in Malaysia – two in Kuala Lumpur followed by seven on the beach at the four-star Golden Sands in Penang – reduced from £1,226 to £699. The holiday departs on December 3 and must be booked by October 31 (no meals).

In Thailand, 10 nights at the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Resort in Ko Samui with Ethos Travel (020 7739 5700, www.ethostravel.co.uk ) costs £998, reduced by £271 (no meals). INDIA

In Goa, the Leela is a sumptuous five-star hotel on an idyllic stretch of beach. A week departing on December 1 or 8 has been reduced by Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk ) from £1,401 to £979. Premium flight upgrades are available for £215 return. DUBAI

Three nights in December at the luxurious five-star Shangri-La hotel, including Silverjet business-class flights, cost £1,529, saving £140, with Premier Holidays (08444 937542, www.premierholidays.co.uk ).

Hayes & Jarvis (0871 664 0246, www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk ) has five nights at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, departing on December 6, for £649, reduced by £220.

USA

In Florida, five nights at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, departing on December 18, cost £707, saving £300, with Jetlife (0871 902 7877, www.jetlife.com ). The deal includes car hire, but no meals, and must be booked by October 31.

Or head to Fort Lauderdale on December 13 for a night at the Hyatt Regency, followed by a five-night cruise in a penthouse suite on the Seven Seas Voyager. The itinerary takes in Key West, Cozumel, Belize City and Costa Maya, and the price is down from £2,704 to £1,929 with White Star Cruises (0845 643 1878, www.whitestarcruises.com ).

Unless stated, all prices are per person, based on two travelling, including flights from a London airport, transfers and B&B. For regional departures, contact the tour operator