Cheshire


<p>When the UK tips into darkness at 4pm and your skin hasn’t seen daylight since October, there’s only one sensible solution: find the sun. But choosing the right escape — one that feels effortless, stylish, and actually restorative — takes more than a few late-night Google searches.</p>



<p>That’s where a good&nbsp;travel agent&nbsp;becomes worth their weight in SPF. The right one will curate, not just book — finding you the last sea-view suite, a direct flight at a civilised hour, or that boutique hotel that never quite makes it to the search results. They’ll handle the logistics (the transfers, the upgrades) so all you have to do is decide which cocktail matches the sunset. Introducing travel agent maestro, Sara Dickenson &#8211; a pro at curating spot-on, dreamy holidays, whatever your need or budget. Here she reveals her insider-approved destinations bringing the heat this winter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thailand">Thailand</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183-1024x683.jpg" alt="Temple in Thailand with orange-robed monks" class="wp-image-6905" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-161183.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>January and February are Thailand’s sweet spot – wedged between the crowds at Christmas and the ensuing monsoon from May that brings sweltering temperatures and lashings of rain. Go during our winter though and it&#8217;s all sunshine and refreshingly pleasant&nbsp;tempertures. You can swing in a hammock in Phuket and catch rays; you can plod around Bangkok without desperately searching for air con, and the green surrounds of Chiang Mai have never looked better when you’re not gasping to escape the clamour and dunk your head in a waterfall… though a wild waterfall wash is always&nbsp;a brilliant idea. That and getting stuck into its fiery and finger-licking foodie scene.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Sara&#8217;s insider tip: It’s popular, but for good reason. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, try Khanom where you can immerse yourself in local, coastal Thai life as well as spot a pink dolphin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cyprus">Cyprus</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581-1024x683.jpg" alt="Blue and white church in Cyprus" class="wp-image-6897" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-pixabay-532581.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>How about an escape to the Med? Though a mellower version to its bustling summer season? Look to Cyprus, when the crowds thin, the beaches empty and the island revels in its slower rhythms. You’ll lunch under citrus trees, walk coastal paths towards whitewashed villages and swim in invigorating seas as clear as glass. Where to go? Limassol’s new marina buzzes with boutique hotels, rooftop bars, and wine bars serving local vintages. Head inland to Lefkara for mountain air and honeyed halloumi, or base yourself on the Paphos coast for slow mornings and sunset swims in water that’s still warm enough to linger in. </p>



<p>Sara&#8217;s insider tip: Don’t be fooled by Paphos’ reputation. It is a wonderful city with ancient ruins and has a beautifully refined feel. Explore the Old Town without an agenda and you’ll be rewarded with Cypriot character, narrow streets, and stunning architecture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-barbados">Barbados</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934-1024x768.jpg" alt="Barbados beach" class="wp-image-6902" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-robyn-w-2788803-5287934.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>Eat, drink, dance,&nbsp;repeat:&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;the advice of Rihanna&nbsp;– the island’s most famous export on how to spend her dream day on Barbados.&nbsp;Here beachgoers can flop in the shade of drooping palms, swim in&nbsp;waters&nbsp;a dazzling shade of azure and&nbsp;cast off&nbsp;for sunset fishing&nbsp;beneath skies as orange as a peach.&nbsp;For a bone fide&nbsp;experience, there’s&nbsp;fish fry, taking place every Friday night in the&nbsp;southwestern&nbsp;village of&nbsp;Oistins, where locals gather for plates of barbecued mahi&nbsp;mahi&nbsp;on no-frills tables&nbsp;and nips of rum in the balmy evening air.&nbsp;&nbsp;And the island is having a quiet renaissance. Iconic spots like Sandy Lane still hum with old-school glamour, but there’s a new, design-led energy pulsing through the island: sleek villas, private-chef dining, and concept hotels that swap flash for flavour. </p>



<p>Sara&#8217;s insider tip: We all know anywhere in the Caribbean can be expensive but there are some hidden gems. There’s my favourite three-star hotel that’s on one of the best beaches on the island. Contact me to find its name.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mauritius">Mauritius</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724-1024x768.jpg" alt="Mauritius boat in the turquoise sea" class="wp-image-6903" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-alex-1858121-3525724.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>Mauritius is an old pro at nailing beachy escapes with all the frills. There are hundreds of top-notch hotels: some are all-singing, all-dancing getaways with private pools, sprawling spas, seamless&nbsp;service&nbsp;and&nbsp;mounds of fresh seafood.&nbsp;Others are more low-key, from eco-conscious resorts tucked into sugarcane hills to concept farm-to-table dining by the surf. This is an island of extraordinary beauty – of flour-soft sand, gin-clear&nbsp;seas&nbsp;and verdant rainforest. Wild dolphins flip through the early morning waves; kayakers launch from shore at sunrise; and colourful markets dish out fiery local curries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Sara&#8217;s insider tip: Go north to escape the rains. Expect a shower or two but these will be brief. Plus it&#8217;s quieter at this time of year and the prices reflect that, and no jet lag.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dubai">Dubai</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502-1024x683.jpg" alt="Dubai in the evening " class="wp-image-6900" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cheshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/11/pexels-nextvoyage-1470502.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>During winter, the action shifts from the malls to the Marina rooftops and the city’s emerging creative quarter, Alserkal Avenue, where galleries, concept cafés and design studios are setting a new cultural pace. Stay at Atlantis The Royal if you want pure theatre, or head out to Bab Al Shams for dune-framed stillness. By night, it’s all about cocktails at Cé La Vi or dinner with a view at Ling Ling &#8211; where the skyline does the talking.</p>



<p>Sara&#8217;s insider tip: Dubai is great for families with so much to do &#8211; I always recommend a desert safari. Alternatively, if you&#8217;re looking for a lower price tag, you could try Abu Dhabi (more cultural experience) or Ras Al Khaimah (more authentic and much quieter).</p>



<p>Tempted? Contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelcounsellors.com/sara.dickenson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sara Dickenson</a>&nbsp;to plan your ultimate winter sun holiday.&nbsp;<strong>T</strong>&nbsp;01270 917091.&nbsp;<br><strong>E</strong>&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sara.dickenson@travelcounsellors.com">sara.dickenson@travelcounsellors.com</a></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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