What could be more luxurious than escaping the cold, rain and snow and venturing off to a hot, sunny, peaceful oasis miles from any where?  You don’t need to spend a fortune for a winter island getaway in the sun but if relaxation is what you are looking for, then a winter holiday on a beautiful island is the perfect choice!

For holidays on the beautiful Seychelles islands it is best to wait until March when the rains have calmed, although the temperatures average about 29 degrees centigrade throughout the year. April and October are the best months to dive as the weather changes from winter to summer (and vice versa). The Seychelles’ Bird Island is just 30 minutes flight from Mahe and the journey is spectacular as you look down at the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean sprinkled with tiny islands and coral cay.

On the glorious island of Mauritius, November to April is the summer time with water temperatures reaching up to 28 degrees centigrade and winds usually steadily blowing and warm.  Little islands are dotted around the Mauritius coast, so why not explore or stay on Ile aux Cerfs, Ile Ambre or Ile Ronde? Surf, swim, snorkel – horse ride, explore the botanical gardens of Pamplemousse or the leisure park near Port Louis.

If you’d rather enjoy a winter island getaway in the Caribbean then the popular island of Jamaica is where you should find a good selection of cheap holidays, and the weather is at its best, especially in the north of the island.  Choose a cheap all inclusive holiday in Jamaica where you may enjoy entertainment day and night, or choose a luxury spa hotel in Jamaica where you can relax and partake in many treatments. Play golf, take a trip to the Blue Mountains, try your hand at deep sea fishing or simply laze by the pool…

For a winter Caribbean island holiday you could also stay in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Antigua, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts or Cuba.

In the South Pacific, the rainy season is from November to April, so for winter island getaways, why not wait until late April to visit the beautiful islands of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa or the Cook Islands?

For a getaway island holiday closer to home, Madeira in the Atlantic and the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria are popular.

There are many fabulous and exciting countries to visit for a New Year holiday worldwide.

Cheap holidays to Dominican Republic in the Caribbean are available at the moment (13 December) for one week departing from Gatwick on Wednesday 30th December with Thomson Holidays.  Stay in the four star plus all inclusive ClubHotel Riu Bambu in Bavaro, Punta Cana including coach transfers from £1393 per person.  Wake up on New Year’s morning to the beautiful sight of fourteen miles of white tropical beaches, and blow away the cobwebs of 2009 with games of water polo and volleyball, scuba diving lessons and windsurfing.

The beautiful Maldives and spectacular Seychelles in the Indian Ocean are extra special New Year holiday destinations. Kuoni Holidays have last minute offers for 7 nights from 28 December staying at the boutique five star Velassaru Hotel in the Maldives from £2263 per person, and Labriz Hotel in the Seychelles from £4401 per person.

Tropicalsky are offering holidays at the end of December to Le Meridien on the island of Phuket in Thailand, from £1209 per person for six nights and holidays to the Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso Spa in Bali for 7 nights from £1439 per person.

If you are looking for a New Year Holiday for the family with lots of activities, a holiday in Orlando, Florida is always popular. Not only is there an extensive choice of accommodation in and around Orlando, but so much to keep the youngest to the oldest member of the family happy. Travel to the Orlando Theme Parks, Movie Studios and Orlando Shopping Malls and factory outlets for an exciting Florida holiday at New Year.  Holidayhypmarket have New Year package holidays available from £1193 per person for 7 nights, flying from Gatwick on 28 December and staying in a two star Resort hotel on room only basis.