BRR-ILLIANT! Swap the big freeze for 22°C sun and £54-a-night weekends
Forecasters are warning Britain to brace for more cold, grey and possibly snowy weather. But sun-seekers can tell winter to do one with a 48-hour escape to Tenerife, Malta or Benidorm — without torching their bank balance.
Holidaymakers looking to beat the winter blues can bag a weekend in the sun from just £54 per night for a hotel in Benidorm, according to new price analysis by atravel.uk.
As the Met Office warns of below-average temperatures and a return of snow risk later in January, the search for a quick sunshine fix is heating up. And the good news? You don’t need a fortnight in the Caribbean to feel human again. A long weekend in the Med — or just off the coast of Africa — can do the job.
We’ve crunched the numbers on three classic winter sun spots: Tenerife, Malta and Benidorm. The result: 48 hours of daylight, decent temperatures and prices that won’t make you choke on your builder’s tea.
The three winter sun weekends that won’t break the bank
| Destination | January weather | Weekend cost (2 adults, excl flights) | Monthly rate pattern | Best time to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | 21.7°C by day; 6.2 hours of sun; sea around 20°C | From £175 for two nights (budget option) | Jan–Feb: high winter rates but still competitive. May–Jun and Sep–Oct: cheapest months (£55–80 per person per day). | January is the cheapest month to fly from the UK, with one-way fares from £26 on easyJet. |
| Malta | 15–16°C by day; 5 hours of sun; no frost | From £140 for two nights (two people, budget) | Nov–Mar: low season, rock-bottom prices (hotels from €60–90 per night). Apr–Jun and Oct: best mix of weather and price. | January–February, avoiding school holidays and festive breaks. |
| Benidorm | 15–16°C by day; 6 hours of sun; around 10°C at night | From £108 for two nights (hotel and food, two people) | January: cheapest month of the year at £54 per night — 64% less than July. February: £62. July–August: up to £148 per night. | January and February. Book 4–6 weeks ahead to catch package deals and unsold rooms. |
Prices are indicative, for two adults, exclude flights unless stated, and are subject to availability.
Tenerife: the winter sun banker
Tenerife is the safe bet. While Britain shivers, the south of the island is still hitting highs of nearly 22°C, with more than six hours of sunshine a day and a sea temperature that’s bracing but doable for the brave.
Budget travellers can get by on around £70 per person per day, including cheap accommodation, simple food and public transport. And the flight is the real bargain: January is the cheapest month to fly from the UK to Tenerife, with fares from £26 one-way if you book early.
Malta: sunshine with a side of culture
Malta isn’t a beach holiday in January — but it is a cracking city break with sun on your face. Think Valletta strolls, coffee in the square and low-season prices.
A savvy traveller can do the island on £43–69 per person per day, including budget digs, local food and the reliable bus network. Night-time temperatures hover around 10°C, and frost is basically unheard of. It’s not sunbathing weather, but it’s a million miles from a grey British high street.
Benidorm: the bargain bucket
Benidorm is the cheapest of the lot. January is its lowest-price month for hotels, with rates up to 64% cheaper than in July. The resort is quieter than in summer, but the bars, restaurants and seafront promenade are still open for business — and the sun puts in around six hours a day.
For a couple, a two-night weekend can cost from £108 including hotel and food. That’s less than a round of Sunday roasts and a takeaway.
How to bag the best deal
The trick is flexibility. Tenerife is competitive in January for flights, with the best window 2–3 months before departure. Malta is cheapest between November and March, excluding Christmas and New Year. Benidorm rewards early bookers who snap up deals 4–6 weeks ahead.
To compare weekend breaks and see the total cost — flights included — go to atravel.uk and search your dates. Sun, sea and a sensible bill are waiting.
ENDS
About atravel.uk
atravel.uk is a weekend-break search platform comparing flights and accommodation for sun and city escapes, with a focus on the British market. Its aim is to make short breaks affordable without blowing the budget.
Notes to editors
- Weather data: BBC Weather (January 2026); Weather2Travel and Thomas Cook for Tenerife, Malta and Benidorm averages.
- Weekend costs: estimates based on Tourlane (Tenerife), HubpyMalta (Malta) and Budget Your Trip / HotelMonitor (Benidorm).
- Monthly rate patterns: HotelMonitor (Benidorm), Flight Tribe (Tenerife and Malta) and The Traveler (Malta low season).
- Contact: David Barrera, theaxion@gmail.com, +44 7587 177903.