Cheap winter sun in the Canaries: your guide to spending less

Illustration of a sunlit volcanic coast with a sandy bay, white buildings and a beach bag.

Swap the radiator for a seaside café without letting your holiday budget run away with itself. The Canaries bring Atlantic beaches, volcanic scenery and the chance of lunch outdoors while Britain reaches for another jumper. Here’s how to choose your island, compare the whole bill and give your winter escape a little suitcase magic.

The world’s best Christmas markets for 2026

Christmas illuminations between buildings in vienna austria

If your ideal winter evening involves glowing wooden chalets, something delicious in a paper bag and a hot drink warming your fingers, your festive escape starts here. From Vienna’s grand Rathausplatz to Québec’s German-inspired stalls, these are ten Christmas markets worth putting on your 2026 wish list. And yes, three of our picks are right here in the UK: a passport is entirely optional for this particular sprinkle of Christmas magic.