Dubai

While this tiny Emirate may have lost some of its lustre during the recent financial crisis, Dubai remains an archetypal winter sun destination – good weather is all but guaranteed, there’s a choice of outstanding (and now better value) hotels and restaurants, pristine beaches, warm sea, famously good shopping, and all within reasonable flying time of the UK. Cultural attractions may be light on the ground, but that is simply not what Dubai is about. What it does, it does very well.