As summer slips into memory and the northern hemisphere folds back into its colder rhythm, our minds move instinctively toward the warmth. Toward places where winter doesn’t mean grey mornings, early sunsets and heavy coats, but the promise of sunlight, saltwater and evenings spent under an open sky. There is something deeply human about seeking light in the darker months — a quiet longing to feel the sun touch our skin again, to breathe in ocean air, to wake to brighter horizons.

Across the world, there are destinations where winter softens into something gentler: tropical atolls where the sea glows a shade of blue found nowhere else; desert landscapes warmed by late-afternoon sun; rainforests and volcanic islands humming with life; Mediterranean coastlines that stretch summer into December; and cities where the light shifts golden rather than grey. From barefoot island living to design-led urban escapes, from powder-soft beaches to dramatic mountain silhouettes, each place offers its own version of warmth — its own invitation to slow down, rest, and return to a feeling of ease.

Below is our guide to the destinations where summer never quite leaves — where winter arrives as light, space and quiet warmth.

The Maldives

Flight time: ~10 hours
Best time to go: December–April
Avg. winter temperature: 28°C

A constellation of pale-blue atolls scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives feels like an invitation to pause — to watch seaplanes skim across glassy water, dine barefoot on candlelit sandbanks, and sleep in villas that float above the sea.

Where to stay:
Le Meridien Maldives pairs family-friendly warmth with elegant overwater and beachfront villas that feel suspended between sunrise, sunset and sea; while Soneva Jani delivers the Maldives at its most dreamlike, with waterslide-tipped villas drifting above impossibly clear lagoons and sunsets that unfold like private theatre.

Add to suitcase:
The Antibes skirt with scallops paired with the Era blouse with Patio Umbrellas.

Dubai

Flight time: ~7 hours
Best time to go: November–March
Avg. winter temperature: 26°C

Dubai is winter sun distilled — a city of warm coastlines, desert stillness, modern architecture and heritage souks wrapped in the scent of oud, all best experienced under November’s clear, golden light.

Where to stay:
Armani Hotel Dubai, seamlessly built into the Burj Khalifa itself, offers a sanctuary of sculptural minimalism where every surface reflects Giorgio Armani’s signature restraint; Address Hotels deliver contemporary urban comfort with serene pools and skyline panoramas that unfold like a moving painting; One&Only One Za’abeel elevates the city’s horizon with its dramatic cantilevered design and next-generation luxury suspended high above the streets; while Bab Al Shams remains a lantern-lit desert refuge, where earthen walls, starlit courtyards and sunrise-washed dunes create one of Dubai’s most atmospheric escapes.

Add to suitcase:
The Freja with scallops or the Cecilia with Cypress.

Thai Islands

Flight time: ~13 hours
Best time to go: November–March
Avg. winter temperature: 32°C

Thailand’s islands promise barefoot days, turquoise waters and a rhythm shaped entirely by tides and sunlight, from Koh Samui’s polished hillsides to Koh Lanta’s long, quiet swathes of sand.

Where to stay:
Four Seasons Koh Samui delivers cinematic hillside seclusion overlooking the Gulf, Kapuhala offers a slow, creative island ambience made for easy living, and the Surin archipelago’s simple lodges bring travellers into one of Southeast Asia’s most untouched marine worlds.

Add to suitcase:
The Dorothee with Patio Umbrellas.

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St Lucia

Flight time: ~9 hours
Best time to go: December–April
Avg. winter temperature: 27°C

St Lucia is a dramatic sweep of rainforest peaks, golden coves and molten-silver sunsets, where the Caribbean feels both wild and deeply restorative.

Where to stay:
Jade Mountain immerses guests in open-air sanctuaries with private pools framing the Pitons, while Windjammer Landing offers a relaxed beachfront escape. For something intimate and refined, Cap Maison blends Mediterranean charm with Caribbean warmth, perched above Smuggler’s Cove with standout dining and sweeping coastal views.

Add to suitcase:
The iconic Cannes dress.

Canary Islands

Flight time: ~3.5 hours
Best time to go: Year-round
Avg. winter temperature: 22°C

Just a short flight from Europe, the Canary Islands offer volcanic trails, warm breezes and winter days softened by Atlantic light, perfect for those seeking sun without long-haul travel.

Where to stay:
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama brings a refined, cliffside grandeur with terracotta towers, Michelin-star dining and a private golden-sand cove overlooking La Gomera; Bahía del Duque offers lush, old-world elegance wrapped in botanical gardens and pastel villas that spill down toward the sea; while Royal Hideaway Corales Suites delivers modern, oceanfront luxury with sleek suites, sculptural pools and uninterrupted Atlantic views.

Add to suitcase:
The Gigia dress with red and yellow roses or the Mia dress with floral cages.

Oman

Flight time: ~7h 15m
Best time to go: October–April
Avg. winter temperature: 26°C

Oman transforms winter into warmth and stillness — from powdered-sand beaches and frankincense-filled souks to desert canyons that glow rose-gold beneath the late-afternoon sun.

Where to stay:
Mandarin Oriental Muscat blends refined coastal elegance with sweeping views of both the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains, while Six Senses Zighy Bay offers cinematic seclusion with stone villas set between coral-hued cliffs and a deep blue sea.

Add to suitcase:
The Lali dress with vines or the Cecilia with Peonies.

Cyprus

Flight time: ~4.5 hours
Best time to go: October–December
Avg. winter temperature: 20–22°C

Cyprus is the Mediterranean’s warmest winter escape, a sunlit island where autumn lingers into December, the sea stays swimmable well past early winter, and days unfold in a slow rhythm of coastal walks, long lunches and golden light.

Where to stay:
The Anassa in Polis offers understated Mediterranean luxury with sea-view suites wrapped in soft, natural tones; while Amara in Limassol brings a contemporary, glass-framed elegance with infinity pools that blur into the sea.

Add to suitcase:
The Maeve blouse with Cypress paired with the Antibes skirt.

Hawaii

Flight time: ~18 hours
Best time to go: Year-round
Avg. winter temperature: 24°C

In Hawaii, winter unfolds as soft warmth — a season shaped by rainforest trails, volcanic peaks and Pacific waves that seem to breathe in slow rhythm with the islands.

Where to stay:
Mauna Lani embodies timeless Hawaiian serenity with its ancient fishponds, calm shoreline and understated, naturally immersive luxury.

Add to suitcase:
The Enza with Patio Umbrellas or the Namia dress.

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