As winter chills sweep across the Northern Hemisphere, many travellers set their sights on sun-drenched exotic escapes. If you’re also craving beaches, warm tropical breezes and ultra-refined accommodations, our 2025 luxury edition of winter sun destinations is your guide! These hand-picked hideaways deliver on every front: from pristine island resorts to high-end desert glamour, each location is tailored for those seeking winter sun and a true sense of escape. Here are six exceptional destinations and resorts where the sun is always shining and luxury is built in.
The Maldives
The Maldives remains the ultimate winter sun destination for luxury travellers seeking a tropical escape where every day promises brilliant sunshine, calm turquoise seas and near-perfect weather between November and April. This archipelago offers a serene island vibe, clear water for snorkelling and diving, and an invitation to swap chilly winter scenes for sandy beaches and swaying palms.
Where to Stay in Maldives?
At the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi in the South Malé Atoll, you’ll find 117 villas spanning beach, reef and over-water categories, each featuring its own private pool and expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces. The resort is set across three interconnected islands encircling a lagoon, offering both dramatic ocean vistas and the quiet of a private island hideaway.
Dining is a stand-out: the resort features 11 restaurants and bars, including special-concept venues such as the tree-top Terra and The Ledge by Michelin-star chef Dave Pynt. The wellness offering is equally notable: there’s a major spa and “Aqua Wellness” centre dedicated to holistic well-being, plus extensive non-motorised watersports, tennis, a kids’ club and full marine activity support for snorkelling and diving. At Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, you can arrive in a setting where the service, accommodation and surroundings are all engineered for your relaxation.
Seychelles
For those seeking a luxury winter sun destination marked by natural beauty and exclusive service, the Seychelles archipelago is another option that stands out. Beaches offer lush jungle-backs and sweeping ocean views, perfect during the cooler months when the sun is strong yet the climate remains comfortable. With warm sea temperatures, gentle trade winds and fewer crowds, this setting becomes an ideal escape for luxury winter travel with an exotic island twist.Where to Stay in Seychelles?
Cheval Blanc Seychelles is set on a 22-hectare estate where 52 villas, designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy, combine Creole architectural cues with ultra-modern luxury. The villas range from beachside to hillside, each offering private pools, generous indoor-outdoor living spaces and bespoke service including a dedicated “Ambassadeur” for every villa. The level of refinement and exclusivity makes this resort a standout among premium island retreats for those targeting high-end winter sun escapes.
Beyond the villas, Cheval Blanc Seychelles delivers a rich array of amenities: five gourmet restaurants (from French haute cuisine to Japanese and Creole-inspired dining), a spa by Guerlain nestled in the jungle offering bespoke treatments, and a robust leisure programme including a surf-simulator, tennis and padel courts, family-friendly kids’ club and personalised wellness activities like yoga and meditation. With its refined service, thoughtful amenities and exceptional setting, the resort offers a compelling luxury winter travel experience for travellers seeking sun, serenity and sophistication.
Phuket
Phuket offers one of Asia’s most compelling luxury winter sun destinations: between November and March the west-coast peninsula enjoys dry weather, calm seas and glorious evening sunsets over the Andaman Sea. With its mix of turquoise waters, swaying palms and tropical warmth, it’s a prime choice for those seeking winter sun destinations with an island-vibe but full-service resort comforts. Phuket’s connectivity (direct flights from many hubs) and high-end resort infrastructure mean you can combine beach relaxation, wellness, island excursions and refined dining all in one destination.
Where to Stay in Phuket?
Located on a secluded headland overlooking Pansea Beach, Amanpuri is a property of the Aman Resorts brand and remains a benchmark for luxury island retreats. The resort spans lush coconut groves and offers 40 guest pavilions plus around 40 villas, many with private pools and terraces, set amid tropical gardens and with sea or garden views. Amanpuri delivers in every category: from architecture inspired by Thailand’s Ayutthaya heritage to contemporary interiors and ultra-private accommodations.
Dining is also excellent at Amanpuri. You’ll find venues such as Nama (Japanese washoku), Arva (Italian) and Buabok (Thai) set around the central pool and beach. Activities go beyond lounging, with water-sports, a yacht charter fleet, tennis courts, and a holistic wellness centre complete the experience.
Anguilla
What about a Caribbean hideaway where soft white sands meet crystal-clear waters and time seems to slow down? Anguilla is exactly that – an island gem perfect for travellers chasing winter sun in understated luxury. Far less crowded than neighbouring St. Barth or St. Maarten, this British Caribbean territory offers pristine beaches, calm turquoise bays and a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. During the winter months, temperatures hover around a balmy 27 °C, making it ideal for a winter sun destination. For luxury winter travel with an authentic island rhythm, Anguilla delivers all.Where to Stay in Anguilla?
Nestled on the crescent-shaped Maundays Bay, Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel boasts a striking Greco-Moorish architecture of white domes, arches and palm-lined walkways, all set against the vivid turquoise Caribbean Sea. Each room, suite or villa offers direct or near-direct beach access, ensuring that the ocean is always just steps from your terrace. The resort’s layout and design prioritise ease and elegance, making it ideal for travellers seeking high-end winter sun destinations in a graceful setting.
Inside the resort, you’ll find top-tier amenities including dining and wellness. Cap Juluca offers several gourmet restaurants, from sea-edge fine dining at “Pimms” to casual beach-front bites at “The Cap Shack”. A standout addition is the recently unveiled spa by Guerlain, which features seven treatment rooms, plunge pools, and holistic wellness programmes drawing inspiration from local nature and traditions.
Dubai
What about swapping snow for golden sands and futuristic skylines? Dubai is the ultimate desert-meets-beach winter sun destination, offering endless sunshine, world-class dining and sleek modern luxury. From November to March, temperatures sit comfortably between 20 °C and 28 °C, ideal for beach days, rooftop evenings and desert adventures. This city is a playground for travellers seeking both relaxation and excitement: think camel treks in the dunes by morning, Michelin-starred dinners by night and spa sessions overlooking the Gulf in between. For those pursuing luxury winter travel with a vibrant urban twist, Dubai delivers the perfect balance of glamour, warmth and indulgence.
Where to Stay in Dubai?
Set directly along the shimmering Jumeirah Beach, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai brings together serene beachfront living with cosmopolitan energy. Sleek interiors, sweeping Gulf views and airy terraces define its 251 rooms and suites, while the service is refined yet relaxed, an ideal retreat for travellers seeking understated luxury. The location is unbeatable: within minutes you can move from soft sand to the city’s chicest shopping and dining districts.
Inside, the resort offers everything expected from a world-class accommodation. The spa, stretching over 2,000 m², features nine treatment rooms, a luxurious hammam suite and curated wellness programmes, while five restaurants and lounges range from contemporary Japanese to Portuguese fine dining. Guests can enjoy private beach access, cabana service, yoga sessions, and exclusive experiences such as personalised perfume workshops or desert excursions. For those looking to combine Dubai winter sun with five-star comfort and impeccable design, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira remains one of the city’s most exquisite options for luxury winter travel.
St. Barth
Imagine a winter‑sun getaway where Caribbean vitality meets French elegance: that’s Saint‑Barthélemy, affectionately known as St. Barth. With warm tropical breezes, turquoise waters and chic island energy, it makes for an ideal luxury winter travel destination. The season from December through April offers pleasant weather, vibrant beach culture and the kind of sophisticated escape you want for a true sunny winter destination.Where to Stay in St. Barth?
Cheval Blanc St. Barth is set on Baie des Flamands, one of the island’s most exquisite sandy bays. With 61 rooms, suites and villas tucked into lush tropical gardens and overlooking the beach, the resort combines island serenity with high‑end refinement. Interiors draw on French style and Caribbean ease, offering private terraces and a relaxed yet polished ambience.
Dining here is expressive of the island’s vibrant gourmet scene: you’ll find restaurants such as La Case and La Cabane, guided by French‑Caribbean fusion under chef Jean Imbert. The service philosophy, “Art de Recevoir”, means you’re looked after with thoughtful detail and an intuitive touch, very much in line with what luxury winter travel should feel like.
The resort’s spa, the Guerlain Spa by Cheval Blanc, is a standout feature for anyone seeking premium wellness in a winter sun destination. It offers five treatment rooms (including a couples’ suite), an outdoor pavilion and bespoke rituals inspired by the island’s nature and the house’s design heritage. Activities are equally refined yet relaxed: paddle‑boarding in calm waters, yoga in garden pavilions, or simply lounging by the pool with beach access steps away. With its blend of beachfront tranquillity, gourmet dining, high‑tier wellness and island exclusivity, this resort embodies the essence of luxury travel in St. Barth.
Zanzibar
Imagine trading a European winter for an African island escape where tranquillity, culture and sunshine converge. Located on the west‑facing shores of Kendwa Beach on the island of Unguja (often referred to simply as Zanzibar), this destination secures its place among top sunny winter destinations for 2025. With consistently warm temperatures between 26‑32 °C from September through April, and the added bonus of calm seas, powder‑white sands and a slower pace of life, the island provides a refined backdrop for luxury winter travel. The rich blend of Swahili, Arabic and Indian influences in architecture, cuisine and lifestyle adds an exotic layer that elevates a simple beach holiday into an escape with character.
Where to Stay in Zanzibar?
Set on a 300‑metre stretch of swimmable beach (rare on the island due to tides) and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, Zuri Zanzibar offers 56‑plus standalone bungalows, suites and villas each designed with indoor‑outdoor living in mind. The accommodation ranges from garden bungalows to ocean‑front villas with private jacuzzis and butler service.
Dining spans three restaurants and four bars, using fresh local produce, spices and a fusion of African, Arabic and Indian flavours. Wellness and amenities include a 32‑metre infinity pool, yoga deck and an innovative “spice garden” experience that ties the resort back to Zanzibar’s cultural heritage. For the discerning traveller chasing luxury winter travel, this resort ticks a host of boxes. Private villas guarantee seclusion, the beach’s west‑facing orientation ensures magical sunsets and the wellness programmes provide more than just spa time, they’re immersive.
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Whether you dream of the turquoise seas and over‑water villas, the lush jungle‑meets‑beach elegance, or the Asian island sophistication, each of these destinations offers a unique take on sunny winter destinations. As you plan for your 2025/2026 winter escape, consider not just the climate and beach, but the full experience: seclusion, service, setting and soul. Those who invest in a truly high‑end retreat will find that the winter sun isn’t just about warmth, it’s about renewal, refinement and the kind of memories that linger long after the holiday ends. Sounds interesting? Contact us to plan your exotic escape together.
