Winter sun

Pamela Goodman shares the highlights of this fashionable destination on the Caribbean coast of Mexico

Our deputy editor David Nicholls learns how to relax on a sleep-focused mini-break in paradise at One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives

Idyllic beach holidays off the beaten track, in Mexico, Spain, Nicaragua, and Bali. If you're after white sands and crystalline waters, avoid the crowds - and the hype - and head for these beautiful destinations.

Emma Love revels in the diversity of the east African archipelago of Zanzibar - colonial buildings, turquoise seas and lush plantations

Lauren Holmes, who moved to Brazil seven years ago, revels in the pleasures of remote spots that remind her of the country she fell in love with

James Stewart explores La Gomera, enjoying a tranquil Canary Island barely touched by tourism

Year-round sun shines on Zighy Bay, a stylish beach hideaway in Oman, where guests can go from paragliding in to pampering at the Six Senses Spa

As Cuba enters a new era of political change and more open borders, Fiona Macleod makes the most of the chance to enjoy its time-capsule atmosphere while it is still possible

In search of endless summer? Pamela Goodman suggests a visit to Santa Barbara

The soothing silence of Oman's Jabal Akhdar mountains entrances Kate Quill as she enjoys the low-key luxury of a secluded new hotel in this naturally spectacular Gulf state.

Direct flights from London Gatwick to Antigua mean that you can be in the Caribbean in just nine hours, enveloped into the laid-back luxury of Carlisle Bay

Pamela Goodman is impressed by the beauty and diversity of the Omani landscape beyond Muscat, from its desert dunes to its limestone peaks and gorges

Oman is the go-slow winter sun destination you need to know about, and Alila Jabal Akhdar is the place to stay to make the most of it

Laura Houldsworth enjoys the tranquillity of two distinctly different Maldivian resorts