Better Late than Never: Five of the best last-minute breaks

Maldives

Holidays to the island paradise of the Maldives are back on after the archipelago was added to the Government’s “safe travel” list. This means UK travellers will no longer need to quarantine on return if they fly direct, though they must arrive in the country with a recent negative PCR test result. There are plenty of offers to be found in the often prohibitively expensive destination this winter. Velassaru, an intimate resort within easy reach of the airport, is offering 35 per cent off accommodation for the next two months. The hotel has all the trappings of a classic Maldives hotel – dazzling white sands, lush palm trees and villas on stilts in the sea. Five restaurants should stave off culinary boredom and there is a lounge stocked with MacBooks to borrow, in the unlikely event that you want to plug back into real life.

Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) is offering seven nights from ￡1,799 per person, departing on selected November dates, including flights, speedboat transfers and breakfast.

Gran Canaria

Many called for it and it has finally happened – the Canary Islands have been granted a regional “travel corridor”. For winter sun a little closer to home, Gran Canaria is a solid option as temperatures tend to hover around 20C (68F) into November. You will spot Lopesan Baobab from a distance – the five-star resort is a striking, supersize recreation of an African hunting lodge, complete with lush vegetation and a gushing waterfall in the grounds. Seven swimming pools (some of them with a sandy shore) and a multipurpose sports area provide plenty of distractions. Beyond the resort, get a shot of culture at the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno in capital Las Palmas and visit the golden sands at Playa de las Canteras.

Tui (tui.co.uk) is offering seven nights from ￡751 per person, departing on Oct 29, including flights and half board.   

St Lucia 

The Caribbean has emerged as a beacon of holiday hope this winter, though open islands do have some hoops to jump through. Arrivals in St Lucia must provide evidence of a recent negative PCR test and stay at government-certified accommodation. The island ticks many boxes: mountainous cycling trails will thrill adventurers, while those looking to fly-and-flop won’t be short of excellent beaches. Stay at the Rabot Hotel, owned by high-street favourite Hotel Chocolat, which is set on an old cacao estate. Unsurprisingly, chocolate crops up often at this intimate 14-room hotel, with dark brown hues in bedrooms, cacao-based spa treatments, bean-to-bar workshops and a standout restaurant where cocoa features in most dishes. Still, it is the infinity pool with volcanic views that steals the show.

British Airways Holidays (ba.com) is offering seven nights from ￡2,399 per person, departing on selected November dates, including flights and breakfast.

Antigua

Arrivals in Antigua need to show a recent negative PCR test result and may be subject to further screening at the airport. Once that is dealt with, the island’s 365 beaches await – yes, one for each day of the year. And staying long enough to sample them all is now achievable, as the government there has just launched a 12-month remote working visa, so you can take your Zoom calls against a real paradise backdrop. For short-term stays, the five-star Carlisle Bay is offering favourable rates this winter, with more than a third off many holidays. The contemporary resort in the south of the island stands alone next to a long, sheltered beach. All rooms have balconies or terraces with daybeds, and interiors have a breezy seaside feel.

Sovereign (sovereign.com) is offering seven nights from ￡2,035 per person, departing on Nov 18, including flights, private transfers and breakfast.

Grenada

Trips to Grenada require a little more patience. As well as having evidence of a recent negative Covid test, travellers from the UK must remain at their hotel for four days before taking another test. All the more reason to splash out on a stay at Silversands Grenada, arguably the smartest resort on the island. Arriving guests still have the run of facilities that include a 100m infinity pool – the longest in the Caribbean – plus restaurants and a snazzy spa. All of the minimalist, hi-tech rooms are spacious, but book a villa directly behind the beach for a private pool. After a slow-paced few days, there is plenty to explore on the “Spice Isle”, from nutmeg or rum factory tours, to rainforest hikes and, of course, a host of soft-sand beaches.

Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com) is offering seven nights from ￡2,250pp, departing late November, including flights, transfers and breakfast.