“That striped bikini sure made me look tan!” you note as you scroll through your Instagram posts from this summer. “Was this not your favorite meal ever? you ask as you gaze longingly at a dish of fresh peaches, heirloom tomatoes and burrata. “Just look at the view from our terrace” - You’ve spent the summer in Positano, Paros, Porquerolles, Corsica and Ibiza, dozing off on champagne-coloured beaches after unending lunches in the shade of a terrace overlooking the Aegean, Ionian, Dalmatian and Mediterranean coasts. The nostalgia alone is enough to trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (conveniently abbreviated SAD).

There are only two ways to combat winter blues. The first is to sit under an artificial light and the second is to jet off to an island south of the Equator, in the southern hemisphere where December is synonymous with summertime. 

The Indian Ocean’s idyllic islands hit a sweet spot: non-stop flights from Europe, Asia and Africa, little to no jet lag, palm-studded beaches, blue green waters… The hard part is picking the right island. Here are some things to consider before booking a ticket to paradise.

End-of-Year festivities:

Most hotels plan festive EOY celebrations that entail a lavish dinner, champagne, music, fireworks… You may just want to pack your dancing shoes after all.

Family-friendly hotels:

The month of December is peak travel time, especially for families with children on holiday. Some hotels are family-friendlier than others. Be sure to ask if they have adjoining suites, a kids club, activities for the little ones and kids menus.

Don’t be narrow-minded.

Set your navigation far and wide and have a few locations in mind. This allows you to have more flexibility with deals. Otherwise simply contact your Islandian expert and he will find your dream escape for sure.

Do not look for the cheapest trip but rather for the best value you can get within your budget.

Check out reviews to make sure the options you’ve selected are good ones and do not get blinded by a deal that seems too good to be true. For the perfect escape…go for the tailor made.

Take our advice and beat the winter blues with an exotic escape filled with lazy days, great food and plenty of time for exploration.

Check out our top picks on where to find some winter sun!