We already have trips to Italy and the States planned for this year, but we're now looking ahead to December.

Initially, we were thinking of the Azores - but after researching it doesn't seem warn, sunny or dry enough in December.

We are a married couple in our 50s living in UK. Want to get away from it all over Xmas hols and do NOTHING but relax.

We are not big drinkers (but do enjoy a tipple) or sun worshippers (but don't mind swimming and the beach).

Looking for:
* Somewhere warm, sunny, quiet, and not too far from UK (don't want a long flight)
* 7 nights or so leaving week-end before Xmas
* All-inclusive (it seems to make life easier, although we've never done one)
* In the £2,000 price range

So far our research has led us to Funchal, the Canaries, Cape Verde, & Egypt - we've never been to any of these places.

Looking for destination suggestions and recommendations please!

Also would appreciate ideas on best websites for booking the all-inclusive.

You won't get anything really warm in Europe at that time of the year. Cyprus will be about 20C but not warm enough for the beach or swimming.
Look at Dubai (but that won't be quiet), it is a 7 hour flight from London and lots of places to stay inc some AI accommodation. Or west Africa eg Gambia or Ghana, flight time about the same. Sharm El Sheikh might be warm enough, we went during early Feb and found it too cold for swimming or sunbathing due to the wind.
Otherwise to be guaranteed warm weather, you need to fly further afield eg the Caribbean which is about 8 hours so not much more than flying to Dubai.

Forgot to add that the budget might be an issue for the week before Xmas, unless it is per person?

The Canaries? Thailand (too far perhaps). Neither would be my first choice but aren't they guaranteed sunny and warm in December and full of Europeans.

Dubai. But you might find your budget a problem! Just over 5 hour flight. It will DEFINITLY be warm.......

All inclusive and quiet don't generally go together on the Canaries. Nor can you be guaranteed really good weather there. Certainly beach swimming can't be guaranteed, due to strong winds making the ocean dangerous, and I don't know if you regard 20-22C warm enough for the beach anyway.


Egypt maybe? Dubai or Oman perhaps?
Kenya is perhaps a bit far but good beach holidays to be had there.
Gambia, if you don't mind the politics, would be perfect for you.

If you want to limit flying time, then you have Egypt, Madeira or the Canaries.

A Nile cruise would be superb at that time and the weather will be warm. Madeira has a fairly constant climate all the year round and is a very pretty place, whilst the Canaries will also be warm in December. Try Lanzarote or Fuerteventura.

We spent Christmas 2012 in the Algarve in Portugal. It wasn't warm enough for swimming, although we spent Christmas morning in a sheltered cove where one couple were sunbathing, but the weather was generally sunny and warm enough (18 degrees C) so we didn't have to worry about what clothes we were wearing.

It was very quiet, and many of the restaurants were closed, but we had no problems finding good ones that were open, and the local population were living their normal lives, so shops, supermarkets and historic sites were open.

The locals were friendly, and English is widely spoken. Even the check out operators said "Thank you", while we stammered "Obrigado".

Thanks for all your suggestions. In the end, we've decided on Tenerife and upped our budget a bit to go all-inclusive at a rather nice resort.