This is a message for CHRIS HASLAM. I have just read your reviw of Caribean. When did you last visit the Golden Lemmon (St Kitts)? We were there last year and found it the most tierd, passe and dissapointing venue in a 6 week tour of the islands. Perhaps 20 years ago it had a charm but the location is not particually attractive and the management and staff so close to the grave that our stay was on the verge of embarrassing. The only place on the island (and we would agree with you that you should just go to Nevis), that seemed to have any customers/life was Ottleys plantation inn. regards

Michael Peter DOUGLAS, Faynece France,

If you love France but find that French weather is not much better than English - come to St Martin in the French West Indies. We have wonderful food, superb wine plus every other alcoholic tipple you might desire - duty free. When you buy these in dollars you halve it again! We have the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean with a backdrop of green hills and yet we are the liveliest island in the West Indies. Fly to Charles de Gaulle, board Air France and eight hours later you are there. www.pierres-caraibes will tell you all about it.

Nita Reed, St Martin, French West Indies

The Four Seasons in Nevis was probably one of the best holidays we ever had but not for those looking for cultural diversity. For that the I would recommend heading for Bali - truly inspirational.

Elaine, Woking

elaine drummond, woking,

Try the awe inspiring Victoria Falls area, lads and lassies, for wild, romantic, nostalgic, colonial, and exciting, with top civilized comfort in a primitive setting to boot (if you wish to rough it up, there are opportunities for it as well).
By pass the politics and fly right into it. You'll want to go back to it. Plenty of heat whether out of (>90F) or in the water, with super buffets to satisfy the most discriminate taste, with the added benefit of a very favorable exchange rate. Nite life not comparable to the big cities', of course, yet not nonexistent.

lualaba, Ciyungu,

Where is Australia? I loved it there. It's got almost everything and the same sorts of beaches as Barbados et. al. in places like the Whitsundays. However, I guess it's not very cheap when one factors in getting there.

Michael, The Hague, Netherlands

Santa Barbara, California, doesn't even get an honorable mention! Our Channel Islands are the Galapagos of the USA, beach weather by day and cool at night and we have vineyards, lots of them, with wine tasting too......

eve, santa barbara, california, usa

'Wintersun Hotspots' - You're joking 6 of the10 cited locations dont make it above the 80f mark some do not even reach 70f - hardly hotspots ! Here in Thailand where I live, each day of the year tops 90f - even when it rains ! All year round Golf too - I'm within 30 minutes of 25 championship designed courses [3 hour rounds not 5 or 6 hours] and just 15 minutes from the beaches. The nightlife here is electric only matched by Rio - sound too good to be true? Drawbacks none really you get used to the snakes and giant spiders but they are not a really a problem. I can highly recomend - time 11hrs Flight from LHR.

Richard, Nong Pralai, Thailand

I would argue against Phil from Estepona's view of the UAE as "colourless, characterless & soulless". What a travel snob you must be! Have you visited places like Fujairah and snorkelled on the untouched coral reefs? Have you climbed Jebel Hafit and explored the 4th century BC caves? Have you slept under the stars in the desert dunes? Or have you maybe had a stop over in Dubai and hated your time in the Jumeirah Beach resort as it wasn't "real" enough for you?
Look again Phil.
By the way, the title of the article is "Classis Winter-Sun Destinations", not "Cultural vacations for the pretentious".

Rick, UAE,

All the hot hollywood celebrities are visiting Maldives for their holidays and honeymoons. It was suprising that Maldives was never in this list.

hamed, malveena, Mauritious

I thought that you were an English newspaper?

The only country in the world that doesn't use celsius is the USA. i.e. every destination you have spoken of.

In England you have to be over eighty and not quite cottoned on to still be using °F!

Peter Goddard, Epsom, England, EU.

My number one would be Argentina with its deserts and tropical forests, glaciers and beaches, pampas and mountains. And on top of that Buenos Aires. Nothing could beat that

RM, Amsterdam,

Why are you writing temperature in FAHRENHEIT?! It really is time to move on, or at the very least also cater for those of us who weren't educated before or during the 1960s

Ben, London,

Go to Israel if your desire is to have a wonderful holiday in warm sunshine with friendly people. Let guys like Geoff in London limit their horizons because of political stuations totally of our control.

Ian , Bordeaux, France

You are a bit short of Asian (or Australian) destinations here. Winter in UK is summer in Australia and there is as much variety as you could imagine.

For beaches how about Phuket. For a bit of beach life, cultural exploring to do in spades then go to Bali.

For sitting about doing nothing much then Maldives as well.

Simon, Singapore, Singapore

Avoid Israel today in the same way that South Africa was avoided during its Apratheid on the 'natives' it tried to displace and subjugate.

I have been to Egypt twice and would not hesitate in going back again.

PS - officially Sri Lanka suffers from 'terrorism', it was one of the most amazing places when I went there in Feb07 - highly recommended.

Geoff, London,

Cape Town is the best option here, those that have not been will find it an un-expected surprise. Although good value it is, the quality you will find here in accomodation, restaurants and just sevice in general is unsurpassing. Think of Malibu, Monaco, Monte Carlo, San Francisco and you will summon up images comparable to Cape Town.

Chris James, Brisbane, Australia

I am rather glad you have left out Goa. Travel writers seem to think it somehow passe. Good, keep it that way.

m howroyd, st leonards on sea, east sussex

I worked seven years in the Middle East (& live in Thailand). Dubai is amazing, but I repeat the comment made by a previous contributor:

UAE (the Middle East generally): characterless, colourless & soulless (& sterile).

Andrew Munn, Bangkok, Thailand

A vote for Anguilla & for Ku. Service there is not necessarily brilliant but the beach is the best in the world & a wide variety of amazing diving seabirds provide free natural cabaret from dawn to dusk. You can self cater @ Ku and many of the restaurants don't cost an arm & leg. So if you are not carried away by the more expensive options, are happy with white sands and deep blue seas and can grill a red snapper, then go for it. The developers and the golfers are increasingly active there but it will be many years, if ever, before the island loses its attraction.

John Duncan, London, United Kingdom

If any of these fab resorts need an unbiased review, call me, my wife and our twin girls (aged 8 months) anytime, they all look picture perfect, when viewed from Offaly in the middle of Ireland.

Alan Duffy, Tullamore Co. Offaly, Ireland

Zamani Kempinski - I would advise readers that there is no beach! And the hotel could be situated anywhere, does not compliment Zanzibar at all!

Roger, Frankfurt,

For those of you who like peace and quiet in the Caribbean but dont like the flat landscape of Anguilla or the traffic jams of Barbados why not try Nevis? 85 miles west of Antigua the island of Nevis has smart Plantation Hotels, a Four Seasons Luxury Resort , Robert Trent Golf Course, and also lots of excellent Private Villas to Rent. The Oualie Beach hotel has simple Gingerbread Cottages on a safe and shallow beach.
Nevis has wonderful local people, no security problems, no beach hassle, no Macdonalds, and now is the time to get onto Google perhaps and check it out. Journalists never seem to come here!

Peter Phipp, Nevis, St.Kitts & Nevis

So, how about Brazil then?

Certainly not colourless, characterless and soulless...

Of all "wintersun destinations", Brazil is my favourite. So much so, I bought a property there. Sun, beaches, friendly people and a huge and varied country to explore.

Eric, Richmond, Surrey

Because its colourless, characterless & soulless.

Phil , Estepona,

What about UAE? Excellent beaches, 5-star hotels and restaurants, desert safaries, nightlife, skiing (yes!) and the stunning architecture of a 21-century metropolis. How can it not be on the Top 10 list?

Michael, Dubai,

Egypt has had more than its share of terrorist attacks directed at tourists.
Instead of Sharm el Sheik I'd recommend nearby Eilat in Israel. You get the same sunshine and sea, excellent eating and plenty of attractions such as underwater coral observatory, desert jeep tours and superb hiking trails.
Finally, Israel is a lot safer for tourists than Egypt.

David Henry, London, UK