Escaping theWinter

£10.99

The British winter. Icy winds, pouring rain, leaves on the line, cancelled trains, "the wrong kind of snow." Since she gave up full-time employment in 1987, Anne has escaped all these miseries by spending every winter abroad, sometimes riding her bicycle and sometimes just sitting happily in the sun.

"Wintering abroad" used to be the preserve of the seriously rich. But in these days of cheap flights and economy packages, anyone who is free from the 9 - 5 can spend the worst months of the year in a glorious location, and even save money in the process. And it is not simply the young and the old who can benefit. With a lap top and a mobile phone, many businesses can be run just as easily from a beach bungalow in Goa. So why shiver at home?

Most people dream of a place of their own in the sun, a fashion fuelled by the spate of books and TV programmes about buying and renovating properties abroad. But the capital outlay is daunting and the problems huge. Anne¿s book is based on the far simpler risk-free, hassle-free option of spending the winter months in a comfortable hotel.

Drawing on her own travels and her practical experience as an independent travel agent, Anne has put together a comprehensive, down-to-earth guide.
In Part I, she covers everything you need to know about planning your winter escape. There are useful check-lists to ensure the right accommodation at the right price, advice on financial and legal matters, the pros and cons of letting your home, insurance, health, packing for a long stay, getting around, making new friends, keeping in touch with home and generally making the most of the opportunities on offer.
In Part II she gives essential information on a number of recommended destinations, ranging from the well-known resorts of the Mediterranean coast to far-away Australia and California, with a few more exotic locations for the brave, such as Brazil, Goa and Thailand. There is also a very useful section on cruises, which takes in budget cargo ships and tramp steamers, as well as the luxury Cunards; and a section on long-haul overland journeys.

If the thought of another British winter fills you with dread, this is the book for you.