Holidaymakers 'choose sun or snow'

People who want to go on holiday during the mayhem of Christmas are choosing between winter sun and guaranteed snow, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

Brits are more likely to go for somewhere further afield than Europe for city breaks at this time of year, ABTA has said, favouring instead the warmth of the sun when UK weather can be dreary.

Either this or they will opt to go somewhere they will be guaranteed a white Christmastime and new year, explained Sean Tipton, ABTA spokesperson.

"City breaks aren't so popular at this time of year; the weather is not great," he said.

"[People] are looking for winter sun or they want to go somewhere they can guarantee snow at Christmas."

Holidaymakers may choose a Maldives holiday if they want to beat those winter blues in the sunshine; or if they would prefer a Caribbean holiday over the Christmas period, they would be able to enjoy the Parang season of music and celebration in Trinidad and Tobago.

A survey by lastminute.com recently showed that 71 per cent of people have more than half of their annual leave left by the end of the year, meaning that many people may be jetting off for a sunny holiday at this time of year.