Where is hot in February? The best sunny destinations for Feb 2022

Cancun, Mexico

Temperature: 23°C
Sunshine hours: Five
Flight time: 10 hours, 30 minutes

If you’re after a sunny – but not scorching – beach break during the UK’s winter, Mexico fits the bill.

In February, highs of around 30°C are possible. But you can still expect it to be hot regardless. Better still: it’ll be balmy at night, so you hopefully you won’t need to wrap up.

Choosing where in Mexico to go is the real conundrum, but the city of Cancun, bordering on the Caribbean sea, naturally ticks the ‘beach holiday’ box.

For a bit of culture, travel along the Yucatán Peninsula to Tulum, where there are plenty of beaches, but a Mayan archaeological site can be found along the coast.

If an off-beat city break is more your bag, look up Oaxaca in the south-west or San Miguel de Allende in the Central Highlands.

Lanzarote

Temperature: 21°C
Sunshine hours: 11
Flight time: Four hours

A Spanish archipelago off the Northern Africa coast, there are seven Canary Islands. Tenerife is probably the best known, along with Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

If you’re seeking the blazing heat, you won’t find it here in Feb. However, for the relatively-short flight time, you also won’t find a better place for a few days in the sun.

There’s plenty to do in Lanzarote, beyond the resorts – such as explore Cuevas de los Verdes (caves), trek through Timanfaya National Park, or try surfing at Famara Beach.

Typically, the Canary Islands are an excellent place to visit at this time of year – but as of October 2021, there’s an ongoing volcano eruption on the island of La Palma.

Barbados

Temperature: 29°C
Sunshine hours: Nine
Flight time: Eight hours, 30 minutes

The Caribbean island of Barbados is still in dry season in February, so it’s the ideal time to visit.

Again, it’s another place where you have two options: lay on the golden beaches for a week straight, or combine your time on the coast with a bit of adventure.

The capital city, Bridgetown, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a fascinating museum about the nation’s history and a bustling shopping street.

Wherever you go, you’ll likely come across amazing food, vibrant nightlife and an abundance of water sports to try.

Singapore

Temperature: 31°C
Sunshine hours: Eight
Flight time: 13 hours

The fragrant smell of its famous street food hawker centres is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine Singapore.

A trip to the South-East Asian city-state wouldn’t be complete without a wander through the futuristic-looking Gardens By The Bay, either.

OK, so it’s probably not the place you’d think of when you imagine a hot February holiday, but make no mistake, you’ll definitely be warm in Singapore.

February is slap-bang in the middle of the driest season (December to April) – which means soaring temperatures and minimal rainfall.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Temperature: 25°C
Sunshine hours: 11
Flight time: Six hours, 50 minutes

It’d almost be a cliche to include Dubai on this list.

Just about every sun-seeking influencer has visited the United Arab Emirates during the UK winter. Many even came under flak for jetting off to Dubai during lockdown.

So, we’ve opted to add the UAE’s capital city, Abu Dhabi, instead. It’s temperature can vary from low 20s to 30s – the ideal temperature for sunbathing or going to see the sights.

Especially when you consider that July-August temperatures can climb to a sweltering (and incredibly humid) 41°C…

Abu Dhabi is home to Ferrari World – yep, an indoor theme park devoted to the Ferrari car. It’s also home to the Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the world’s largest and most spectacular mosques. It’s also home to the UNESCO-listed Cultural Sites of Al Ain.

Costa Rica

Temperature: 28°C
Sunshine hours: 10 – 11
Flight time: 10 hours, 50 minutes

Perfectly placed in the middle of dry season, with next to no rainfall expected, February is a fantastic time to fly to the pristine beaches of Costa Rica.

It’d be crazy to show up and not see some of its most breathtaking natural sights: Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest or the national park Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica is also beloved for its wildlife: sloths, sea turtles, jaguars, scarlet macaws and squirrel monkeys among them.

San José, the Central American country’s capital, is also worth visiting for a short break.

Sri Lanka’s western and southern coast

Temperature: 30°C
Sunshine hours: Nine
Flight time: 13 hours

Save for the northern and eastern coasts, Sri Lanka typically has dry, pleasant weather in February.

Which part of the island to visit – or how much of the country you have time to visit – is a real conundrum.

A popular tourist trail is the seven-hour train journey through the lush Hill County from Ella, via Nuwara Eilya, to the city of Kandy.

From Kandy, the city of Colombo is a three-hour train journey away. You could then head on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Galle, a southwestern city known for its quiet charm, colonial Portuguese architecture and its Dutch Sea Fort.

Thailand

Temperature: 26°C – 31°C
Sunshine hours: Up to 11
Flight time: 11 hours, 40 minutes

February in Thailand will be hot – and get hotter depending on where you choose to lay your hat.

The northern and central regions are best, but under normal circumstances, would be quite busy.

Bustling capital Bangkok is usually a tourist hotspot, with particular interest in its floating river markets. From here, head to Ayutthaya, an ancient kingdom now protected by UNESCO.

The islands of Phuket or Ko Phi Phi promise gorgeous beaches, even if busy. The city of Chiang Mai in the north, where you can admire many ornate temples, is popular for a reason.

February is a good time to visit because, if you’re fortunate, you’ll get to witness several local celebrations, including the annual holiday Makha Bucha Day, a crucial festival in the Buddhist calendar.

Cuba

Temperature: 28°C
Sunshine hours: 11
Flight time: 10 hours

The Caribbean island of Cuba is well-known for its major city, Havana, and a love of classic cars.classic cars.

Candy-coloured Spanish colonial architecture can be found in the Old Havana neighbourhood – but museums, incredible live music, brilliant bars and culture hubs make up the city.

If a city break isn’t your thing, Varadero is probably one of the better-known white-sand beach towns. You won’t struggle to find a place to sunbathe or read a book.

Or go beyond the initial tourist trail to discover the town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or make your way to Santa Clara to visit the mausoleum of revolutionary Che Guevara.

One thing to keep in mind

Usually, Australia and New Zealand would be on the list – but it’s not clear when travel to those places from the UK will be back up and running.

Generally, while a February 2022 break seems far enough away to ensure Covid travel measures are a thing of the past – that might not be the case.

All the destinations on this list are visitable at the time of writing – but you should keep in mind that countries can be added to the red list at short notice. If a country goes red while you’re already there, you’ll be subject to new quarantine rules.

It’s wise to keep a close eye on the country’s individual entry requirements – which will be subject to change – and to make sure you have top-tier travel insurance for your trip.