During the winter we all need to escape the cold and grey sky of home. Most people find travelling to a warmer location rather costly forcing them to stay home till the off season. The good news is that there are numerous bargain holiday destinations on HolidayHypermarket.co.uk for this coming winter where you can have a fabulous break without breaking the bank. Check out these wonderfully warm holiday destinations and start dreaming of where you can go this winter.



Dominican Republic
This wonderfully under-visited island is especially cheap to fly to from Europe and the US during winter months. The island boasts every possible climate for the spontaneous traveller so if you're feeling like hiking in the rainforest or prefer to lay on the beach, the Dominican Republic has something for you. The food is influenced from all the region’s varied cultures, mostly with a Cuban or Spanish flare. There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts if you prefer to pay once. Otherwise, plenty of budget travel options from B & B's to hostel-style accommodation await.

Madeira
This Atlantic isle has so much to offer from luxury hotels to stylish Quinta’s. You will definitely enjoy every minute spent here. Madeira boasts steep cobbled streets, elegant colonial architecture, atmospheric wine lodges, enticing walking trails, lush green valleys as well as beautiful pebble and sand beaches. While here, you can enjoy boat and superb fishing trips and sunbathing by the beaches among other things. You can be sure to find an accommodation facility as well as meals  that fit into your budget. Moreover, most of the facilities do not require any admission fee.

Goa, India
Goa records temperatures of about 32 degrees during winter, and that makes it a perfect place to spend your winter holidays. Goa offers soft sandy beaches where you can enjoy the sun. Apart from laying on those stunning beaches, you can also enjoy a local cuisine that is famous for its spices. Goa is also home to a variety of water sports and diving activities. Most importantly, these will not cost you much so you can enjoy your holiday on budget.

Algarve, Portugal
This area is best known for golden beaches, fantastic rugged scenery and wonderful sunshine. You can try a host of activities that include scuba diving, golfing at the world class golf courses. Algarve is also great for water sporting activities. Moreover, there are countless cafes, bars, and restaurants that you can choose from, most of which are very affordable.

Gambia
Gambia records temperatures of 30 degrees during winter so you are practically guaranteed a great time on the beaches. You can also take a walk to the atmospheric street markets as well as experience exotic wildlife from crocodiles to hippos among other animals. If you love birds then you can also be sure of seeing the over 550 species!

Canary Islands
Select any of the four islands, all of which boast buzzing resorts at a pocket friendly cost. The islands include Fuerteventura, which promises tranquility as well as white sandy beaches. Or you could try Gran Canaria and explore its Sahara-style sand dunes or water sports in Puerto. Lanzarote has the Timanfaya National Park, whereas Tenerife is famed for Mount Teide, a volcano that dominates the entire island. No matter what island you do choose, they all have plenty of sunshine all year round.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Yeah! Is tomorrow! There’s a saying that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and it is true that Ireland’s national holiday is celebrated on a surprisingly large scale around the world, especially considering the relatively small size of its home country. The vibrancy of the festivities in far-flung countries is perhaps one of the best indications of the reach and influence of the Irish diaspora, as well as the undeniable appeal of this friendly Celtic nation. 

Even those with only the most tenuous links to Irish ancestry (or those who simply wish they did) are eager to deck themselves in green and wish each other “Top o’ the morning” in honor of Ireland’s patron saint; but in some locations around the world, the shamrock-laden parades and parties have reached genuinely impressive levels. 

Here we’ve rounded up a few of the best places in the world to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day…

Dublin, Ireland

Obviously Ireland needs to be top of the list, but spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin is truly an unforgettable experience. Since 1996, the capital has hosted an annual St. Patrick’s Festival to celebrate Irish culture, which has now grown into a five-day extravaganza of music, dance, history and parades leading up to St. Patrick’s Day itself. The festival culminates in a massive parade through the streets of Dublin – and in 2013, for the first time ever, 8,000 lucky participants from around the world have the opportunity to march in a unique “People’s Parade” alongside the usual floats and performers.



New York, USA

Another of the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades is held annually in my lovely hometown, New York City – a custom that goes back to 1762, more than a decade before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In keeping with tradition, the New York City parade doesn’t include floats or vehicles – instead, the procession consists entirely of between 150,000 and 250,000 participants on foot, in a massed gathering that can extend for over a mile. The parade usually lasts four or five hours and can attract several million spectators - including a large television audience watching at home - as it meanders along its route from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and down Fifth Avenue before finishing at the American Irish Historical Society.



Great Britain

Britain’s geographical proximity to Ireland means many cities have a large percentage of residents from Ireland or of Irish descent, and as a result many areas, from Manchester to Birmingham to Glasgow, host elaborate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. For instance, Birmingham’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is reputed to be the third largest in the world, after Dublin and New York, while both Manchester and Birmingham host weeklong Irish festivals in honor of their Celtic connections. Similarly, Glasgow holds a massive two-week festival to mark the cultural legacy of the Irish in Scotland, with live music, gala dinners, and plenty of fun activities for all the family.



Montserrat

This lush Caribbean island may seem like another unlikely choice for St. Patrick’s Day parties, but Montserrat – sometimes known as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” - is in fact only one of four places in the world that have declared the Irish saint’s day a public holiday (along with the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Newfoundland and Labrador, discussed below). The reason? The island received a significant number of Irish settlers between the 17th and 18th centuries, but the holiday also commemorates an unsuccessful slave uprising that occurred in 1768. Hence St. Patrick’s Day on the island has morphed into a wide-ranging celebration of local and Irish culture, with traditional costumes, dance, food and storytelling over the course of a weeklong festival.



Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

About 80 per cent of the residents in this Canadian province are of Irish descent, with ancestors who emigrated during the 18th and 19th centuries. Even today the Irish influence is readily apparent, in surnames and place names, cultural traditions and even the local accent. As a result, St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday and one of the biggest party days of the year, especially in the capital, St. John’s, which has a lively pub culture akin to that found in Ireland. Be sure to catch some live music and try the local cuisine, both of which usually demonstrate a strong Irish flavor.