budgets

HERE comes the sun – even in winter. As it gets chillier in the UK, it’s time to book a break to escape to warmer climes.

And you don’t just have to lie on a sun bed.

How about biking on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, walking through the Provence countryside or cruising around the Canary Islands?

Trisha Harbord has selected ten winter sun holidays for all budgets.

TENERIFE 24°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 7 

NEARLY three million holidaymakers from the UK head to the Canary Isle of Tenerife every year.

And it is no wonder — the place has so much to offer as well as year-round sunshine.

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Puerto de la Cruz in the north was the first place to attract tourists and still has its fishing port and historic quarter, with the old customs house and La Pena de Francia church.

Cobbled streets have art galleries, shops and restaurants.

Take a trip to Mount Teide and a cable car to the peak.

You can see Teide from the new adults-only luxury hotel Tui Blue Atlantic Hills, which is near the beach and has a spa.

GO: Seven nights’ half-board costs from £624pp including flights from Manchester on November 26 and based on two sharing. See tui.co.uk. 

OMAN 26°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 10 

A wellness break before Christmas would set you up nicely for the festive chaos.

Laze in a luxurious spa with pools, steam rooms, sauna and fitness centre at the 5H Sheraton Oman Hotel in Muscat.

There’s plenty of adventure, too. The Arabian Peninsular coastline is perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding or diving.

And the desert offers dune bashing in a 4×4, sandboarding and camel rides. Watch the sun set from the hotel or explore the nearby Mutrah Corniche and natural parks.

GO: Five nights’ B&B is from £579pp including flights from Stansted on December 9. See loveholidays.com and experience-oman.om. 

TUNISIA 22°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 7 

Party peeps wanting sunshine and shots will be happy in lively Albufeira.

Known as the party capital of the Algarve, the neon-lit strip is packed with bars, open-air discos and clubs.

But the one-time fishing village also has 25 glorious Blue Flag sandy beaches, cliffs and coves which are perfect for friends and families.

There are dolphin-watching trips, waterparks, restaurants galore and world-class golf courses.

The 3H Clube Albufeira Garden Village is in lush Mediterranean gardens, has four pools, dining options and accommodation, including lovely, white-washed apartments and villas with fully-equipped kitchens.

GO: Seven nights’ room-only in a one-bedroom apartment with flights from Stansted on November 24 is from £193 per person, based on two sharing. See first choice.co.uk.

ALGARVE 20°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 6 

Party peeps wanting sunshine and shots will be happy in lively Albufeira. 

Known as the party capital of the Algarve, the neon-lit strip is packed with bars, open-air discos and clubs. 

But the one-time fishing village also has 25 glorious Blue Flag sandy beaches, cliffs and coves which are perfect for friends and families. 

There are dolphin-watching trips, waterparks, restaurants galore and world-class golf courses. 

The 3* Clube Albufeira Garden Village is in lush Mediterranean gardens, has four pools, dining options and accommodation, including lovely, white-washed apartments and villas with fully-equipped kitchens. 

GO: Seven nights’ room-only in a one-bedroom apartment with flights from Stansted on November 24 is from £193 per person, based on two sharing. See firstchoice.co.uk. 

ST KITTS 29°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 8 

GET on yer bike in gorgeous Saint Kitts and you’re in for a treat.

Take an easy ride along the edge of the Caribbean Sea, through lush rainforests and cane fields, or tackle tracks up the mountains and dormant Mount Liamuiga volcano.

The island is only 23 miles long and five wide, but is packed with activities including ziplining, golf, parasailing, watersports and boat trips.

Or just chill out on a beautiful beach — even the sea temperature will be 27C in winter. The family-run 4H Royal St Kitts Hotel is a short walk from the beach, has a private lagoon, pool, restaurants and spacious rooms.

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering is from £1,039pp including flights from Gatwick in January. Book by October 31. See ba.com and visitstkitts.com.

TURKEY 20°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 6 

THE city of Side, on the southern Mediterranean coast, dates from the 8th century BC and has some beautiful and unique structures.

They include the huge amphitheatre, which often hosts concerts, and the Roman Temple of Apollo — five white stone columns at the entry to the harbour.

Many traditional houses in the Old City have been converted into restaurants and shops selling Turkish fare.

The 5H family-friendly Numa Club Side, inset, has a private beach alongside the turquoise waters, plus a spa and children’s pools and play areas.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £378pp including flights from Liverpool on November 28. See jet2holidays.com.

CANARIES 22°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 8 

INSTEAD of ordering a turkey this year, hop aboard a cruise for Christmas winter sun, sailing around the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Board MSC Musica, following a quick flight from the UK, and enjoy fabulous festive food, West End-style shows, pools, a gym, casino and kids’ play areas and clubs.

You may never wish to leave the 2,500-guest ship but Musica, which does a round trip from Tenerife, calls at Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Gran Canaria and Funchal, the capital city of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago.

So there are plenty of chances to explore the islands before returning for evenings of fun.

GO: Seven nights’ full-board is from £1,339pp including flights from a UK airport on December 21. Check out msccruises.co.uk.

MEXICO 30°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 7 

IF you like a room with a view, try the AVA Resort Cancun, inset. The hotel’s modern wave design means that wherever you are, you’ll be looking out at the beautiful ocean.

Water babes will be in their element as an eco-lagoon offers sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking. The 5H hotel also has six pools and, of course, the Caribbean is almost on its doorstep.

There’s a spa, fine-dining restaurants and casual options. Excursions range from visiting Tulum’s Mayan ruins and Chichen Itza to going scuba-diving.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £1,704pp including flights from Gatwick on November 26. See ba.com and avaresort cancun.com.

CYPRUS 22°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 7 

SUPER Cyprus is worth a visit just to enjoy the freshest, healthiest food.

Family-owned tavernas are expert at serving up delicious salads, kebabs and fasolada, a bean-and-veg soup.

Stay at Limassol’s 5H Royal Apollonia, a beachfront hotel with a trio of gorgeous pools. Go B&B so you can try out the local restaurant fare.

Visit the castle where Richard the Lionheart married and crowned his bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, in 1191.

The old harbour has been transformed into a tourist hub and the palm-tree Promenade is lined with fantastic sandy beaches and has numerous bars and restaurants.

Then watch the sun set with a cocktail in hand.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B is from £564pp including flights from Gatwick on November 27. See easyjet.com.

FRANCE 16°C 

Daily sunshine hours : 6 

THE South of France has a mild winter climate and regular blue skies — perfect for a walking holiday.

Wander through olive and almond groves as you explore Provence’s two main mountain regions, Le Luberon and Les Alpilles, and see many of the landscapes painted by Van Gogh.

You’ll start the self-guided, moderate walk in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue with its canal and antique shops, moving on to towns including St Remy and Gordes, before finishing in Arles.

Your luggage is transported between overnight stays in hotels and guest houses.

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GO: Provence Winter Sun & Walking includes five nights’ B&B from £850pp, bookable from now until December 15 and after January 5.

See walkersbritain.co.uk. Return ferry for a car, two passengers and cabin from Portsmouth to Caen costs from £280. See brittany-ferries.co.uk.

June 27 (UPI) — The Michigan legislature is nearing its July 1 deadline to approve its budget bills but the state House and Senate are at odds over anti-transgender and diversity, equity and inclusion provisions.

Earlier this month, the Republican majority in the Michigan House of Representatives passed budget bills that would penalize schools, universities and community colleges for allowing transgender girls and women to participate in girls’ and women’s sports.

Democrats, with a slim majority in the Senate, passed a different version of a budget proposal late last month. It does not include any such provisions or references to DEI initiatives and girls’ and women’s sports.

Michigan’s school aid budget bill will establish how much state funding public schools and institutions of higher learning will receive in the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1. Since the two chambers passed different versions of the bill, they must find a compromise to send a final version to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer‘s desk.

“Ultimately, education funding bills need to be passed,” Jonathan Hanson, lecturer in public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, told UPI.

“They have to work out some kind of compromise. How do you meet in the middle with respect to some of this language? It’s not immediately obvious how to compromise on those things.”

The house budget proposes withholding 20% of a school district’s discretionary funding if it is in violation of prohibitions on transgender athletes participating in female sports, having curriculum that “includes race or gender stereotyping” or funding “DEI initiatives.”

The same prohibitions apply to public universities and community colleges. Institutions in violation of these provisions could have 5% of monthly operations installments withheld by the state budget director.

The proposals cite President Donald Trump‘s executive orders “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” as supporting federal regulations.

Less than 1% of adults in the United States identify as transgender. A smaller fraction of a percent of minors identify as transgender.

Twenty-seven states have passed laws banning or restricting transgender athletes from participating in the sports that are consistent with their gender identity.

In the 2024-2025 school year, about 175,000 Michigan high school athletes participated in sports, according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Two transgender students held waivers to participate and both participated only in fall sports.

“It brings up a lot of ‘whys,'” Jay Kaplan, staff attorney with the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Project, told UPI. “Why this inordinate amount of focus? Why does this seem to be a priority?”

Kaplan explained that the athletic association’s waiver system is already a mechanism meant to address concerns people may have regarding student-athlete participation.

“These budgetary provisions, they can be challenged as discriminatory,” Kaplan said. “Our message to these legislators is, ‘Do your job.’ What’s your plan for affordable housing? What’s your plan to bring more businesses to the state and improve the economy?”

The Republican sponsors of the proposals in the house, Rep. Tim Kelly and Rep. Gregory Markkanen, did not respond to requests for comment.

“Our local schools have been asking for the freedom to use state funding how they please, free of overregulation and burdensome government mandates,” Rep. Joseph Pavlov, R-District 64, said in a statement. “Now, thanks to the new budget plan House Republicans have put together, schools are getting exactly that in record amounts of funding. This will go a long way in turning around the decline in educational performance our state has seen for a long time now.”

Kaplan said the political makeup of the legislature and the governor’s office offers some assurance that provisions like the anti-trans house school budget proposal will fail in Michigan. Next year’s midterm elections will be crucial in determining if that level of assurance continues.

“We’re fortunate in Michigan,” Kaplan said. “We’ve done a lot of hard work. The LGBTQ community and allies, we’ve all worked together. Michigan has some very good policies for the LGBTQ. We have explicit civil rights for the LGBTQ. If anyone is singled out, we’re going to challenge it.”

Democrats have a 19 to 18 majority in the Senate with one seat — Senate District 35 — vacant. Whitmer, a Democrat, has the authority to call a special election for the vacant Senate seat, which she has not done.

Republicans took a 58 to 52 majority in the House in the 2024 election. Democrats held a majority in the House chamber since 2023.

Michigan will elect a new governor in 2026 as Whitmer will reach her term limit.

“What we’re seeing from the Republican side is the incorporation of national Republican policy coming from the White House regarding things like DEI initiatives and trans athletes,” Hanson said. “The fact that this is entering into state budget policies and money is tied to focusing on a minority group that is really small, it makes it seem like they’re focusing on things that aren’t really problems,”