With the odds of a white Christmas looking fairly slim* and December weather expected to be dull and dreary, HomeAway.co.uk today reveals all people really want this Christmas is a little sunshine.

According to research** by the UK’s leading holiday rentals website, travellers searching for a festive break away from home don’t mind where they spend Christmas 2013 as long as it’s somewhere hot. Unexcited by the prospect of grey days and cold nights, it seems many people are preparing to escape to sunnier climes this festive season.

There are currently over 16,000 properties currently available over the Christmas break that can be booked online right now through the site that would make the perfect festive getaway.

As well as a range of traditional chalets in the Alps and cosy country cottages complete with holly and ivy, the UK’s leading rentals site has a wide range of luxury villas and beachside apartments in winter sunshine destinations for all budgets that can be booked safely and securely online in 24 hours.

Erica Chang, Regional Director of HomeAway.co.uk, says, “Whilst many people love a traditional Christmas at home, our research has revealed that lots more are planning to spend the festive period somewhere warm and sunny. With HomeAway.co.uk it’s easy to search properties available over Christmas and New Year and many can be booked online safely and securely within 24 hours. All you have to do is click, pack and head off for some warming winter sun this Christmas.”

Current festive rentals that are bookable online over the Christmas period at HomeAway.co.uk include:

Sunshine in Fuerteventura

Leave the UK’s grey skies and wind behind and spend Christmas in this lovely house five minutes from the beach.  There are three bedrooms that sleep six people, a large living room and large kitchen for those who fancy cooking turkey with all the trimmings.  The balconies have views of the pool on this family resort and because the Canary Islands are on the same latitude as Florida, sunny weather is guaranteed all year round.

This property can be booked now athomeaway.co.uk/p16332  and a week at Christmas costs £499.

Paradise in Portugal

Why not redirect Santa and head to Portugal this Christmas where there’s up to six hours of sunshine a day and an average maximum temperature of 17°C? This three bedroom, five star villa on the fabulous Perola da Lagoa resort near Obidos, sleeps six. There’s an open plan living area with leather sofas, a home entertainment system and Nintendo Wii. The villa has terraces, a garden and pool so guests can enjoy a Christmas morning swim rather than freezing in their slippers at home.

 
This property can be booked now at homeaway.co.uk/p421726  and a week over Christmas costs £835.

Cyprus Sun

The ‘Relaxing Villa’ is perfect for a Christmas break in sunny Cyprus where the average winter temperature is 19°C. There are three bedrooms, three bathrooms and the property sleeps up to six people.  Guests can enjoy festive celebrations al fresco by the large heated pool and enjoy a glass of wine whilst taking in spectacular sunsets over the ocean.

This property can be booked now at homeaway.co.uk/p884376  and a week at Christmas costs £499.

Cornish Cottage

Anyone who simply wants to snuggle up and stay at home, there’s nowhere quite like Rock House in Cornwall this Christmas.  The property stands in an acre of pretty grounds by the Helford River with panoramic views of the Mawgan Creek. There are three bedrooms that sleep up to six people and even an open fireplace to hang up those stockings.

 
This property can be booked now at homeaway.co.uk/p5922 and costs £795 for a week at Christmas.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

· *http://www.itv.com/news/london/2013-11-25/will-we-have-a-white-christmas/

· **Research carried out among users of the HomeAway.co.uk’s Twitter and Facebook sites (Facebook: 14,364, Twitter: 8,362)

Founded in 1996 and part of HomeAway Inc., HomeAway.co.uk is the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, listing over 545,000 self-catering properties worldwide. The site provides a simple, cost-effective way for holiday home owners and managers to market their property and manage bookings, with unrivalled worldwide exposure for a fixed annual fee. For holidaymakers, HomeAway.co.uk offers the best choice of any UK website.

For more information, images or quotes please contact Eveleen Hatch at Seriously PR on 01491 822647/07815002276 or Eveleen@seriouslypr.co.uk or  Natalie Trice– (0)1491 822647/07825615303 or Natalie@seriouslypr.co.uk