The Gambia, Costa Rica and Cambodia lead a 35-destination climate ranking built from winter temperature, sunshine, rainfall and wet-day averages.
- Banjul ranks first in Bailey Robinson’s 35-destination Winter Sun Reliability Index with a score of 90.2 out of 100.
- Liberia and Guanacaste in Costa Rica place second at 89.5, followed by Siem Reap in Cambodia at 85.4.
- The ranking uses long-term December-February climate averages weighted across daytime warmth, sunshine, rainfall and wet days.
- Bailey Robinson says winter-sun interest is broadening beyond traditional beach destinations toward trips combining climate with culture, wildlife and adventure.
(NEWS) HUNGERFORD, Berkshire, United Kingdom, 2026-Sep-14 — /Travel PR News/ — Banjul in The Gambia has emerged as the highest-scoring destination in a new winter-sun index from luxury travel specialist Bailey Robinson, outperforming more familiar tropical choices on a combination of heat, sunshine and low rainfall during the UK’s coldest months.
The index ranks 35 destinations using long-term December, January and February climate averages, with daytime warmth weighted at 40%, sunshine at 25%, rainfall at 20% and wet days at 15%. Banjul scored 90.2 out of 100, narrowly ahead of Liberia and Guanacaste in Costa Rica at 89.5 and Siem Reap in Cambodia at 85.4.
Bailey Robinson says its recent search analysis also points to growing interest in winter escapes, with searches for “winter sun” rising over the past month and quarter and searches for “winter sun holidays 2026” increasing sharply. Those search figures are the company’s own analysis and should be read as an indicator of planning interest rather than a measure of confirmed bookings.
The Gambia leads on dry-season reliability
Banjul’s first-place score reflects an average winter high of 32.2°C, about 8.5 hours of sunshine a day and just 0.3mm of average monthly rainfall in the dataset. The destination also records an average of zero wet days across the months included in the analysis.
For travellers, the appeal extends beyond a conventional beach break. The Gambia can combine Atlantic-coast stays with birdwatching, wildlife, markets and local cultural experiences, giving the destination a broader proposition for travellers who want warmth without limiting the trip to a resort.
Costa Rica’s Liberia and Guanacaste region comes second, also with an average winter high of 32.2°C and slightly more sunshine at 8.8 hours a day. Its 10mm of average monthly rainfall and 1.7 wet days leave it just behind Banjul overall, while the destination adds rainforest, volcano and wildlife itineraries to its Pacific-coast beaches.
Third-placed Siem Reap offers a different kind of winter escape. With a score of 85.4, average highs of 31.3°C and only 8.3mm of monthly rainfall, the Cambodian destination combines warm, dry conditions with access to the temples of Angkor, food markets and cultural travel rather than a primarily coastal holiday.
Bailey Robinson’s top 10 winter-sun destinations
| Rank | Destination | Country | Avg. winter high | Daily sunshine | Avg. monthly rainfall | Avg. wet days | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banjul | The Gambia | 32.2°C | 8.5 hrs | 0.3 mm | 0 | 90.2 |
| 2 | Liberia / Guanacaste | Costa Rica | 32.2°C | 8.8 hrs | 10.0 mm | 1.7 | 89.5 |
| 3 | Siem Reap | Cambodia | 31.3°C | 8.5 hrs | 8.3 mm | 1.7 | 85.4 |
| 4 | Mombasa | Kenya | 31.8°C | 8.0 hrs | 33.3 mm | 3.7 | 81.2 |
| 5 | Zanzibar | Tanzania | 32.0°C | 8.3 hrs | 56.7 mm | 6 | 79.6 |
| 6 | Phú Quốc | Vietnam | 31.0°C | 7.8 hrs | 30.0 mm | 3.7 | 78.0 |
| 7 | Cape Town | South Africa | 26.3°C | 10.7 hrs | 13.3 mm | 2.7 | 77.8 |
| 8 | Phuket | Thailand | 32.0°C | 7.8 hrs | 53.3 mm | 6.7 | 77.0 |
| 9 | Langkawi | Malaysia | 32.0°C | 7.8 hrs | 111.7 mm | 9.7 | 70.2 |
| 10 | Bridgetown | Barbados | 29.2°C | 8.3 hrs | 61.7 mm | 9 | 67.7 |
Mombasa and Zanzibar complete the top five, reflecting the strength of East Africa during the northern-hemisphere winter. Mombasa combines Indian Ocean beaches with the possibility of adding a Kenyan safari, while Zanzibar can be paired with mainland Tanzania for a wildlife-and-coast itinerary.
Phú Quốc, Cape Town, Phuket, Langkawi and Bridgetown round out the top 10. Cape Town stands apart from the tropical destinations because its average high is lower at 26.3°C, but it records the highest daily sunshine figure in the top 10 at 10.7 hours.
Traditional favourites rank lower under a weather-only lens
The index also illustrates the difference between climate reliability and overall holiday appeal. The Maldives ranks 17th and Mauritius 32nd in Bailey Robinson’s full 35-destination list, despite both remaining major winter-sun choices for British travellers because of their resort quality, beaches and established luxury-holiday infrastructure.
Sarah Parker, Sales Director at Bailey Robinson, said the company is seeing greater interest in trips that combine sunshine with wildlife, food, culture and adventure rather than focusing only on the hottest temperature or the most familiar beach destination. Her profile on the company’s official team page highlights extensive experience across Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.
The index therefore works best as one input into destination choice rather than a definitive league table of where travellers should go. A destination with slightly cooler temperatures can still deliver more consistent clear skies, while a higher-ranked destination may involve longer flights, different visa requirements or a style of holiday that does not suit every traveller.
Winter travel is already a major part of the UK calendar
The ranking arrives against a backdrop of strong winter travel demand from Britain. ABTA estimated that more than five million people travelled overseas during the 2025 Christmas and New Year period, with winter-sun destinations among the strongest sellers reported by its members.
Domestic winter travel is significant too. VisitEngland’s December 2025 Trip Tracker found that 11.6 million Britons were planning an overnight UK holiday during the 2025-26 festive season, showing how firmly travel sits within the broader winter calendar even before the post-Christmas sun market is considered.
For tour operators and travel advisors, that makes January and February an important selling window rather than simply a quieter period after Christmas. Bailey Robinson’s guidance is to match trip length to travel time, look at rainfall and sunshine as well as temperature, and choose a destination around the experience a traveller wants rather than starting with a country name.
How the ranking was built
The Bailey Robinson Winter Sun Reliability Index uses long-term climate averages for December, January and February rather than short-term forecasts. The company says the dataset is based primarily on World Meteorological Organization 1991–2020 climatological normals, using representative resort areas, airports or weather stations where appropriate.
Each destination receives separate scores for daytime temperature, sunshine, rainfall and wet days, which are standardised against the other destinations in the 35-place index before the four weighted measures are combined. Published scores are rounded to one decimal place.
That methodology means the ranking is a guide to typical seasonal conditions, not a weather prediction for a specific holiday. Climate can vary by year, island, coastline and resort area, and individual travel choices will still depend on flight access, budget, activities and the style of trip required.
More destination and tailor-made travel information is available through Bailey Robinson.
