THE MEDITERRANEAN IN WINTER- WHY YOU SHOULD GO

It's a safe bet that the great majority of us think of the Mediterranean as a summer destination, especially in terms of cruising. And that is certainly when the region is at its warmest and most welcoming; bars, cafes, shops and tourist attractions have an allure that make the region unlike anywhere else on the planet.

But there's a flip side to all this. Summer crowds. Often stifling heat. The inability to see the main tourist sites in any kind of leisurely way. Not to mention some avaricious restaurant and cafe owners that are more than happy to hike their prices right up there with the larks. It definitely tarnishes some of that legendary glitter.

Is there an alternative to all of this? Well, yes, but It comes with limitations of it's own, too. You can embark on a winter cruise in the Mediterranean now as well. As an option, year round cruising in the Western Mediterranean has become more and more popular over the last decade or so. And I'd argue that it's at least worthy of your consideration.

Most ships sail on one week cruises from Barcelona, Genoa, Marseilles, Rome or even Venice, so you'd have to put up with a two hour or so flight to the embarkation port. The ships of Costa and MSC are big, multi national affairs. They carry large numbers of families, and you can expect a lot of noise. Forget the idea of an all-British option; there isn't one.

The weather will be a lot cooler, too. You'll get more in the way of rain, and sometimes rough seas will mean that your ship might not be able to make a certain port of call. If you've got your heart set on seeing that certain somewhere special, this is something that you're going to have to factor into your planning.

But- you'll find that the fly-cruise prices are cheaper, the historical sites will be far less crowded and easier to enjoy than in the crowded summer season and, overall, you'll get really good value for money. On many ships. prices for balcony cabins are particularly good between November and, say, March. How much time you get to enjoy that balcony might well be another matter.

All of these points are worthy of your consideration if a Mediterranean cruise floats your metaphorical boat. Yes, winter cruises there come with the inevitable caveats outlined above but, if you can live with those, than I can assure you that you will find this ageless, enigmatic region a true treasure to explore.