If you are a devotee of warm-weather vacations and refuse to look north until next May rolls around, this might be a very short read for you.
But..... perhaps you could be enticed into to considering a break in cooler climes? What might it take to convince you that there is something to be said for embracing the Winter season and following the deep freeze? A six-degree Celsius day in Northern Europe can - dare it be said - be blissful.
Cities are refreshingly crowd-free and inexpensive during the colder months and they offer some seriously cozy experiences that will make you forget about the beach altogether.
One country to offer a great variety in Winter vacation options is Germany and Air Malta, with its new winter schedule, can whisk you to three, new diverse choices in destinations - Hamburg, Leipzig and Berlin (and a fourth in the established favourite, Munich).
From November to the end of December, each city is blinged out with Christmas lights, life-sized crêche scenes and little wooden stalls, ready to sell you everything from a hot mulled wine to locally-made handicrafts. Germany knows how to do a Christmas market and there are many to choose from.
However, while it is deservedly famous for its Christmas markets, there's a lot more for cold weather travellers than just this. Germany offers great outdoors in winter, with quirky attractions and things to do that will warm both body and soul.
Hamburg, Leipzig and Berlin are perfect for avoiding winter gloom with stylish hotels and restaurants, world-class museums and great shopping. In Berlin, seasoned travellers could go for a lifestyle tour to explore the trendy side of the capital.
And then there is the carnival season. So important is it that it is referred to as the Fifth Season. It is called different names in different parts of the country, but what all the carnival celebrations have in common are merry parades, quirky rituals, outrageous costumes, and a whole lot of laughter.
If you picture Germany in winter as a dreary, snowy, grey blob, you couldn't be more wrong.
Book on www.airmalta.com and discover for yourself a Winter wonderland.