Jetting away during the winter can save you a lot of cash, but it comes with many potential drawbacks.

Chelsea Dickenson, the famed Holiday Expert, decided to put a premiumTurkish resortto the test, using TravelSupermarket to book seven nights at the 5* AKKA Antedon in Antalya for £489 per person in January – the same stay would cost £1,729 per person in August, representing a 72% saving.

"I wanted to see what you're actually getting for that huge saving," explained Chelsea, who is the resident travel expert for ITV's This Morning. "January holidays can be incredibly cheap, but I think a lot of people worry about what they're giving up. So I spent a week testing everything from the pools to the entertainment to see if it's genuinely worth booking."

Here are her findings:

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The pool and beach

The main outdoor pool was closed and out of use, which Chelsea notes "did look a little grubby and would make me think twice about booking a pool-view room in winter." However, another large outdoor pool remained open next to the kids' pool, with both heated to a comfortable temperature. There was also an indoor heated pool in the spa.

The aquapark ran daily between 10am and 4pm. "I've stayed at even fancier five-star hotels in Antalya that close their aquaparks over winter, so this was really good to see," she said.

Loungers were set out on the decking in front of the beach, but the beach itself looked very different without parasols and cabanas. "On sunnier days, people did move loungers down to the sea, but there was no beach service and no option to book cabanas," Chelsea explained. The sea was chilly but not freezing, with some brave guests still swimming. The water sports centre was closed.

Spa, gym and kids facilities

The gym was open daily between 9am and 8pm. The spa also operated full hours with a beautiful indoor pool, jacuzzi, shallow pool and loungers, plus saunas, a hammam, steam room and relaxation area. "This was one of my favourite areas of the hotel," Chelsea said. "It had been newly refurbished and felt really luxurious. That said, on colder or rainy days, the indoor pool did get busier with children, though when the sun came out it quietened down again."

The kids club operated daily between 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm. "It was honestly one of the most aesthetically pleasing kids' clubs I've ever seen," noted Chelsea. There was also a fantastic outdoor play area and a separate kids' buffet.

Restaurants and bars

The main buffet restaurant operates year-round, serving a wide range of dishes including meat, fish, salads, vegetarian options, pizzas, breads, soups and desserts. "This felt similar to what you'd expect in summer, although some counters weren't in use and the themed nights weren't very obvious," Chelsea explains. "That said, the food was generally well-cooked and tasty."

The patisserie served cakes and ice cream daily between 11am and 4pm, while a small snack bar at the pool offered items like chips and burgers between 10am and 6pm. "The choice was limited, but it was handy if you didn't want to head back inside for lunch," said Chelsea.

The biggest difference was the à la carte restaurants. While the hotel has six in peak season, only the Pasha Restaurant opens in winter – and only if more than eight people book in advance.

The weather

Temperatures ranged between 12 and 19°C, with some days sunnier than others and sporadic rain. "It wasn't sunbathing weather, but it was comfortable enough to sit outside, walk around the resort and enjoy being outdoors," Chelsea explains. "It also felt far nicer than the winter weather back home. You do need a bit of luck with the weather, but even on cooler days it still felt like a proper break from the UK."

Nightlife and entertainment

The hotel runs a winter activity schedule including fishing, hiking and cocktail making, with some activities needing advance booking. "In the summer, you can expect activities like water aerobics, beach volleyball and pool parties," Chelsea explains. "I was really happy to see that the hotel also runs a winter activity schedule."

The outdoor entertainment area wasn't open, but there was live music in the main lobby bar every night. The hotel's Disco Bar was open nightly. "This genuinely surprised me for January," said Chelsea. "James even managed to get a Negroni from the bar, so it definitely didn't feel like an afterthought."

The hotel felt fairly busy during the first few days, largely due to Russian Christmas holidays falling later than UK Christmas. After that, it became noticeably quieter. "January can still feel lively, but you're more likely to get a slower-paced, quieter stay," said Chelsea.

The verdict

"It was absolutely cheaper for good reason," Chelsea concludes. "Not everything is open, you're dealing with cooler temperatures, and you're more reliant on the weather. But if you're happy to trade guaranteed heat for huge savings, and you want to stay somewhere fancier than you'd normally afford, this type of off-peak holiday makes a lot of sense."

The hotel has been contacted for comment.

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