Swap blue for Wight this January

The Christmas turkey is long since gone, the long heralded ‘big chill’ is well underway and the New Year’s resolutions have all bitten the dust. Yes, Blue Monday – Monday 25th January – is just around the corner.

Described by psychologists as the most depressing day of the year, Blue Monday is when most people are expected to rant, rave, whine and cry more than any other time.

Leading cross-Solent ferry operator, Wightlink (wightlink.co.uk) suggests banishing any gloomy thoughts with a getaway to the sub-tropical south coast of the Isle of Wight, where the climate is milder, and has come up with a trio of suggestions, all under £100 for a one-night ferry-inclusive stay.

Enjoy a romantic getaway in one of the seven exclusive rooms at The Hambrough, a smart boutique hotel facing the sea in Ventnor. For the ultimate Blue Monday break, stay in one of the most luxurious rooms with a large balcony boasting 180 degree views of Ventnor Bay and the coastline. Departing on Monday 25th January, an overnight stay at The Hambrough costs from £93 per person including breakfast and Wightlink ferry crossings.

Alternatively, stay at The Wellington Hotel in Ventnor, which also offers views over the bay from its sea view rooms. The modern, minimalist hotel is a triumph of designer-style meets Isle of Wight quirkiness and is ideal for curing any lingering post-Christmas blues. An overnight stay in a super deluxe room, with balcony, at The Wellington Hotel on Monday 25th January costs from £77 per person including breakfast and Wightlink ferry crossings.

For the ultimate rural retreat, Blue Monday sufferers should head slightly inland to Gotten Manor. Located in deepest countryside in a sheltered hollow at the foot of St Catherine’s Down, its rooms are traditionally decorated with polished wooden floors and individual touches – fresh flowers, candles, and flowing muslin drapes around huge claw foot iron baths. A one-night B&B break at Gotten Manor on Monday 25th January costs from £60.50 per person including Wightlink ferry crossings.

All quoted prices are based on two people sharing a room and include return Wightlink car ferry crossings from Portsmouth or Lymington based on Wightlink’s Super Saver fare (wightlink.co.uk/specialoffers).