Cash-strapped heat seekers are getting their rays and vitamin D intake this winter by investing in therapy lamps to help cure Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD also appears to be influencing travel – with the world’s hottest locations being the most desirable for winter breaks.

According to Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK’s flight comparison site, bookings for sun worshipping holidays have been unexpectedly high this winter. Flight searches to consistently sunny spots like Egypt are up by 20% compared to 2006. Even long haul summer sun locations are seeing an impact with flight searches to Australia increasing by a whopping 37% compared to this time last year.

"Fleeces are switched for flip-flops in favour of cheaper flights to destinations that have sun this time of year,’ comments Francesca Ecsery, General Manager, Cheapflights.co.uk

And if they can’t afford to get some real rays, SAD Therapy Lamps appear to be the next best thing. 247electrical.co.uk says sales of its specialist SAD Therapy Lamps have shot up 300% in the last two months compared to the same period last year.

For Brits suffering from SAD and struggling through the gloomy winter this could be the craze of 2008.

"We have been selling ninety (90) SAD lamps a month," says Dominic Yacoubian, Managing Director of the online electrical retailer. "Many Britons would have woken to one under the tree and received an extra dose of Vitamin D."

What is SAD? It’s a condition otherwise known as ‘winter depression’ when the lack of sunlight has an adverse affect on a person’s mood and feelings of wellbeing. The lamp provides ultra bright light which counters the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

"Customers are telling us that they have heard a lot about the SAD Therapy Lamps and there seem to be a lot of word of mouth recommendations taking place.

We never expected a relatively obscure product to become so popular. We have been taking on extra stock to meet the growing demand. Something is going on here," says Yacoubian.

According to a number of websites dedicated to SAD, sitting in front of a special lamp for up to half an hour – preferably in the morning - could do the trick and snap you out of the winter blues. You can even create a natural sunrise effect with your SAD Therapy Lamp by setting an automatic timer that starts it before your wake up.

"It appears that the British weather is encouraging people to jet away from it all and get some real sun," adds Francesca Ecsery, General Manager, Cheapflights.co.uk. "The UK never really had a summer with all the rain - people should consider getting away before SAD sets in."