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Where to Go in January: The Best Places to Travel
Ring in the New Year at home, then get on a plane: Though prices are high through New Year’s, there are deals to be found starting later that first week in January. Tropical and Southern Hemisphere destinations work especially well for those needing a dose of sunshine.
To understand what makes a trip WOW, read these recent reviews from our travelers. For more pandemic travel solutions, see our Covid-19 travel advice. And don’t miss the rest of our “Where to Go” series on the best destinations for every month of the year.
U.S. National Parks
Yellowstone National Park in winter. Photo: tpsdave/Pixabay
From snowshoeing in Yellowstone to hiking in Joshua Tree, adventures abound in our national parks—even in the middle of winter. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see the Grand Canyon with a magical dusting of snow, or have a view of Yosemite Falls all to yourself.
Read reviews of WOW trips to U.S. national parks during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Belize
Goff’s Caye Island, Belize.
Nonstop flights to Belize take off from several U.S. cities that are only about three hours away. Once you’re there you can explore world-class coral reefs, visit uncrowded Mayan ruins, learn to scuba dive (as Wendy’s son did), fish for 100-pound tarpon (which kept her husband busy), and laze beside sparkling Caribbean waters—or you can charter your own private yacht, enjoying fabulous snorkeling, sunbathing, kayaking, and plenty of distance from everyone except your captain and first mate.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Belize during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
British Columbia
You’re likely to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights if you visit British Columbia in January. Photo: Cyndie Martinez
January and February have the most reliable snowfall, making it ideal for not just skiing, but also ice-fishing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in Western Canada. You also have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Those looking for an extra dose of adventure can even mush their own dogsled team from lodge to lodge—led by an expert guide, of course.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Canada. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Costa Rica
Monteverde, Costa Rica. Photo: Shutterstock
January is one of the nicest times of the year weatherwise for a winter escape, right in the middle of the Costa Rican dry season. It is often the only time in the high season that you can plan a last-minute trip and still have your first choice of the top properties.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Costa Rica during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Mexico
Mexico City is vibrant with arts, restaurants, and parks—and the historic Teotihuacan pyramid is nearby too. Photo: Shutterstock
Mexico is much more than a one-dimensional beach destination. Sure, fabulous oceanfront resorts and sumptuous private villas abound on its long coastlines. But the country is also home to charming colonial towns, captivating pre-Columbian ruins, and a vibrant scene in Mexico City—which sees more sun and less rain (and smog) at this time of year.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Mexico during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Argentina
Mendoza, Argentina. Photo: Shutterstock
January is prime season for hiking in Patagonia, which gets just a bit quieter after the holiday rush. Meanwhile, at the foothills of the Andes, the grapevines in Mendoza sit heavy with ripening fruit. Temperatures hit the 90s in Buenos Aires, so the locals hit the beach—leaving the city easy to navigate, with so little traffic.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Argentina. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Italy’s Cities
Florence, Italy. Photo: Shutterstock
There are plenty of reasons to fall in love with Rome, Florence, and Milan in January. Temperatures will typically be in the high 40s and 50s during the day, but plan on bundling up to fit in with the locals. Perhaps a new pair of leather gloves to complete your Italian look? They’ll be on sale. Italy generally has only two times during the year when they extend sconti (discounts) in retail shops: January and July. You can find deals at both boutique shops and international-brand stores after the holiday craziness, and you won’t have to fight the crowds so common at other times of the year. Enjoy Rome’s decadently rich hot chocolate as an afternoon treat, or post up next to a funghi (the mushroom-shaped outdoor heaters) and dine al fresco in one of Florence’s beautifully lit piazzas.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Italy during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
The Maldives
The view is grand from the cantilevered hammocks at JOALI’s private overwater villas.
It’s a breeze to socially distance in the Maldives: Many of these idyllic islands in the Indian Ocean are home to just one resort; secluded beach villas and overwater bungalows are the norm; restaurants are open-air, toes-in-the-sand kinds of places; and the closest interaction you might have is with a manta ray while snorkeling. Here’s how Brook spent a blissful five days there during Covid.
Read reviews of WOW trips to the Maldives during the pandemic. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Thailand
Koh Phangan, Thailand. Photo: Journeys Within
Southern Thailand is ideal from mid-January through March, when the oceans are still relatively calm, and sunny skies and cooler temperatures prevail before the heat returns in April. Bangkok, meanwhile, is a year-round destination: There’s always great food and off-the-beaten-path adventures to uncover, and short bursts of rain can easily be dodged while in the city.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Thailand. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sugarloaf Mountain and Botafogo neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Shutterstock
January is the best time to visit Rio—assuming you don’t mind temperatures that regularly hit 105 degrees: It’s the height of summer, Cariocas (Rio residents) are at their most relaxed, and the nightlife is at its peak.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Brazil. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua. Photo: TPS Dave/Pixabay
In January, the country is lush and green, there is no rain, and the breezes keep temperatures in the high 80s during the day on the coast—perfect for chilling out by the ocean—and in the 70s in the mountains—ideal for hikes in the cloud forest.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Nicaragua. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Sri Lanka
Adams peak, also known as Sri pada, in Sri Lanka over the Maskeliya reservoir and tea plantations. Photo: Shutterstock
The weather in mid to late January is delightful—spring-like temperatures and blue skies—and it’s a quieter period sandwiched between two busy times: Christmas/New Year’s and Chinese New Year.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Sri Lanka. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Dubai
In January, Dubai is still warm enough for beaches, but also has a shopping festival. Photo: Pixabay
January is the cooler season—which in this part of the world means temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s. Designers descend upon the city for the Shopping Festival, when shops and boutiques offer discounts all month long. Read how Brook spent a multi-day layover in Dubai’s desert during the pandemic.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Dubai. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Sydney, Australia
Sailing on Sydney Harbour. Photo: Tourism Australia
Sydney’s summer months (December to February) bring beach weather, as well as festivals and harborside celebrations: After the world-renowned New Year’s Eve celebrations comes the Sydney Festival, a three-week celebration of the arts culminating with Australia Day on January 26. It’s also the right time to take a surfing lesson at Bondi Beach, go sailing in Sydney Harbour, hike waterside trails, picnic on city parklands, catch an outdoor movie screening or concert, or attend one of the city’s many professional surfing, tennis, cricket, and rugby competitions. (Remember that prices are also at their peak in summer, so book accommodations and tickets early, before they sell out.)
Read reviews of WOW trips to Australia. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Other Good Options This Month
Click on any of the destinations below to find out why January is a good time to go.
North America and Caribbean
Florida: Disney World, Orlando
Central and South America
Ecuador: Galapagos
Europe
France: Paris apartment rentals
Asia
Africa and Middle East
Australia and Pacific
New Zealand: Bay of Islands and Queenstown
Papua New Guinea: diving in Milne Bay
Cruises
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