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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: Prices are at their peak through New Year’s Day, but they drop later that first week in January. Below are some of your smartest January trip options. (For other months of the year, see Where To Go When.) Click the black buttons below to connect with a WOW List travel expert to plan an extraordinary trip for you.
Costa Rica
Dry weather and good availability await those who visit Costa Rica in January. 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. And 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 here, here, and here. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Belize
Tiny islands, or cayes, dot the waters off Belize’s Caribbean coast.
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. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Mexico’s Colonial Cities
Guanajuato’s historic center is full of colonial-era mansions and plazas. Photo: Journey Mexico
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 such as Guanajuato, Morelia, and Oaxaca, captivating pre-Columbian ruins (especially in Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas), and a vibrant scene in Mexico City—and in January, these destinations have ideal temperatures and little rain.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Mexico. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Nicaragua’s Coastline and Mountains
Nicaragua’s mountains and coastline are both in their prime in January. 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.
To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Certain Western U.S. National Parks
Yellowstone National Park in winter: beautiful landscapes, no crowds. 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. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Italy’s Cultural Capitals
Florence is just as gorgeous—and far less busy—in January. 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. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Argentina and Patagonia
Summertime in Mendoza means green grapevines with a backdrop of snowcapped Andes. 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.
Australia
January is the summer sailing season 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.
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is lively day and night in January. 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.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
In January, Dubai is still warm enough for beaches, and also hosts 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 Dubai 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.
Read reviews of WOW trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
New Zealand
The most satisfying approach to Milford Sound is on foot, along the famous Milford Track. Photo: Shutterstock
January sees warm weather and long days in New Zealand, from top to bottom: You can sunbathe in a hidden cove in the Bay of Islands, hike the iconic Milford Track, or helicopter-hop among snowy glaciers.
Read reviews of WOW trips to New Zealand here and here. To get your own WOW trip and VIP treatment, use the black button below.
Thailand
Islands like Koh Phangan are at their best starting in mid-January. 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.
Sri Lanka
January is the calm between two busy travel periods in Sri Lanka. 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.
Other Smart Options This Month
Click on any of the destinations below to find out why January is a good time to go.
North America
Florida: Disney World, Orlando
Central and South America
Ecuador: Galapagos
Europe
France: Paris apartment rentals
Asia
Australia and Pacific
Papua New Guinea: diving in Milne Bay
Cruises
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