Best vacation in january
If you’re looking to kick back, relax and make some great memories with your family, then you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a list of the best places to go in January to get exactly what you want out of your vacation.
When a month is only 30 days, it’s impossible to include everything you want to do in such short time. Therefore, the best vacation planning resources will help you get organized and know what should be included in your perfect escape. Among all my list recommendations, some ideas I wish to highlight are those ones at Bored Panda and Business Insider.
The best vacation in January is a trip to a warm, sunny location. It’s the perfect time of year to spend some quality time with your family and friends, and it’s also a great opportunity to get away from the cold weather and enjoy some sun.
If you’re looking for an affordable option that won’t break the bank, then consider booking a trip to Florida or California. They both offer warm weather, plenty of sunshine, and plenty of things to do while you’re there. You can enjoy swimming in the ocean or swimming pools, but you can also relax by reading on the beach or going shopping at one of their many stores.
There are also many other options available for those who want something more exotic. For example: Thailand has beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots that are perfect for exploring; Mexico offers great nightlife; Australia has amazing wildlife; New Zealand has stunning landscapes; etc…
The best vacation in January is a trip to the tropics.
It’s true! The winters are shorter, the weather is warmer and more stable, and you can enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful beaches without having to worry about the cold ruining your vacation. Plus, if you book early enough, you can find amazing deals on flights!
- Rwanda, AfricaTemperature: 24°C high; 9°C low
Season: First dry period
Travel time from UK: 10 hours 40 minutes (indirect with Rwandair or Egyptair)
Time difference: GMT +2There are many reasons to go to Rwanda. Its vibrant Kigali exudes an air of positivity from its extraordinarily resilient people. In Akagera National Park, still off-radar on the safari scene, lion and black rhino have been reintroduced, and you’ll spot elephants, giraffes and zebras roaming the savannah – but no other safari tourists. Trek through ancient rainforests, babble with monkeys – colobus, baboon, chimpanzee. But it’s Rwanda’s mountain gorillas that are the blockbuster draw. Not even 100 people a day are permitted to trek, accompanied by trackers, into the Virunga cloud forest of Volcanoes National Park, for a close encounter with the critically endangered creatures – a moving, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s possible any time of year – whenever you can get a coveted permit – but as the first dry period, January is one of the best months for trekking.Sustainable travel tip: The income from carefully monitored responsible tourism funds the conservation of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.Where to stay: Two of Africa’s most sensational lodges are found not far from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the gorillas: Bisate, Wilderness Safaris’ thatched, curvaceous and exquisitely designed eco-lodge and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.Find out more with our travel guide to Rwanda. 
Getty ImagesThe Japanese AlpsTemperature: 3°C high; –5°C low
Season: Winter
Travel time from UK: 11 hours 50 minutes
Time difference: GMT +9Most tourists miss Honshu’s mountainous Nagano Prefecture, which rewards the more intrepid traveller with unique experiences in this eternally surprising land. It is home to the drama and forested beauty of the Japanese Alps; the Nakasendo Way winding through the Kiso Valley and Kiso Mountain peaks which, in January, are white with snow. In Joshinetsu National Park, the ski resort of Shiga Kogen is massive – 51 lifts and dozens of hotels – but still little-known to overseas visitors, its slopes uncluttered. Apres-ski here is all about sushi feasts and restorative bathing in the natural onsen baths… perhaps even, in Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, surrounded by scarlet-faced macaques who wallow in the steaming pools to keep warm.Where to stay: In Nagano’s Kiso forest – where forest bathing is said to have originated – Zenagi is a 300-year-old Kominka house, its traditional architecture offset by the exquisite modern restoration and furniture locally made by craftsfolk.Sustainable travel tip: Stays at Zenagi support Nagano’s rural communities and the restaurant uses ingredients grown by local suppliers.
Getty Images Andaman IslandsTemperature: 29°C high; 21°C low
Season: Dry and cool
Travel time from UK: 9 hours 50 minutes to Chennai; 2 hours to Havelock
Time difference: GMT +5.5A castaway fantasy of white-sand cays and lagoons of tropical blue, the Andamans are the Indian Ocean archipelago on which few have set barefoot. Surfers and backpackers seeking next-level undiscovered make the 60-hour voyage by basic boat from Kolkata or Chennai, to stay in shacks along its pristine shores. In the past decade or so, more luxurious digs have been set up: primarily the Taj Exotica, in five-star splendour on Havelock island; and the more boutique Jalakara, set up by an Englishman and his wife.Sustainable travel tip: Experiences here are all-natural: swimming, snorkelling, surfing, nature trails and bird walks.Where to stay: As well as Taj Exotica and Jalakara, Barefoot at Havelock is a rustic delight. Greaves India can arrange holidays for all three.Find out more about The Andaman Islands: a far-faraway place of shipwrecks and electric-blue seas
WATCHA road trip around South Africa
Getty Images JamaicaTemperature: 30°C high; 19°C low
Season: Winter
Travel time from UK: 9 hours 45 minutes
Time difference: GMT -5Winter in Jamaica – when temperatures dip to a cool 30ºC by day – is a bright and balmy affair. This vibrant island dances to its own rhythms throughout January with music festivals from reggae (St Ann’s Rebel Salute) to rock’n’roll (Peter’s Players Winterfest). Jamaica’s music scene has always been world-leading, and never more so than right now. January is also one of the loveliest times to go for peak beach weather, the sea deliciously warm for swimming; and also for hiking – to waterfalls along the One Love Trail, or up through coffee plantations to the peak of the Blue Mountains.Sustainable travel tip: Eco-forward Stush in the Bush serves delicious, homegrown plant-based Rastafari-Ital dishes – as well as gathering rainwater for the local community and generating solar power.Where to stay: Ian Fleming’s former home GoldenEye is now one of several Jamaica boltholes owned by Island Records boss Chris Blackwell – and remains a legend. Its history is richly storied; Island Records brought Bob Marley to the world, and GoldenEye, in turn, has brought a string of musicians to the island, who have written songs in its waterside huts.
Getty ImagesLanzarote, Canary IslandsTemperature: 20°C high; 13°C low
Season: winter
Travel time from UK: 4 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: GMT +0It’s no secret the Canary Islands offer reliable winter sun – but it may surprise that there’s another side to Lanzarote. Skip the east coast’s gaudy mega-hotels and you’ll discover a very cool Canary. Much of the built landscape owes a debt to local architect César Manrique, who designed many of the islands must-see architectural feats: Jardín de Cactus, his magical cactus amphitheatre; or the home he designed for himself, where cave-like rooms are carved into lava bubbles (now home to the Fundacíon César Manrique). Speaking of which, the island’s volcanic landscape is its own art project. Timanfaya National Park presents a ravishing patchwork of rainbow-hued earth. If climbing a volcano doesn’t do it for you, get wet: dive underwater through the art park Museo Atlántico, or surf local favourite Famara beach, a dramatic stretch to the north.Sustainable travel tip: There’s no slow boat to Lanzarote, but lots of budget airlines fly here – and a few are genuinely attempting to reduce emissions. EasyJet, in fact, is rather progressive as carbon-gushing corporations go.Where to stay: Finca Malvasia is a four-apartment hotel in Lanzarote’s central La Geria wine region that’s packed with funky touches such as volcanic-stone walls and cactus gardens.Book nowFind out more with our travel guide to Lanzarote.
Getty ImagesSilver Lake, Los AngelesTemperature: 20°C high; 10°C low
Season: winter
Travel time from UK: 11 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: GMT -8Now Venice has officially made the transition from edgy to upscale, where do you go in LA for more boho, less bling? Head east to Silver Lake. There might not be a beach, but the chilled neighbourhood vibe more than compensates. Houses spill down jungly hills to palm-lined boulevards jammed with vintage T-shirts and vinyl. Behold the surf shops and farmers’ markets, street murals and food trucks, plus indie clubs that launched Foo Fighters and Foster The People. Think of it as an unending summer of hip, young cool – even in January. And, as with any self-respecting creative hub, it’s where food trends are born: see Trois Familia’s French-Mexican brunch, with beet-tartare tostada and churro French toastSustainable travel tip: LA traffic is notorious, and its subpar public transportation even more so, but you can do your bit by renting a hybrid car.Where to stay: The Palihouse Santa Monica boutique beach lodge is in a Spanish Colonial Revival-style building, a range of suites with a home-from-home philosophy.Book nowCheck out the Los Angeles insider guide.
Getty ImagesBarbados, CaribbeanTemperature: 29°C high; 23°C low
Season: dry
Travel time from UK: 8 hours 45 minutes
Time difference: GMT -4It’s the Caribbean island’s good-time vibes that keep regulars coming. Well, that and the pirate’s bounty of bleached-white, powdery beaches. The glam west coast might be all five-star luxury, but travel slightly south and the scene quickly skews more local. Lively town Oistins’ Friday Night Fish Fry brings the community out for an open-air party, with fresh-caught fish on the barbecue and booming reggae. Or, closer still, hit St Lawrence Gap, a strip of rambunctious rum bars. On the quieter east coast, pounding Atlantic waves draw surfers: Bathsheba is the closest Barbados gets to boho, with pro boarders and tattooed artists. In January, the dawn of dry season, it’s all appealing – drenched only in a daily average nine hours of sunshine.Sustainable travel tip: The best way to benefit the Barbados community is to leave your hotel. Give back to the community by spending tourist dollars at Oistins Fish Fry, which benefits local businesses.Where to stay: Cobblers Cove prides itself on being quietly elegant – an intimate, stylish country-house hotel situated on a white sand beach, with 40 spacious rooms which all open on to the luscious gardens.Book nowDon’t miss the travel guide to Barbados.
Trending Stories
- INSPIRATIONDo any countries allow travel without a Covid vaccine?ANYA MEYEROWITZ AND ABIGAIL MALBON
- EATING & DRINKINGThe best restaurants in London right nowCONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER, TABITHA JOYCE, AND SARAH JAMES
- EATING & DRINKING11 of the best restaurants in Lisbon to tryABIGAIL MALBON
- PLACES TO STAYThe best hotels with a view in Paris
Getty ImagesCape VerdeTemperature: 24°C high; 19°C low
Season: dry
Travel time from UK: 8 hours
Time difference: GMT -1A smattering of volcanic islands 350 miles off the coast of Senegal, Cape Verde seems a lonely prospect at first look, out in the mid-Atlantic. But there’s a reason it’s fast become a fly-and-flop favourite: miles of uninterrupted ivory beaches, impossibly pure surf and an intriguing lunar landscape. Not to mention its consistently sunny disposition: January’s average temperature is 25˚C. And finally, there’s a lovely little eco lodge to rival the big hotels and budget guesthouses. Run entirely on renewable energy, Spinguera is a restored fishing village with its own private beach on the north coast of Boa Vista island (translation: good view). Think charming, stone-hewn villas with bright yellow shutters, fresh, white bedrooms and lantern-lit sunset suppers. You could while away every day right here. Or go island-hopping to explore more of Cape Verde’s craggy beauty: from Sal’s red deserts and salt pans to São Vicente, the heart of its colourful Afro-Portuguese culture.Sustainable travel tip: Try exploring the islands by ferry. Some routes are more regular and reliable than others, such as São Vicente to lush and mountainous Santo Antão, and Santiago to rugged Fogo (where there’s a vineyard in a volcanic crater).Where to stay: At Odjo d’Agua Hotel, a small, locally owned hotel with a garden, a pool, anachronistically decorated rooms (antiques and curios, fishing equipment and so on) and an open-air restaurant-bar jutting out into the sea, where you can dine as the Atlantic rollers crash past.Book nowDiscover the best way to enjoy your time in Cape Verde.
Getty ImagesMontreal, CanadaTemperature: -4°C high; -12°C low
Season: winter
Travel time from UK: 7 hours 20 minutes
Time difference: GMT -5If a rave in sub-zero temperatures sounds appealing, Montréal is for you. The city’s annual January Igloofest tempts parka-clad party people outside with a line-up of world-class EDM acts. Elsewhere, the French château architecture looks fabulous with frosting, and you can go snowshoeing up Mount Royal for excellent city views (it’s more of a hill, really, right in the middle of town). Mile End’s hipsters have been replaced by good-looking young families, but its food institutions remain: warm up with classic smoked-meat sandwiches at Schwartz’s Deli, or St-Viateur’s hot-out-the-oven, hand-rolled bagels (thinner and sweeter than New York’s). For a comforting treat in the cold, poutine is considered a delicacy – try it at Au Pied de Cochon or Garnde Manger. If you need to come in from the cold, there’s the Underground City – a network of shops, museums and restaurants below downtown’s core.Sustainable travel tip: In hip warehouse district Griffintown the Hôtel Alt Montréal, from Canadian-owned Groupe Germain, has been designed with sustainability in mind: think geothermal heating and energy-saving lighting.Where to stay: Auberge du Vieux-Port, located on the riverfront in Vieux Montreal, has a restaurant and a rooftop terrace with views of the St-Lawrence River and the Old Port.Book nowFind out how to spend 24 hours in Montreal.
Getty ImagesPanamaTemperature: 32°C high; 24°C low
Season: dry
Travel time from UK: from 12 hours 50 minutes
Time difference: GMT -5Finding a photograph-worthy beach in Panama – a compact country with two long coasts – is easy. Finding a suitably chic stay to match is more of a challenge. Maybe that’s why this gem gets overshadowed by its rowdy neighbours, Colombia and Costa Rica. But that’s all starting to change, now, thanks to the Islas Secas. On a remote, private archipelago of the same name, just 20 miles off Panama’s Pacific shore, this spanking-new retreat leaves you marooned in luxury: nine casitas, some with pools and ocean views; expert-led excursions to uninhabited islands and jungles; and complete silence come nightfall. Changing gears, the Panama Jazz Festival makes January the best time to visit for a musical party. Hole up in Central America’s first W hotel, or head for the Casco Viejo. Once controlled by gangs, the capital’s old quarter is now flooded with cool new outfits revitalising crumbling colonial buildings, including romantic boutique bolthole La Concordia.Sustainable travel tip: Billionaire conservation philanthropist Louis Bacon bought the Islas Secas archipelago on the condition that 13 of its 14 islands would remain undeveloped. The whole retreat runs on solar energy, plus all water used gets recycled. Alternatively, choose a completely untouched beach getaway: the Caribbean coast’s San Blas Islands are protected by an indigenous Panamanian tribe, the Guna. No hotels, no big-name restaurants: just simple huts and hammocks on deserted sands. Pass on flying here – you can catch a speedboat just outside Panama City.Where to stay: A pretty retreat on a coffee farm in the mountain area of Boquete, Los Establos has spacious suites, great views and plenty of activities on offer.Book nowRead more about where to eat, drink and stay in Panama.
Getty ImagesVal d’IsereTemperature: -1°C high; -10°C low
Season: winter
Travel time from UK: 1 hour 40 minutes
Time difference: GMT +1With New Year crowds gone and no school holidays on the horizon, January is a fine time for a European ski holiday. And not only does Val present the most reliable powder on the continent, but this St-Tropez-on-snow is only getting splashier. Le Refuge de Solaise, a converted cable-car station, is the highest hotel in France, offering unbeatable mountain views, early access to the slopes and complete seclusion in the evenings when the lifts close. Chalet fans, meanwhile, have more slick picks than ever: seven-room Chalet Husky has a climbing wall, infinity waterfall and space for rifle shooting and archery – perhaps not so wise after a night at Dick’s Tea Bar. And if Olympic downhills and Michelin-starred restaurants aren’t doing it, there are plenty more inventive ways to get your kicks. Who’s up for a circuit of BMW’s ice track?Sustainable travel tip: Looking to offset all that Val d’Isère excess? Eurostar runs direct trains from London St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice during ski season; local buses then make the 45-minute trip from the station to Val.Where to stay: Le Yule. The best thing about this hotel is its location, right on the edge of the front de neige and the nursery slope. The rooms are decorated in minimalist Scandinavian style with natural colours, and have balconies overlooking the piste.