January is traditionally the quietest time of the year for travel, with the gluttony of Christmas causing a spending slump in the new year. And that means you’ll find some great bargains, even if you have your eyes set on somewhere warm and sunny on the other side of the world. But where to? Well, Dubai is reliably warm if you’re after lavish hotel stays. In the Maldives, the crowds haven’t arrived yet and, on the western side of the atolls, the season for spotting manta rays has just begun. Or perhaps you’re after wineland tours — Cape Town is the perfect base for that. Here’s our pick of the best hot spots in January.
1. Kenya, Africa
A giraffe walks at sunset in the Masai Mara
GETTY IMAGES
Average temperature 24C
The start of the year is a time of opportunity for safari-goers and honeymooners alike. January falls plum between Kenya’s “short rains” and later “long rains” seasonal periods, leaving the weather dry and clear-skied, with hot days and warm evenings — all perfect ingredients for wildlife-watching. Though you won’t encounter its famous wildebeest migration, the Masai Mara reserve will still bring the big five, plus a wonderful supporting cast from giraffes to ostriches and far fewer humans. It’s also a great, high-visibility month to swim or snorkel the underrated Kenya coast, where the sandy beaches rival anywhere on the planet.
Make it happen
A truly inspiring place to stay, luxurious Emboo River Camp has silent electric cars and one of the Masai Mara’s few female guides.
The ten-day On Safari in Kenya tour from Cosmos combines the Masai Mara with elephant-rich Amboseli National Park and the lesser-visited Solio Game Reserve, where rhinos are prolific.
• Best Kenya safaris
• Discover our full winter sun holiday guide
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Average temperature 24C
The glitziest, glammest Emirate effectively has two seasons: hot and hotter. Firmly part of the former, January is Dubai’s coolest time of year — making it a fine time to visit, when temperatures are most palatable and showers rare. And, as superlative-obsessed as the city undoubtedly is, a variety of trips await below its futuristic skyscrapers. Fly-and-floppers are directed to Palm Jumeirah’s endless Arabian Gulf beaches, while activity fans can take a dune-bashing desert safari, go shark-diving or fly in a hot-air balloon. There are dinner dhow cruises for couples and waterparks for families. January is especially good in Dubai’s gigantic malls, as the Shopping Festival brings extensive discounts in many stores and restaurants.
Make it happen
Stay on Palm Jumeirah itself at the indulgent, palatial One&Only The Palm, where standard rooms are larger than most hotel suites.
Celestyal’s seven-night Desert Days cruise begins in Abu Dhabi, before visiting Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, Bahrain and Doha.
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Dubai
• Best things to do in Dubai with kids
3. Barbados
Bottom Bay in Barbados
GETTY IMAGES
Average temperature 26C
Many luxury hotels in this Caribbean stalwart don’t accept children under 12 during January — ideal for couples or honeymooners seeking peace and quiet at the start of the year. The month also brings reliable sunshine, gentle trade-wind breezes — explaining why Barbados Sailing Week takes place in January — and reduced humidity. Jet-skiing and diving over coral reefs are other popular water sports, but some visitors to Barbados understandably get no further than the west coast’s dazzling array of palm-fringed beaches and exquisite resorts. Do try to explore, though: Harrison’s Cave’s icy pools and jagged stalactites are fun to inspect, as are the capital Bridgetown’s beautiful garrison and the lively Bajan cuisine. Golf courses and gardens dot Barbados’s interior, and a fine restaurant or rum distillery is never far away.
Make it happen
One adults-only pad is the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa, which has bird-rich grounds, an attractive spa and free beach shuttles.
Designed specifically for Britons, P&O’s classy ship Arvia calls at Bridgetown on a 14-night island-hopping fly-cruise from Antigua.
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Barbados
• Best luxury villas in Barbados
4. Bali, Indonesia
Seminyak Beach in Bali
ALAMY
Average temperature 26C
New year, new you? Nowhere suits rejuvenation — or simply a jump-start to your wellness regimen — better than Bali. There are, admittedly, some downsides to visiting in January: mosquitoes (locals repel them with lemongrass tea), some brief tropical downpours and swirling seas ill-suited to diving. But those are outweighed by positives; namely a distinct lack of crowds at ancient temples or Seminyak’s chic beach clubs, otherwise sunny days and magnificent green colours at the most photogenic rice paddies. The pitter-patter of occasional rain may even add to your sense of serenity while you’re practising yoga or meditating above a jungly river near spiritual Ubud. And added contentment should ensue from the low prices in the “Island of the Gods” at this time of year.
Make it happen
Rooms at the Alila Ubud — a luxurious riverside retreat just outside town, with free daily yoga — are about a third cheaper in January compared to July
Join the nine-day Wellness Bali tour from G Adventures for a relaxed break visiting Ubud, Pemuteran and Nusa Dua.
• Best hotels in Bali
• Best luxury villas in Bali
5. Maui, Hawaii
A humpback whale surfaces beside a tour boat in Maui
ALAMY
Average temperature 22C
January is mostly sunny and wonderfully warm in Hawaii. Showers do become more common, but much less so on Maui’s leeward (south and west) sides. Instead of emptying clouds, expect endless cetaceans: with pods of humpbacks passing en route to the South Pacific, that same coast’s offshore Maui Nui Basin is a mecca for thrilling whale-watching boat trips in January. The north shore, meanwhile, is prone to receiving some of the world’s biggest waves at this time of year; marvel as daredevil surfers tackle swells up to 15m high from Ho’okipa Beach Park. Back in western Maui, the towns of Kaanapali and Wailea tend to be driest and best of all for beach days.
Make it happen
Hawaii’s lone Relais & Chateaux-group member, the elevated Hotel Wailea offers Zen-inspired gardens and terrific Pacific vistas
Go island hopping with Trafalgar on their ten-day Best of Hawaii tour, visiting Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kona and Maui.
6. The Maldives
Snorkelling in the Maldives
ALAMY
Average temperature 27C
Make for the Maldives during January and you’re odds-on to encounter weather’s holy trinity. As cooling northeasterly breezes escort away any treacherous clouds, blue Indian Ocean skies accompany low humidity and minimal rainfall — usually towards the 1,000-strong archipelago’s southern end. All that, in turn, yields the year’s clearest waters, making it the best time for unforgettable snorkelling or scuba diving. Reef sharks, dolphins, olive ridley sea turtles, Nemo-like clownfish and striped surgeonfish can all reliably be observed. For manta rays or whale sharks, the South Ari Atoll is particularly strong. Boat trips or surf safaris over the bath-warm turquoise waters also tempt guests out of their swanky overwater villas, as do fine spas, conservation activities and subterranean, aquarium-like restaurants.
Make it happen
The castaway-style Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa is one of the South Ari Atoll’s best all-inclusive stays, with a choice of beach and overwater villas.
There are other ways to experience the Maldives, such as the seven-day Maldives Dhoni Cruise from G Adventures in which you’ll sleep on a traditional dhoni boat.
• Best overwater villas in the Maldives
• Best all-inclusive hotels in the Maldives
7. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
A colourful building and aloe vera garden in Cancun
ALAMY
Average temperature 28C
Though midway through Mexico’s sun-soaked dry season, January’s low humidity means that you can comfortably go sightseeing between beach days. Both are a good idea during stays on the northeastern Yucatan peninsula. Opt for the Riviera Maya coastline, and perhaps one of Playa del Carmen’s all-inclusive resorts to have the run of numerous white-sand Caribbean shores plus a fish-filled reef ripe for snorkelling or diving. Cancun’s lively nightclubs are just north, while Tulum is home both to some of Mexico’s best chefs and the well-preserved ruins of a 13th-century port city. More Mayan wonders, headlined by Chichen Itza’s pyramid-style step temple, await inland, as do jungle-hugged cenotes: caves whose transparent, swimmable pools, below stalactites, were once reckoned to be passages to the underworld.
Make it happen
The swish Grand Velas is one of Riviera Maya’s best beachside all-inclusive hotels, with the added bonus of a brilliant restaurant on site.
The eight-day Yucatan Peninsula Adventure tour from Intrepid Travel hits all the highlights, including visits to Playa del Carmen, Merida, Campeche, Bacalar and Tulum.
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Cancun
• Best hotels in Tulum
8. Madeira, Portugal
The glass-bottomed observation deck at the top of Cabo Girao
ALAMY
Average temperature 17C
Closer to Africa than mainland Europe, this Portuguese island has a subtropical climate that guarantees longer, sunnier January days — interspersed with rainy ones — than the chilly continent. Its south and west corners tend to be warmest. Rather than a beach destination, mountainous Madeira suits hiking. Not all 23 official pequenas rutas (small routes) are strenuous, either; those following levada irrigation channels tend to be flat. Visitors will also find botanical gardens, Europe’s highest skywalk in the shape of Cabo Girao’s glass-bottomed observation deck and plenty of fortified Madeira wine. Chestnuts, in season until mid-January, inspire delicious soups and tarts in restaurants around the pleasant capital Funchal — and look out too for bolo de mel, a dark, dense cake made using molasses.
Make it happen
For anyone planning some hiking, the flexibility of a rental home should be appealing. Solmar’s ten villas on the island all come with swimming pools.
Fred Olsen’s sophisticated Winter Warmth cruises, which are round trips from Britain, combine a day in Madeira with the nearby Canary Islands.
• Best hotels in Madeira
• Best things to do in Madeira
9. Vietnam
Bai Sao beach on Phu Quoc
ALAMY
Average temperature 23C
Vietnam is pleasantly dry and sunny all month long, and less crowded than Christmas or in spring, so try to experience as much as possible. That includes honey-coloured beaches around Da Nang, Phu Quoc and Hoi An. From pulsating Hanoi to slicker Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s bigger centres entertain, as does the old imperial capital of Hue. Don’t forsake the Mekong River, especially sampan (a type of narrowboat) cruises to floating markets, or Halong Bay’s scatter of islands and grottoes. Nature lovers are also directed to one of the world’s biggest caves, Hang Son Doong, and to Cat Ba National Park in search of rare golden-headed langur monkeys.
Make it happen
On the saintly island of Phu Quoc, Regent’s sanctuary-like resort is as stylish as Vietnamese beachside stays come.
Indus Experiences can tailor-make Vietnam itineraries, pairing cities, cruises, caves and beaches according to your preferences
indusexperiences.co.uk
• Best hotels in Vietnam
• Best places to visit in Vietnam
10. Galapagos islands
An iguana by the sea in the Galapagos islands
ALAMY
Average temperature 27C
With their many endemic species, wildlife-viewing in Ecuador’s isolated Galapagos islands — 600 miles west of the South American mainland — is always astounding. January, however, is especially so due to its flurry of activity; green sea turtles start to nest, laying their eggs on beaches, iguanas’ mating season kicks off, leaving large land species and their smaller marine counterparts highly visible, and land birds perform colourful courtship rituals. It’s also the period when some penguin species are busiest. Inspiring all of that is the month’s balmy weather — especially its blue-skied mornings — as fogs and mists mostly disappear and seas become especially clear. Is the trip of a lifetime in order?
Make it happen
On Isabela Island, Scalesia Lodge is a boutique stay with safari-style tents secluded away in forested hills near the Galapagos National Park.
A 15-day Highlights of Ecuador & the Galapagos tour from Exodus is one of the more affordable options out there.
• Best Galapagos tours
• Best Galapagos cruises
11. Sao Tome & Principe
Bom Bom Resort on Principe
ALAMY
Average temperature 26C
Positioned about 190 miles west of Gabon and straddling the equator, this two-island nation is undeservedly off-the-radar for most travellers. Sao Tome, much the bigger isle, has tourable chocolate-making factories and, below pointy Pico Cao Grande, a large, waterfall-happy nature reserve in Obo National Park. But Principe is the real gem: its jungly Unesco-protected biosphere interior, littered with old plantations dating to Portuguese colonial days, gives way to tens of castaway-style, coconut-lined and totally empty beaches; Praia Boi and the gorgeously named Praia Banana are the finest. A few seriously luxury hotels line that coast, adding spas and quality Portuguese-creole food to the mix. January is peak time for birdwatchers, with the endemic Principe sunbird a prized spot.
Make it happen
Dividing two dreamy beaches, Bom Bom is the most economical and laid-back of Principe’s few luxury hotels.
Rainbow Tours is the expert on trips here, with tailor-made suggestions including flights via Lisbon and inter-island transfers.
rainbowtours.co.uk
12. Patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park
ALAMY
Average temperature 15C
While “hot” is overstating it, January does herald Patagonia’s warmest climes (although its famous winds can still rear up). That makes it prime time for hiking or inspecting glaciers in this vast, wondrous region, which extends across the bottom of both Argentina and Chile — and thus peak season in terms of prices. The temperature estimated above refers to quieter northern Patagonia, where you’ll find each country’s Lake District; further south, averages dip to 13C for those trekking in Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares national parks. A less-crowded option involves driving the incredible, partially paved Carretera Austral road: lakes, jungles, glaciers, hot springs, snow-capped peaks and sweeping valleys all feature, and there are numerous detour options for activity fans.
Make it happen
At Awasi Patagonia lodge, 14 luxury cabins afford private guides and sensational views over Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.
Explore!’s 14-day walking-focused tour spends time in both Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia after setting out from seductive Buenos Aires.
• Best places to visit in South America
13. Macau, China
The Chapel of St Francis Xavier in Macau
ALAMY
Average temperature 16C
Macau might have a reputation for being the Vegas of the East — the city’s casino hotels dominate its skyline and offer all the outlandish attractions you’d expect, from showstopping fountains to observation wheels — but there are surprising pockets of culture, too. Until 1999, when it was handed back to China, Macau was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years. Remnants of this can be seen in landmarks like the ruins of St Paul’s church, or Monte Fort, which forms part of the city’s Unesco heritage site. Head to Coloane village, with its dated and distinctively European architecture — and bakery selling egg tarts — and you’ll hardly realise you’re in Asia.
Make it happen
The Londoner is a casino hotel celebrating Britain’s capital — hence its Routemaster bus, Big Ben replica and daily changing of the guard ceremonies.
The Asia specialist Wendy Wu Tours can arrange private itineraries to Macau, perhaps combining it with mainland China or its neighbour Hong Kong.
• Best places to visit in China
14. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Beco do Batman, or Batman Alley, in Sao Paulo
GETTY IMAGES
Average temperature 25C
Loud, busy and alive with Latin spirit, Sao Paulo is one of the most vibrant cities to visit in Brazil. It’s primarily known as a financial hub, but with that wealth comes world-class restaurants — among them DOM, considered one of the best in South America — and a busy arts schedule at the likes of Municipal Theatre of Sao Paulo. Parque Ibirapuera is a popular spot for its expansive green space and small collection of museums. On Sundays, Avenida Paulista is the place to be seen, with cafés, shops and restaurants that are ripe for people-watching. Don’t miss Beco do Batman, or Batman Alley, where the walls are splashed with colourful graffiti.
Make it happen
Sao Paulo is a sprawling city so you’ll most likely be stuck in traffic at some point but L’Hotel PortoBay Sao Paulo is close to the main shopping strip of Avenida Paulista.
A full-day guided tour of Sao Paulo packs in many highlights of this vast city, including Parque Ibirapuera, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Municipal Market and Beco de Batman.
15. Cape Town, South Africa
Vineyards in the Cape Winelands
GETTY IMAGES
Average temperature 27C
With a pleasant dry heat tempered by the sea breeze, Cape Town is a top choice for winter sun, helped by the fact that exchange rates are extremely favourable for Brits. The V&A Waterfront, with the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, and Bo-Kaap, with its colourful houses and Cape Malay culture, are among the top tourist draws for the city beyond Table Mountain. But it’s just a short bus ride to the city’s many beaches, or a boat ride to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Hire a car and fabulous day trips to the vineyards of Stellenbosch and the Cape of Good Hope are all within easy reach too.
Make it happen
Complete with an elegant Georgian exterior, the high-end, 19-room Cape Cadogan hotel is a great base for exploring Kloof Street’s bars and restaurants.
Intrepid Travel’s five-day Cape Town & Winelands itinerary includes a walking tour of the city, a visit to Stellenbosch and a drive along the Cape Peninsula taking in Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope.
• Best hotels in Cape Town
• Best things to do in Cape Town
Additional reporting by Hannah Summers
What’s your favourite place for January sun? Please share in the comments below