If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, January will have you pretty much confined to your warm home as its cold winds cover the sidewalks with a thin coating of slippery ice. However, you can fight the winter lethargy by embarking on a vacation filled with rip-roaring adventures. Winter blues is, after all, only a state of mind. If you are eager to embark on an escapade, here is a comprehensive guide to January holiday destinations.
What to avoid
The best way to begin a broad guide to January holiday destinations is to narrow down the options by pointing out what to avoid. For starters, you should definitely steer clear of the portion of the globe that is going through a wet season. The Inca Trail will leave you absolutely soaked and miserable and Brazil’s hinterland will be pretty much flooded. Portugal, Northern Spain and Greece are drenched in downpours during January and they are surprisingly cold. Furthermore, Scotland’s hotels and restaurants are in the downtime – unless your goal is to visit a ski resort.
Embrace the winter
Of course, if you are a type of person that cannot get enough of the enchanting winter season, you can fully embrace the cold and visit some renowned hotspots for frosty escapades. If you are in the mood for an urban experience, January is an excellent month to finally visit the New York City – an urban sprawl that needs no introduction. Snow covered buildings around Central Park and ice-rinks filled with welcoming residents as Frank Sinatra blares from the loudspeaker make a perfect opportunity to have a Manhattan experience out of movies.
On the other hand, if you want to feel the magical grip of snow-covered nature, look no further than Switzerland. The winter idyll around this period is in full swing and yet the price tags wind down due to after-Charismas fatigue. This renders mid to late January an opportune time for a Swiss vacation and you’ll easily dig up absolutely amazing Switzerland Travel deals that will settle you with the best bang for your buck.
Chase the sun
As for Asia, while northern China lies firmly in the grip of subzero temperatures during January, Southeast Asia is the place to go, including the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines. While Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are not tropically hot during this month, Bali is a definite go-to if you want to have a summer adventure. If you have always wanted to visit India and you have never had a chance, January is a perfect time to visit Kerala in the southern region – if you want to catch the winter sun. This also includes a visit to the magical Sri Lanka.
Alternatively, you can revel in the lush nature of Costa Rica on the other side of the globe. The holidays lend it a particularly festive atmosphere, while summer temperatures and vivacious wildlife will make you forget all about your snow-locked home. Also, January is probably the perfect time to visit the legendary Galapagos Islands. Climate conditions hardly get more convenient than during the first month of the ear – the weather is warmer and the seas are calm. The only reason why families don’t flock to this island during this period is because of the increased chances of rain.
Of course, you can do something totally unpredictable and head to the distant corner of the world known as Patagonia – a magical land that reaches the peak of summer heat during January. Appropriately, the prices will be quite steep during this period, but if you want to mingle with other globe-trotters and you yearn to learn more about this captivating part of the world, this is the best time to pay it a visit.
You can kick off New Year by visiting a completely new destination. Start it off with a bang that promises twelve months full of daring choices and healthy challenges. Furthermore, the post-Christmas season, right before the week around Valentine’s Day creeps up, is renowned for its cheap deals and opportune packages. So, why not “abuse” the system if the opportunity allows it, and have the time of your life?
