A few months spark a longing for somewhere brighter and warmer than December. And while we’re in the middle of a winter spell in the UK, it’s time to dream of swaying palm trees and crashing waves in the new year once again.
Enter the Caribbean, dressed in high season’s best, offering gorgeous hotels, sugary beaches and cloudless skies. Elsewhere, the Maldives offer the classic fly-away adventure, while Los Angeles and Buenos Aires are ready to offer sunny city breaks.
Dust off those passports and prepare for warmer climates. Here’s our rundown of where to go for the January sun.
For temperatures between 19°C and 24°C
Los Angeles
While America’s largest city (New York) struggles with winter the hardest, its second largest city resists temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius. In fact, it shouldn’t be surprising that Los Angeles is so sunny in January; After all, this is a metropolis with a golden climate all year round. But this lack of mystery in no way diminishes the possibilities of relaxation further afield, on the Los Angeles coast, in Venice Beach, in Santa Monica or in Malibu.
How to: A seven-night escape to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (unsurprisingly a five-star break) flying direct from Heathrow on January 13 costs £3,629 per person with Virgin Holidays (0344 472 9646; virginholidays.co.uk). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Los Angeles.
Lanzarote
“Lanza-grotty” was the derogatory nickname given to the fourth largest of the Canary Islands in the 1980s. This was always an unreasonable slander; for although this sunny bulge deals with low-key breaks in resort areas such as Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise, it can also lay claim to a growing number of luxury estates and volcanic estates that appeal to Spanish culture in the capital, Arrecife. The majesty of Timanfaya National Park.
How to: A seven-night all-inclusive getaway to the five-star Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote, flying from Birmingham on January 20, costs £1,395 per person via Jet2Holidays (0800 408 0778; jet2holidays.com). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Lanzarote.
dubai
It can be easy to belittle Dubai, to claim that its skyscrapers are ridiculously large, to suggest that its giant shopping malls have supplanted any element of culture, to say that its artificial island construction projects are overreaching and stupid. But the flashiest of the United Arab Emirates doesn’t care one bit – and neither do the thousands of British tourists who flock to its beaches, knowing the sun will hang its hat.
How to: A seven-night half-board getaway to the five-star Anantara The Palm Dubai, flying from Cardiff on January 20, costs from £1,611 per person via Destinology (01204 208 891; destinology.co.uk). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Dubai.
Costa Rica
A country that boasts warm weather and soft beaches will always be attractive. Costa Rica, one of the puzzle pieces that make up Central America, is embraced by both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. From the top of the Irazú volcano, you can view both bodies of water simultaneously while enjoying cosmopolitan afternoons in the national capital, San José.
How to: Last Frontiers (01296 653 000; lastfrontiers.com) offers a 13-day “Classic Costa Rica” itinerary that breaks down the country. Prices start from £4,770 per person including flights. Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Costa Rica.
For temperatures between 25°C and 29°C
Grenada
With its mountainous backdrop and lush interior, Grenada is suitable for those who want a bit of adventure to compensate for lounging by the sea. It is also located on the southern fringes of the Atlantic hurricane belt, making it less likely to experience turbulent weather than some other Caribbean islands.
How to: Audley Travel (01993 460 174; audleytravel.com) offers a 15-day “Highlights of Grenada and St Lucia” itinerary that, as the name suggests, splits its time between the two Caribbean countries. He spends his first week in Grenada, heading to Petite Anse in the less-seen north of the island and sailing to the even less-seen neighboring islet of Carriacou. Prices start from £6,100 per person including (all) flights. Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Grenada.
Barbados
It’s so tied to the UK in terms of history and flight connections that at times a holiday there can feel like a trip to the British seaside, even though temperatures are above 20 degrees Celsius year-round. Barbados is a pillar of Caribbean tourism. . For most, this revolves around luxury resorts on the west coast, but also venture to the capital, Bridgetown, for heritage and excellent food.
How to: A seven-night all-inclusive getaway to Durants’ five-star boutique The House on the Bajan west coast starts from £2,399 per person, including flights, via Tropical Sky (01342 395 315; tropicalsky.co.uk). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Barbados.
Dominican Republic
The country, which makes up two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean, is sometimes overlooked as a holiday option. But in the southeast corner, Punta Cana becomes a focal point thanks to the luxury resorts located around the settlement. The temperature usually breaks the high 20 degrees Celsius at all times. European winter also largely avoids hurricane season (June to November).
How to: A seven-night all-inclusive holiday to the four-star Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort, flying from Gatwick on January 20, costs £1,777 per person through First Choice (020 3451 2688; firstchoice.co.uk). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in the Dominican Republic.
For temperatures 30°C+
Maldives
The nominal rainy season for the Indian Ocean’s most famous island cluster is May to November, with complete sunshine until January. In reality, the time of year makes little difference to the experience of a vast archipelago located in the equatorial belt. Visitors can count on 30-degree temperatures when traveling.
How to: Why choose one luxury resort when you can offer two? Scott Dunn (020 3733 9378; scottdunn.com) offers a 10-night dual-centre Maldivian holiday splitting his time between two resorts, Gili Lankanfushi and Six Senses Laamu. From £6,400 per person including flights (from £9,400 per person in January). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in the Maldives.
Tanzania
This region of East Africa is an essential destination for those who enjoy safari breaks for incredible views of the Great Migration of wildebeest to the Serengeti or lesser-known wildlife experiences in Ruaha National Park. There is also the view; The volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro Crater, the snowy might of Mount Kilimanjaro, the gentle beaches of Zanzibar.
How to: Expert Africa (020 3405 6666; Expertafrica.com) offers a 12-night “Dik Dik Safari” overlooking the great beasts of Tangarire National Park and the Serengeti, overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater and ending on the Zanzibar coast. Prices start from £9,620 per person including international flights in January.
Buenos Aires
It’s rare to think of Argentina in terms of pure sunshine. After all, this is a country that extends (almost) to the glacier-filled foothills of South America (Chile owns the tip of the continent). But Buenos Aires enjoys temperatures in the upper 20s throughout January; It casts in beautiful light the evocative streets of La Boca, the steakhouses of San Telmo, the bright revival of the docks of Puerto Madero and the trendy bars of Palermo.
How to: Journey Latin America (020 3131 2661; travellatinamerica.co.uk) offers a “Vintage Argentina” holiday that visits Buenos Aires, Salta, Mendoza (and surrounding vineyards) and Iguacu Falls over 12 days. From £3,484 per person (extra flights). Find more places to stay in our guide to the best hotels in Argentina.
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