Where to go in January?
If, after the typically busy and indulgent Christmas festivities, you just want to unwind, relax and get some sunshine on your skin to banish those winter blues, you might want to consider the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida - USA or the Canary Islands if you want shorter flight. Grenada is known as the spice island for good reason. Here you can expect to indulge in tasty meals created using a range of spices on an island known for its nutmeg heritage. Grenada also produces exceptional chocolate. If you aren’t enjoying the spectacular beaches like Grand Anse or indulging in delicious food you can also experience spectacular snorkelling and diving excursions. St Lucia is covered in rainforest and plantations but here you can expect plenty of opportunities to relax on the stunning beaches or begin your new year detox with a huge array of spa treatments available for which this island is now well known. South Beach, Miami offers relaxing beaches with nightlife and shopping in easy reach. Alternatively, hire a car and head to the keys or fly into Orlando for a fun filled family holiday at Disney World or Universal Studios or both. If you’d prefer to have a short haul break then the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria might have what you need. Not only can you expect to relax on the beach or by the pool in warm temperatures, but you may also want to venture out to explore the volcanic landscape or work up an appetite partaking in watersports.
A holiday isn’t always about chasing the sun and January is typically the time of year to have the annual visit to a ski resort or try it out for the first time. Places of note for short haul skiing are Switzerland, Austria, and France however, Bulgaria and Slovenia are also growing in popularity and offer good opportunities for budget conscious travellers. Long haul ski options from the UK include Whistler, Canada or Colorado, USA with no fewer than 25 ski areas appealing to all levels. Whilst in Whistler, Canada why not extend your stay with a visit to Vancouver or have a ‘ski safari’ of sorts by visiting other nearby resorts.
If a full week off is not an option but you want to grab a long weekend city break, why not opt for Budapest, Hungary or Vienna, Austria. Budapest offers plenty of opportunities to explore with visits to the Artists Village and Buda’s Castle Hill which can then be reflected on whilst you warm yourself up in the thermal baths. Vienna in January is full of glitz and glamour in the famed ball season. You’ll need to pack glitzy dresses and a tux and book tickets in advance, but a little preparation can lead to an evening of waltzing the night away at one of the 300+ balls.
If you are looking for something adventurous and perhaps a wildlife encounter then head to Uganda to trek through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before coming face-to-face with Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. A visit to the Serengeti, Tanzania will enthral any visitor as you witness the Wildebeest feasting on the plains to fatten up before calving and embarking on their treacherous migration. Botswana is typically on the high-end scale of pricing due to the policy of keeping visitor numbers low but a visit here in January, the ‘green season’, sees prices drop dramatically. Visitor numbers are also lower than other times of the year but wildlife can be plentiful. Celebrate a second Christmas on the 7th January when visiting Lalibela, Ethiopia. Here you can witness the devotees visiting the churches carved into solid rock to celebrate Leddet or Gena (Christmas). The Andaman Coast of Thailand overs sunseekers an adventurous option too and attracts rock climbers to Krabi to scale the karst-rock outcrops. This can also be combined with adventures under the water with stunning diving and snorkelling options too.
Other great destinations to consider at the beginning of the year include; Sri Lanka, Maldives, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India.