January 1 may usher in a new year full of excitement and possibilities, but a few weeks in, that positive attitude quickly fades as the snow piles up. You start to find that snow angels aren’t that amusing after all, and your favorite hot cocoa would taste better if it were a piña colada and you were drinking it on a luxurious beach somewhere. As the temperatures continue to dip, you find yourself constantly staring out the window and fantasizing about going somewhere warm.
The good news is that January is a great month to travel. With the holiday rush in the rearview mirror, rates begin to drop, ushering in the ideal time to jet off to greener (and sunnier) pastures. Of course, it depends on what you're after. Lee Thompson, co-founder of global travel company Flash Pack says that for a bucket-list warm-weather trip in January, nothing beats the Serengeti. If it's about scoring an airfare deal, Becky Blaine, Newsletter Editor at The Points Guy, advises to keep an eye on flights to Hawaii as airfare drops to draw visitors back to support the economy post-Maui fire. For the best of everything—warm temps, direct flights, beaches, culture and food—check out Curaçao. It's more of a hidden gem (at least to Americans) in the Caribbean and a stay at the new, adults-only boutique Kura Botanica (located in a UNESCO World Heritage building!) will certainly cure your winter blues. (Check out airfare here).
So if you’re dreaming of a winter getaway (or simply need some inspo to get you through the frosty month), here are 14 warm places to travel in January.
