11 Best Places to Travel in January 2023

If the post-holiday blahs typically set in after the busy end-of-the-year season, planning a vacation, even a weekend getaway, can be just what the doctor ordered. Whether you stay close to home for a local staycation or head to a far-off locale, experiencing a new destination or returning to a familiar favorite is a great way to start the year.

We have suggestions for winter sports, sunny beaches, and fun places to explore. These are the best places to travel in January this year.

Park City, Utah

Winter sports season is well underway, and skiers and snowboarders probably don’t need a reminder. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, dog sledding, and just plain playing in the fluffy white stuff make January a perfect time to visit Park City. Sundance Film Festival is set for Jan. 19-29, for the first time fully back in Park City since 2020. The atmosphere will be lively in town and on the slopes, so plan a reservation at one of many places to stay. The Pendry Park City, the charming Washington School House Hotel, Waldorf Astoria Park City, and Montage Deer Valley would be great choices. For a group, consider Apex Residences, Lift Park City, or Grand Summit Hotel.

Fort Worth, Texas

The Stockyards area in Fort Worth offers restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, a rodeo, and the history of the state’s famous livestock industry. Family entertainment includes the twice-daily longhorn cattle drive with drovers available for photo ops and questions. Walking tours, a petting zoo, horseback riding, and weekend rodeos at the Cowtown Coliseum are great fun. Shops offer western gear, art, and gifts, and at Flea Style, shoppers can design their own Stetsons. There’s nightlife at Billy Bob’s and the new Tannahill’s Tavern Music Venue, and through Feb. 5, the “Rodeo Rink” ice skating venue takes over the lawn of the Livestock Exchange Building with live music and a lights display. Stay steps away at Hotel Drover for great food and Texas hospitality.

The Bahamas

This chain of more than 700 islands and cays is located east of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. January weather is perfect, and the islands are an ideal getaway from cold weather up north. The main islands are home to a variety of all-inclusive hotels, plush resorts, white-sand beaches, and casinos. The Exumas are known for the swimming pigs, an adorable collection of porkers that welcome excited guests to their island. On the island of Nassau, where most scheduled flights land, Atlantis Paradise Island offers golf, a spa, a casino, a marina, pools, and beaches. The Cove Eleuthera is unveiling a major renovation as it opens for the season in early November. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort located on Paradise Island features a range of accommodations including three and four-bedroom beachfront villas.

Las Vegas, Nevada

It’s chilly in January, but there’s plenty to do indoors, with new hotels, restaurants, shows, and entertainment venues. Whether you enjoy dining at top chef-helmed restaurants, dancing at glitzy nightclubs, hitting the gambling tables, or seeing shows, you’ll find what you’re seeking. There’s always something new, and some of the latest additions are at AREA 15 where Wink World: Portals Into the Infinite takes visitors through a light, color, sound, and motion experience. For a wild welcome to the new year, Resorts World Las Vegas features top entertainment, parties, and a weekend celebration. Shows range from Cirque du Soleil to singers, magicians, comedy, and Broadway-style theater. Awakening at the Wynn is a new spectacle with its own specially designed arena.

Charleston, South Carolina

While January weather in Charleston is unpredictable, temperatures are usually in the 50s with perhaps a little rain (or sunshine). It’s a great time to explore the city without crowds, unless you encounter a few visitors at the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Jan. 29. Oyster shucking, eating contests, live music, food, wine, beer, and family-friendly activities, along with about 60,000 pounds of oysters, make it a popular event. January will also see the highly anticipated opening of the International African American Museum, built on the former site of a slave trading post, offering artifacts, exhibitions, and interpretive space. Stay downtown in the historic French Quarter at the newly renovated Mills House and dine at Iron Rose, set in a walled courtyard. The Loutrel, a luxury hotel in the historic district, and Zero George are other hotel options.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

The Twin Cities should be on the itinerary for all serious winter weather fans, with average January temperatures of 22 degrees and the annual 10-day Great Northern Festival from Jan. 25-Feb. 5. One of the world’s top winter festivals, visitors will see art displays, live performances, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championship, seasonal food and drinks, and the Luminary Loppet, a magical night of fire-lit entertainment. Cross-country skiing, ice skating, and flying kites on frozen Lake Harriet are also fun cold-weather activities. Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis or the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel and dine at the James Beard Award-winning Owamni by the Sioux Chef, the state’s first Indigenous restaurant.

Jamaica

January weather is just about perfect with temperatures in the low 80s and less than two inches of rain in Jamaica. Three international airports make arrivals convenient: Norman Manley International in Kingston, Sangster International in Montego Bay, and Ian Fleming International in Ocho Rios. There are beautiful beaches, of course, and a fascinating luminous lagoon near Montego Bay adds something special to an evening swim. Six resort areas each offer a different vibe, from historic to cosmopolitan to beachy. For an all-inclusive, adults-only resort, check out Hotel Riu Palace in Montego Bay. Villa Serenity in Ocho Rios offers ocean-view villas, while Villa Serenity is also all-inclusive. The 2,200-acre luxury Tryall Club in Montego Bay features 91 privately owned villas ranging from one to ten bedrooms, each with a dedicated staff. The Club offers golf, tennis, a kids club, and restaurants.

Mazatlán, Mexico

January temperatures are in the high 70s, ideal for being outdoors, whether on the beach, at the pool, or exploring the city. The oceanfront features a five-mile malecón (promenade) along the Pacific for bicycle riding, walking, and enjoying the sunset. Mazatlán is home to one of the highest lighthouses in the world, El Faro Lighthouse. A challenging hike along a gravel path and paved steps takes visitors to the top for beautiful views of the city and the ocean. Mazatlán is served by Mazatlán International Airport (MZT) from many major cities. All-inclusive Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán Beach Resort, located along the Zona Dorada, recently completed a major renovation of guest suites, restaurants, lobbies, pools, and facade. Guests can also dine at restaurants at sister property Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay Resort & Spa.

Queensland, Australia

It’s summer in Australia, although the weather and environment vary significantly from place to place. In Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and home to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is loved by divers. From the world’s oldest rainforest to the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast, Queensland offers a host of things to do and see. For another claim to fame, the film "Ticket to Paradise" was shot almost entirely on location in Queensland including places like Hamilton Island, Brisbane, the Whitsundays, and Gold Coast. Stay in a secluded estate at The House at Lizard Island or in a beachfront villa or residence at the InterContinental Hayman Island. On the Gold Coast, Langham Gold Coast and Dorsett Gold Coast take advantage of warm weather and beach locations.

Costa Rica

This Central American country where pura vida is both a greeting and a lifestyle borders the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. January begins the dry season on the Pacific side, and the weather is warm and sunny. The diverse country features mountains, rivers, beaches, rainforests, and resorts that are as diverse as the environment. The Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo offers guest rooms, suites, and multi-bedroom residences as well as a spa, golf, beaches, and guided eco-adventures. On the Osa Peninsula in the southwest, Botánika Osa Peninsula, a new luxury eco-resort, is set in a coastal rainforest near Corcovado National Park. ORIGINS Lodge, within a lush rainforest jungle in the north of Costa Rica features an organic garden, spa, and a variety of accommodations. Luxury glamping resort Nayara Tented Camp, located in Arenal National Park, is part of a collection of three sister properties.

Vienna, Austria

New Year’s Eve is a festive time in Vienna, and there’s plenty to do during the rest of the month. Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier is one of the world’s largest art and cultural areas, convenient to explore and an ideal escape indoors on chilly days. Plus there are cafés for Vienna’s famed sweets and warm beverages. The Albertina museum is a favorite, with a stunning permanent collection and a self-guided tour that includes access to fully-restored and furnished palace rooms. Plan some time to get out of the city and enjoy skiing, snowboarding, or the winter sports of your choice in Austria’s mountains and ski resorts.