Where to travel in January
Thermals are overrated. Make your winter escape to Rome’s ruins, Barbados’s warm seas and rum punch or Maldivian sunsets brighter than your best cocktails. Bangkok dazzles with Buddhas, boats and night markets, while Madeira keeps families sweet with dolphins, cable cars and cake that could have anti-tantrum-magic built in.
Author: Beena Nadeem
The city
The lowdown
Rome in January is the Eternal City minus the eternal queues. Days are crisp though rarely freezing and the streets settle into a more local rhythm. Walk straight into the Colosseum, see sweeping views from Trajan’s Forum or linger in Piazza Navona by Bernini’s fountains. Toss a coin in the Trevi, glide down the Spanish Steps or explore Castel Sant’Angelo without the summer crowds. As a bonus, there’s seasonal ice skating beneath its walls. Then settle down for a feast fit for Nero: fried cod and artichokes, washed down with a glass of something special in a cosy enoteca. Add world-class art, Caravaggio-lit churches and winter sales on designer goods and Rome becomes indulgence for mind, body and spirit.
Stay
Kick back by the outdoor pool next to this peachy hued former convent or take to the spa before dinnertime refreshments by its lemon and olives trees. At Villa Agrippina a Gran Melia Hotel, you’ll find 21st Century luxury with ancient charm, all in a great spot between the Vatican City and the River Tiber.
The beach
The lowdown
January in Barbados means temperatures around 26C , a steady trade wind and the dry season in full swing – in other words, perfect beach weather. Snorkel the calm west coast where parrotfish patrol Carlisle Bay’s shipwrecks or simply sink into the south ’s relaxed vibe on sugar-soft sand beneath swaying palms. Head east for laid-back botanic gardens or wild Atlantic drama. Off the beach, there’s golf, rum distilleries – where tasting should be compulsory – and suppers of flying fish.
Stay
Tucked along Barbados’ south coast, Sea Breeze Beach House brings island elegance straight to your doorstep. Step from your suite straight onto soft white sand where turquoise waves gently roll in front of your lounger. Spend days drifting between three pools, sipping cocktails in the bar and choosing from a clutch of restaurants serving fresh, inventive dishes, before toasting the sunset with a rum punch.
Flights to Barbados
Barbados holidays
Just the two of us
Maldives
The lowdown
For couples chasing paradise, this pearl chain of tropical islands is pure escapism. Think talc-white sands and azure bath-warm seas alive with jewel-bright fish. January is the sweet spot: low humidity, crystal-clear visibility and blissful highs in the 20s. Drift past cabanas on stilts, snorkel lagoons or toast the sunset with outrageously bright cocktails as the sky turns technicolour. Feast on fish curries by torchlight, then stargaze on the beach and you may even catch bioluminescent plankton light up the night. For deeper connection, visit local islands for cooking or craft lessons and culture. The Maldives certainly delivers on romance in paradise.
Stay
Escape into luxury in Atmosphere-Kanifushi’s beachfront or overwater villas and grab yourself a front seat to sunset views from a private veranda or just enjoy the hot tub and sink a cocktail or two. Enjoy gourmet dining, a serene spa and the surrounding turquoise lagoons which form part of the magic of this all-inclusive retreat that makes a perfect couples’ paradise.
Flights to the Maldives
Maldives holidays
The family trip
The lowdown
Framed by sapphire seas and volcanic cliffs made for adventure, and closer to Africa than mainland Portugal, Madeira basks in year-round sun. Stroll Funchal’s markets stacked with honey, herbs and a splash of local rum, then head inland for mountain views and hearty fare. Ride cliffside cable cars to hidden fajas, dip into Porto Moniz’s lava pools or seek out Calheta and Machico for golden sand. Further afield, Porto Santo’s 5.6-mile beach is worth the boat trip alone. Add whale-watching, lush levada walks and jaw-dropping views and you’ve got an Atlantic escape that keeps both culture-seekers and families smiling.
Stay
Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina has seven gourmet restaurants, five bars, four pools, a spa and private beach, making it perfect for families. Explore nearby Funchal, the surrounding coastline and Madeira’s UNESCO-listed laurel forests, then return to ocean-view suites.
The cultural break
The lowdown
Quite right that Bangkok wears its culture loud and proud. Golden Buddhas gleam, incense curls through riverside shrines and the Grand Palace dazzles with the Emerald Buddha at its core. Stretch out beside Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha – and book a massage at the training school there while you’re at it – or head to Wat Arun’s spire for views that justify all those steps. Drift through Thonburi’s canals by long-tail boat, pause at Jim Thompson’s teak house, or graze happily along Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road. Add world-class art at BACC and MOCA, cycling in leafy Bang Krachao, and night markets bursting with flowers and street eats – and you’ve got a city that hums with energy long after the sun sets.
Stay
Perched gracefully on the Chao Phraya, Shangri-La Bangkok’s a riverside gem that exudes traditional Thai soul though its glamorous interior. Just a quick Skytrain ride from the city’s buzzing shopping and business districts it feels worlds away thanks to an abundance of silk, teak and sweeping river views.
The wild card
The lowdown
January in Iceland is a brilliantly underrated. It’s when hotel prices dip after the Christmas rush, and your krona stretches further. Crowds trickle down compared to summer and yes, the temperatures might be freezing, but that only makes steaming geothermal pools more inviting and the snowy landscapes even more magical. The long, dark nights create prime conditions for spotting the Northern Lights and waterfalls like Gullfoss and Skogafoss are often rimmed with ice. Head to Reykjavik’s cosy cafes and you’ve got a winter escape that feels both adventurous and intimate.
Stay
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre is steps from Laugavegur. Take a free bike from the hotel and explore the Hallgrimskirkja and lake Tjornin with nearby shops, bars and galleries on your doorstep. During your stay, you can feast on hyper-local menus, grab a breakfast bag to go or chill in its bar.
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