The best holiday destinations for January
From cosy staycations to a hot weather getaway in the Caribbean, these are the best destinations for a holiday in January
We always love a good New Year getaway and January escapes can be a great chance to recharge your batteries after the busy Christmas season, to escape the gloomy weather, or to get active and kick-start your New Year’s resolutions.
The best holiday destinations in January will vary depending on what kind of escape you’re looking for. If it’s an easy staycation you need, you might benefit from a couple of nights in a leafy corner of the UK, where you can disconnect and enjoy hearty food next to an open fire.
There are lots of sumptuous spa hotels in the UK too, where you can enjoy delightful rural landscapes before warming up again in bubbling Jacuzzis, steam rooms, and saunas, and enjoy a rejuvenating treatment.
If wellness is a priority for the New Year, these spa breaks can help you get your resolutions started. Perhaps you'll join a yoga class for the first time in a while, or try meditation under expert guidance.
As much as we love a snug weekend in the country when the UK weather is at its chilliest, sometimes a few rays of winter sun are what we need. If you're craving warmer weather, heading to a far-flung destination like the Caribbean in January is a great option.
We've rounded up some of our favourite destinations for a holiday in January here, so you can find a New Year's trip to suit your needs and beat the January blues in style.
Cornwall
You might think of Cornwall as more of a summer destination, but it’s a great place to hunker down in the colder months too. For one thing, you’ll avoid the crowds of summer and find near-deserted beaches perfect for wandering along wrapped up in a woolly scarf before ducking into a local pub with a roaring fire.
Padstow is a quintessentially Cornish town on the north coast, and while it can be overcrowded during the height of summer, January promises near-empty beaches for scenic walks, fireside drinks in traditional inns, and less competition for tables at the town's excellent restaurants, like Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant and Paul Ainsworth at No6.
How to visit: Good Housekeeping has the perfect winter break near Padstow. Tuck yourself away in a snug yet stylish Shepherd's Hut on the grounds of Rick Stein's pub, The Cornish Arms. With underfloor heating and a cosy double bed, you can be sure of a good night's sleep.
Our offer includes a three-course dinner at The Cornish Arms, breakfast one morning in Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, a bottle of white wine, and a portion of cod and chips from one of Rick Stein's chippies. Wrap up warm and eat them on the beach, or take them back to the warmth of your hut.
Costa Rica
If it’s winter sun that you’re after, you’ll need to venture further afield. Costa Rica is one option for a January holiday promising sunny days and temperatures generally sticking between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius and with very little rainfall.
The conditions are perfect for enjoying the country’s famously beautiful beaches and exploring the rainforests that border them. You might also want to go snorkelling or scuba diving to see the fabulously colourful varieties of fish or hike up volcanoes and through the verdant national parks.
How to visit: The last thing you want after the busy Christmas holidays is any travel stress. A cruise is a wonderfully hassle-free way of travelling, allowing you to explore several locations without worrying about arranging your own transfers and navigating local transport.
Join Good Housekeeping's nine-day cruise down the west coast of Central America and you'll visit several of Costa Rica's exquisite beaches, explore lush mangroves and swim in turquoise lagoons. There'll be plenty of chances to spot incredible wildlife, like an exhilarating canopy tour or ziplining through the jungle.
Antarctica
If you really want to embrace the cold, it doesn't get much icier than a trip to Antarctica, also known as The White Continent. This is a land with an extreme climate and dramatic landscapes, which can only be visited on an expedition cruise with the guidance of experts.
It's a bucketlist kind of trip, where you'll see otherworldly landscapes of towering mountains and volcanoes, glaciers and icebergs, dotted with wildlife including Leopard seals, orcas, and hundreds of thousands of Emperor penguins. Almost 98% of Antarctica is covered in ice, and the weather can be unpredictable. That's why it's important to travel with a knowledgeable team, who can adapt your itinerary to show you the best of the continent safely.
How to visit: Good Housekeeping's 15-night expedition cruise allows you to explore this Untamed and unspoilt wilderness with an expert expedition team to ensure everything goes smoothly.
You'll be sailing on board the custom-built MS Fridtjof Nansen, which is specifically designed for navigating polar waters, with all the equipment you need for days out on the ice. You will also find comfortable spaces on board, so after a long day's exploring you can return to sleep in cosy cabins with elegant Scandinavian-style interiors.
Oxfordshire
If you want to get away after the busy Christmas holidays, but only have a couple of days spare, a UK staycation could be just what you need. There’s definitely no shortage of delightful locations for a couple of relaxing days, but leafy Oxfordshire must be among the best. Within easy reach of London, yet promising miles and miles of unspoilt countryside, Oxfordshire is great for a restorative break.
Of course, the weather in January might lend itself more to short strolls followed by time spent curled up by a log fire with a glass of wine. Luckily there are many wonderfully cosy hotels in Oxfordshire where you can do just that.
How to visit: Le Manoir is a quintessentially Oxfordshire estate, with a shady tree-lined path leading to a honey-stone manor house. This is the project of two Michelin-starred chef, Raymond Blanc, so inside you'll find French flourishes, especially in the exquisite food.
It's the ideal place if you have a New Year's resolution to cook more often, or want to learn new dishes to add to your repertoire. The restaurant at Le Manoir is the first Michelin-starred restaurant in the country with its own cookery school, and with our special offer you can enjoy a day at the cookery school and an overnight stay.
Transylvania
Visit Transylvania in January and you'll find beautiful winter scenes, with the rugged Carpathian Mountains blanketed in snow. It's an atmospheric region at the best of times, but the region's medieval towns are possibly at their most picturesque when the gothic buildings are dusted with snow and warm lights glow in the windows of bohemian cafes lining cobblestoned alleyways.
This region is also home to a number of mystical castles, which look spectacular set against a snowy mountainous backdrop. The 14th-century Bran Castle, rising up high on a craggy hillside, is certainly fitting as home to the legend of Dracula.
How to visit: Join Good Housekeeping on a trip to Transylvania and you'll see several different sides of the region. You'll spend three nights in a boutique hotel in the vibrant Lipscani district in Bucharest, before heading into the mountains to explore Brasov.
But the real highlight will be checking in at the magical Hotel of Ice. This hotel is carved freshly each year out of glacial ice, with unique snow sculptures fitting the yearly theme. While here, you can try snow sports like snow rafting or the Tunnel Trek, or simply kick back with a hot drink and enjoy the scenery.
Leicestershire
Another excellent destination for a rural escape in the UK is Leicestershire. The countryside in this landlocked county is varied, from the volcanic highlands of Charnwood Forest to the rolling pastures of the Laughton Hills.
January is one of the quieter months in Leicestershire, with the unpredictable weather making long walks in the countryside a little harder. But if you're looking for exceptional rural landscapes within easy reach of London and sumptuous country house hotels with comfy nooks for curling up in with a book and a glass of wine, Leicestershire could be the place for you.
How to visit: A spa break is the perfect way to spend a couple of days in the Leicestershire countryside when the weather is at its chilliest. You can enjoy the great outdoors if the weather allows, but if not, you'll have just as relaxing a break simply making the most of restorative treatments and the chance to unwind.
Good Housekeeping has an offer at one of the country's most impressive spa hotels, Ragdale Hall. This extravagant hotel combines state-of-the-art facilities and innovative treatments with the charm of traditional Victorian architecture. Your stay will include two 40-minute treatments and full use of the spa facilities, so you can start your New Year with a relaxing health kick.
Swedish Lapland
Nowhere does winter quite like Lapland. As one of the snowiest regions in Europe, Lapland is a true winter wonderland, where you can appreciate the stillness of snow-covered pine forests and vast, frozen lakes and try once-in-a-lifetime experiences like reindeer safaris, ice fishing, or dog sledding.
January is a wonderful month for a trip to Swedish Lapland. As the 'official' home of Father Christmas, the region can be quite hectic during the run-up to December 25th, as families with young children flock here to catch a glimpse of the elves at work in Santa's Grotto. January will be a lot quieter, meaning you can enjoy these pristine landscapes in relative peace. It's also Northern Lights season, so keep your eyes on the skies for a dazzling display!
How to visit: Join Good Housekeeping for a trip to Swedish Lapland where you'll stay in an enchanting wooden cottage at Brändön Lodge on the edge of the Bothnian Sea. The main building at Brändön Lodge is a fairytale log cabin, where you'll find a warm and welcoming restaurant and a stylish lounge.
While here you'll be able to choose from a huge selection of unmissable winter activities, including husky and snowmobile safaris, winter skills sessions, and ice fishing on a frozen lake.
London
While London makes for a great city break in December — think Christmas shopping and roast dinners in warm, candlelit pubs — it's just as charming for a January escape. The city's grand shopping streets will still be abuzz, as people make the most of the January sales, while the spectacular Christmas light displays tend to stay up until the second week of the month.
There are more winter activities to enjoy in London aside from shopping. Ice-skating on the grounds of elegant historic buildings is a classic London winter pastime, with some rinks — like those at Somerset House and Hampton Court Palace — staying open past the New Year.
How to visit: If you're thinking of a January visit to London, you'll want to check out our two-night offer for a stay at The Rubens at the Palace, an opulent hotel just steps from Buckingham Palace. This prime central location is a great base for hitting the January sales, walking around a frosty Hyde Park, and exploring the city' historic monuments.
Your stay will include a sumptuous dinner in the English Grill, where you'll sink into a plush armchair to dine beneath Murano glass as theatrical dishes are prepared in the open kitchen by a team of expert chefs, who use produce from the same suppliers that serve the royal households.
Richmond
If you'd like to spend a couple of nights enjoying London this January, but would rather stay in a slightly quieter location, a visit to Richmond might be ideal. This leafy, upmarket town in southwest London is less than 30 minutes from Waterloo by train and has good connections to other parts of the city on the District Line and London Overground too.
Despite this, once you're back in Richmond you'll find parts of the town feel almost rural, particularly the sprawling Richmond Park, which covers 2,500 acres and is home to free-roaming red and fallow deer. Kew Gardens is also nearby, where you can wander among subtropical plants in the historic Palm House and see winter greenery thriving outdoors.
How to visit: Check in at the perfectly located Richmond Hill Hotel and you'll be moments from Richmond Park with sweeping vistas over Petersham Meadows. Enjoy the area's nature by hiring a bike to explore the wonderful park and spot its roaming deer, or walk along the Thames enjoying views of elegant riverside homes.
Walk into the town to dine at one of Richmond's many upscale restaurants, or hit the January sales in bougie boutiques or larger stores. Our offer includes breakfast each morning, one dinner, and a Champagne afternoon tea.
The New Forest
January is a peaceful time of year in the New Forest, when its ancient woodlands, wild open heathlands and stretches of diverse coastline will be far quieter than usual. The weather will be unpredictable, but crisp winter mornings in the national park have a charm of their own, as free-roaming ponies wander across frosty fields.
If you're really unlucky with the weather, there are plenty of things to enjoy indoors in the New Forest. From museums like the renowned National Motor Museum, which houses over 250 vehicles from across the decades, to cutesy cafes serving traditional afternoon tea, there's always something to do on a rainy day.
How to visit: Another way to shelter from the cold in the New Forest is to hide away at a luxurious spa hotel like Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. You'll be well placed to explore the great outdoors, but you could equally spend an entire trip making the most of the extensive facilities, like a large hydrotherapy pool, a herbal sauna, a crystal steam room, and an ice room.
With Good Housekeeping's offer, you'll have use of the health club facilities included, as well as breakfast each morning, dinner both evenings, and a bottle of Prosecco in your room.
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