In January most of the northern hemisphere would admit that they would love to go somewhere else to escape the cold and get some rays. The good news here is that there are plenty of warm and cheap travel destinations in January located in the Southern Hemisphere and around the equator on offer to give you the warmth that you crave, you just need to choose what place suits you best.
It really depends on where you live in terms of where it is easiest to get to. For example, those who live in North America should start by considering the Caribbean. Whereas Europeans can consider Africa and the Middle East as nearby options unless they really want to travel further East to Asia and Australia.
Here’s our list of recommended cheap, warm travel destinations in January
The Americas
The Caribbean
Jamaica
Belize
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires – Argentina
Lima – Peru
Rio De Janeiro – Brazil
Santiago – Chile
Europe
Tenerife
Middle East
Dubai
Africa
Sharm El Sheikh – Egypt
Cape Town – South Africa
Asia
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
When is the best time to travel overseas in January?
Most of the destinations that have warm weather in January have a peak season for hotel rates from Christmas and the first week in January. By the second week of January, prices come down again so it is best to wait until then to book anything.
The Americas
Here we will focus on cheaper destinations outside of the USA but still offer easy access from the States.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is fantastic in January and there are plenty of cheap destinations with great weather. However, you should be aware that this is the busiest month of the year so prices will be higher than usual but still likely far below what you’re used to if you live in any of the G12 countries. Be aware that not all of the Caribbean is cheap and some countries are actually very expensive.
The following destinations in the Caribbean are both cheap and have great weather in January with temperatures ranging from lows of 72°F/22°C to highs of 84°F/29°C.
- Jamaica
- Belize
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
Mexico
Mexico has ideal temperatures around January ranging from lows of 69°F/21°C to highs of 82°F/28°C. There may be some rain at this time of year but if there is it doesn’t usually last long. Since Mexico is such a big country it is worth calling out a few places to stay which range from city breaks to snorkelling paradises. Cancun for me is the jewel in the crown and offers everything you need in a holiday destination
- Cancun – For a bit of something for everyone, in a modern setting
- Mexico City – For a buzzing city break
- Cabo Pulmo – For snorkelling
- Puerto Vallarta – For a historic city visit
Costa Rica
Costa Rica in Central America is one of the gems of the world when it comes to tropical climates and unbelievable rainforest nature. It is also known as the adventure tourism capital of Latin America where you can partake in plenty of different adventure activities, especially the adrenaline-pumping ones involving mountains.
With January temperatures ranging from lows of 69°F/21°C to highs of 92°F/33°C it’s easy to see why it’s a hit in winter months such as January. Here are some destinations within Costa Rica that are worth a visit
- Guanacaste – Quieter village feel with beaches
- San Jose – Good for more extreme sports
- Monteverde – For full nature immersion
- Arenal volcano – For, well… A volcano and plenty of outdoor activities
Other notable mentions in South America
Buenos Aires Argentina – Great city full of culture and food but will be busy in January
Lima, Peru – Ideal warm weather, a great mix of people and mountainous terrain
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Wet season but rains don’t last long. Amazing city sights and stunning beaches
Santiago, Chile – Huge city with plenty of great sights and the Andes
Europe
Since Europe is in the middle of Winter there are very few destinations that are warm enough to visit in January. That said there is one gem in Europe (well, pretty much North Africa) that is warm almost all year and warm enough in January for Europeans to enjoy a bit of Summer-ish sun.
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
While it’s not the greatest of weather in January it certainly is still pleasant. The island is among the Canary Islands which is just off the coast of Morocco but it is still classed as part of Spain.
There are plenty of English-speaking tourists and establishments here and its mountainous terrain allows for some tropical wildlife along with great beaches and busy areas with the South West area being popular. Temperatures range from lows of 59°F/15°C to highs of 69°F/21°C.
Middle East
January is still a good time to visit the Middle East and some countries are quite cool and wet then. However, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi both have great, sunny weather around this time of year. Abu Dhabi isn’t cheap though so we’ll just include the one entry from this area.
Dubai, UAE
With January temperatures ranging from avg highs of 75°F/24°C to lows of 58°F/14°C
January is a busy time of year in Dubai not because it’s so warm but because Europe is so cold this month. Since it’s not quite warm all day and night you will need a jacket for the evenings but it will likely be dry. Dubai is more pools, malls, and activities so you can spend a lot but you can save money if you look for the right bargains.
Africa
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh is on the southern Red Sea coast in Egypt and is a nice, cheap destination that is also a proper beach resort. There are plenty of hotel options here with access to the rest of historical Egypt. However, it’s still a bit chilly for swimming in the ocean. January average temperatures range from lows of 55°F/13°C to highs of 71°F/22°C
Cape Town, South Africa
This is THE time of year to visit Cape Town so be prepared to pay more than normal. However it is perfect on the weather front and the city itself has so much to offer in terms of real zoo wildlife, safaris, adventure activities and a city-plus-beach mixture. Average January temperatures range from 60°F/16°C to 79°F/26°C
Asia
Asia’s peak season starts in the Christmas period and carries through to the end of February so things will be busy here and slightly more expensive than the rest of the year but still very cheap or at least affordable.
Thailand
Thailand is the land of smiles. This Asian country has a great mix of cities and beach towns which are all full of activity but it also offers quiet, luxurious options to suit any traveller. One of the best things about Thailand is the great service that the locals offer, plus the weather too of course.
There are plenty of places to visit in Thailand and with temperatures around the capital of Bangkok at lows of 70°F/21°C to highs of 90°F/32°C in January it makes it an ideal cheap destination. If you want to see more detail on islands then read the best Thai islands. Here are some destination highlights of the country overall
- Bangkok
- Phuket
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Kho Samui
Cambodia
Full of temples, ruins, culture and fantastic green landscapes the country offers a fantastic Asian experience and has great food options throughout which are all considerably cheap, especially in the right areas. Temperatures range from average highs of 90°F/32°C to lows of 68°F/20°C. Here are some highlights.
- Siem Reap
- Phnom Penh
- Battambang
Vietnam
Vietnam has surged in popularity over the last 20 years and is now a regular choice for backpackers within their itineraries. In January the weather is the best of the whole year and the prices are nice and low despite it still being peak season. Vietnam offers a great mix of bustling cities and tropical beaches with fantastic Asian cuisine available from the streets to the restaurants. January average temperatures range from lows of 70°F/21°C to highs of 89°F/32°C.
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
- Na Trang
- Hanoi
- Ha Long Bay