The best places to travel in January include Thailand, Tenerife, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Morocco — destinations that actually peak this month, not ones you’re just tolerating the weather for. Most people write January off as a dead month, which is precisely what keeps it good. Fares to Southeast Asia tend to run noticeably cheaper than in December, and the crowds that buried Chiang Mai and Lisbon over the Christmas period have mostly cleared out by then.

Why January Beats Peak Season

Most people book December or July without thinking. January sits in that gap where prices drop but the weather in the right destinations doesn’t. Thailand averages 30°C in January with low humidity — it’s arguably the best month to visit, not a compromise. New Zealand is mid-summer, evenings stretch late, and every trail I’ve looked at is open and accessible. Not consolation-prize territory.

Top Destinations for January Travel

Thailand is the obvious headline. Chiang Mai and Koh Samui are dry, warm, and noticeably less hectic than November or February. Tenerife sits at around 20°C average, which sounds mild but feels genuinely pleasant when northern Europe is freezing. Marrakech in January hovers around 18°C during the day, which is the sweet spot: you can walk the medina for hours without overheating, and lunch outside is perfectly comfortable. January is when Costa Rica’s green season gives way to drier conditions, so you get clear trails and decent wildlife sightings without the mud. New Zealand rounds this out, with the South Island in full summer and honestly looking its best.

Destinations to Skip in January

Peru’s Machu Picchu catches a lot of people out. The dry season there runs May through October; January sits in the rainy season, and the Inca Trail can be genuinely miserable — slippery, foggy, and sometimes closed for maintenance throughout February. Southeast Asian beach destinations like Koh Phi Phi handle January fine, but the Maldives’ western atolls get rough swells this time of year depending on your specific resort location. Worth checking before you book. I’d also steer clear of European city breaks unless you’re fine with short grey days — Barcelona and Rome are cheap in January but not exactly inviting.

Booking Tips for January Trips

Book flights in the first two weeks of December if you haven’t already — prices usually tick up again after Christmas as late bookers panic. For Thailand and New Zealand, hostels and mid-range hotels are easier to get on short notice in January than in December, so you have a bit more flexibility there. Travel insurance matters more in January than people think; weather disruption in the UK and northern Europe means outbound connections get cancelled more often. And if Tenerife is on your list, the south of the island (Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas) gets more reliable sun than the north in January — a detail the booking sites won’t spell out for you.

FAQs

Is January a good time to travel?

For the right destinations, January is genuinely one of the best months — flights are cheaper, crowds are thinner, and places like Thailand and New Zealand are at their seasonal peak.

Where is hot in January for a holiday?

Thailand sits around 30°C, Tenerife around 20°C, and Marrakech around 18°C — all of them reliably warm in January and considerably cheaper to reach than they were a few weeks earlier in December. Costa Rica fits that list too.

Where should I avoid traveling in January?

Machu Picchu is the big one to sidestep — rainy season, poor visibility, and a frequently closed main trail make it a frustrating choice. Most of northern and central Europe is cold, short on daylight, and not worth the trip.