The best place to go on a luxury holiday in January is really dependent on what you want to do and see, how far you would prefer to travel and how important good weather is.
The Caribbean, Maldives, Miami, Mexico and Phuket in Thailand are perfect for a relaxing luxury beach holiday, offering fabulous weather that will help beat your January blues after the festive season, while Lake Garda in Italy is a restful retreat where you can enjoy a lovely New Year spa break.
By complete contrast, snow conditions are perfect in North America and Canada this month, with Colorado and Whistler just two of your options. Closer to home, your choices for a short-haul luxury ski holiday in Europe include St Moritz – with the annual Snow Polo World Cup held at the end of the month – Andermatt and Courchevel 1650, while Burns Night can be celebrated in Scotland at the iconic Gleneagles Hotel or in the capital, Edinburgh.
For a cultural escape, South America provides the Latin flavour, with Chile and Argentina two of the best destinations to visit during January. Or, how about going east to Sri Lanka instead, where the weather is warm, sunny and dry and Galle Literary Festival offers avid readers the chance to meet their literary heroes?
Our final recommendations for travel in January are South Africa and further afield to New Zealand – both enjoy beautiful weather at this time of year. However, do book early for an Antipodean exploration, as it’s peak season, but the best time to see Fur Seals and spot dolphins off South Island’s coast, for a true wilderness adventure.