January is a great time to travel if you’re looking to flee the cold snap of winter and the gloom of the post-holiday season. Flight and hotel prices are generally cheaper in January for many popular tourist destinations and there are typically fewer crowds after the holidays, making it an ideal time to get away.
Our top destinations for January include some ever-popular spots to take advantage of during their low tourism season (because we’ll still take the coldest day in Mexico over Saskatoon in January!). For other destinations on this list, January is a summer month and the perfect time to hit the beach and catch some serious sunshine. More still, we’ve highlighted travel spots where cultural celebrations taking place throughout the month are a huge draw for crowds of tourists who flock to the destination to take part in the festivities.
Whatever your motivation, if you’re looking to start 2023 with a getaway, read on for our top picks for destinations to visit this January — outside of Canada.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
The northern region of Thailand is ideal for outdoorsy folks, but you may also want to head to the south to enjoy the beautiful beaches in Krabi or Koh Phi Phi. January is considered the peak month for tourism, so be prepared for crowds of folks with post-pandemic wanderlust.

Los Angeles, USA

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kutch, India

Reykjavik, Iceland

Cancún, Mexico

Montego Bay, Jamaica
Enjoy island time and take it easy with a cocktail on one of the many resorts or private vacation homes or take a day trip to the popular Dunn's River Falls.

French Alps

San José, Costa Rica
Make sure you leave some time to visit San José as well, and discover the cities world-class museums and architecture, plus dine on empanadas at local food markets.
