But where should those looking for a quick getaway go to make the most of January? From Scottish fire festivals to spending quality time with the Sphinx, Lonely Planet's destination experts have the answers.
Zipolite by Impermeableazul. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Vibrant arts, unique cuisine and fascinating indigenous culture make the state of Oaxaca one of Mexico’s most popular destinations year-round, but for the best weather , the first top-end accommodation in the park, it may just be the perfect year too. Besides offering a refuge from the crisp evening chill, the lodge also allows you to socialise with scientists based there to study newly discovered species.
Matt Phillips - Destination Editor for sub-Saharan Africa. Follow him on Twitter @Go2MattPhillips.
For a quirky, far-flung winter escape, head to Harbin, China, where the annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival runs throughout January. One of the largest of its kind, the festival sees some of the world’s most iconic landmarks - from Notre Dame to the Great Wall - rendered in icy form and lit up with coloured lights. The Songhua River, which runs through town, becomes a natural skating rink in winter, and if you fancy a bit of powder, Yabuli Ski Resort is a few hours’ drive away.
Getting to Harbin has never been easier thanks to a newly launched high-speed rail line, which cuts the trip from Shanghai to just 13 hours. Trains from Beijing take around eight hours. The festival opens on 5 January.
Megan Eaves - Destination Editor for North and Central Asia. Follow her on Twitter @megoizzy.
Up Helly Aa by Vicky Brock. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Vikings, boats, booze and Europe’s biggest fire festival on Scotland’s northernmost islands? It sounds like a dangerous mix. But the Shetland Islands’ Up Helly Aa has had only three breaks in its 150-year history – for the death of Queen Victoria and the two World Wars.
The islands’ capital Lerwick hosts the biggest event: a thousand-strong parade – led by weapon-toting Vikings – and torchlit processions that culminate in traditional songs and the ceremonial burning of a great longship. Local halls then become party venues, and everyone heads inside to drink and dance away the long winter night. The festival generally takes place on the last Tuesday in January is offering tempting promotional fares.
Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January. Take in the liturgy in the St Sava Temple – arguably the world’s largest and still a work in progress – and share the super-sized Christmas bread with Belgraders on Terazije Square. Good luck finding the gold coin!
Exuberant festivities herald the Serbian New Year . This is one of the largest independent film festivals in the country and tickets are in demand, but, with a little planning and grit, obtainable.
Dora Whitaker - Destination Editor for eastern and mid-USA. Follow her on Twitter @dorawhit.
Sagrada Familia by Ivan McClellan. CC BY 2.0.
Book a ticket for January and be among the first to try the speedy new rail link from London to Barcelona, which shaves 3½ hours off the total journey time. That means you can leave London St Pancras at breakfast, transfer in Paris and be in Barcelona with sightseeing time to spare before dinner.
Catch the traditional Three Kings Parade on 5 January, or simply take advantage of the tourist lull and enjoy the Sagrada Familia in relative peace and quiet. And don’t forget the journey itself - the double deck TGV train runs through the beautiful French Rhône countryside, while seats are roomy and comfortable. Perfect for some post-Christmas restoration. To book tickets visit www.eurostar.com.
Jo Cooke - Destination Editor for Iberian Europe and Turkey. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaCooke1.
Chances to see the world’s great wonders in peace don’t come along very often. But if you take a trip to Egypt this January, you could find yourself spending one-on-one time with The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office has lifted its travel warning against this part of the country, but after such a turbulent year travellers have been slow to return. To entice them back, tour operators are slashing prices and hotels are offering fiercely competitive rates. And if that’s not incentive enough, seeing these extraordinary, ancient monuments at such a pivotal point in Egypt’s history is bound to lend the experience special significance. Cheap, crowd-free, and poignant? That’s a once-in-many-millennia opportunity.
Helen Elfer - Destination Editor for Middle East and North Africa. Follow her on Twitter @helen_elfer.
