Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January
Welcome to the “Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January & February!” Today’s high in Bend, Oregon (where I live) was a chilly 48 degrees! So my mind got to wandering….to beautiful, sandy beaches. And I wondered what the warmest destinations are in January, around the world. So that’s exactly what this article discusses! Here are my requirements: day-time highs of at least 75° (23° Celsius), & water temperatures about the same.
Cozumel has weather that is PERFECT in January.
Best Warm Weather Spots in January
We’ll start in the U.S. with two spots that are warm enough to make the list, then move further out from there:
- 1) Miami
- 2) Hawaii
- 3) The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
- 4) St. Lucia, in the Carribbean
- 5) Cartagena, Colombia
- 6) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 7) Bali
- & 8) Thailand.
In a Rush?
Best Warm Weather Trips from West Coast
⭐️⭐️ Palm Springs – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Big Island Hawaii & Waikiki Beach on Oahu – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Puerto Vallarta & Cabo San Lucas – Click here for rates & availability
Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January
1) Miami: Great for Couples or Girl’s Getaways
Daily Average = 76°F, Water Temperature = 77°F (25°C)
The warmest place in the continental United States in January is Miami, Florida. Even within sunny Florida, it’s the warmest spot. And it’s got happening South Beach, with its Cuban influence & romantic hotels like The Savoy Hotel & Beach Club, or super-luxe The Setai. Check out art deco along Ocean Drive, enjoy fine dining & fresh seafood, play a round of golf, or simply enjoy swimming in some of the warmest January waters…
Saddle up to the bar at The Savoy Hotel & Beach Club.
2) Oahu & Big Island Hawaii: Great for Families
Daily Average = 79°F, Water Temp = 76°F
Surfers from all over the world head to Oahu’s famous North Shore every winter for the “Pipeline” surf competition, when swells reach their peak. But even if you’re not an adrenaline junkie: the Hawaiian Islands are perfect for a January getaway. Oahu’s Waikiki Beach is a great place for beginners to surf year-round (my niece & nephew learned here), as its waves are always calm & mellow, with Diamond Head forming an incredible backdrop. If you’ve never been to Oahu: stay right on Waikiki Beach if you can. The Royal Hawaiian is the most iconic hotel on this stretch of sand, & family-friendly.
The famous pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
If Waikiki prices are too steep: check out hotel & VRBO rates on the Big Island. My brother & his family vacation here every year, & he says that a family trip costs about 1/3 less here than on other islands. I really like this island! You can night-dive with manta rays, snorkel, dive, sunbathe, visit coffee plantations, or stay in a hotel with fantastic snorkeling on-site.
One of those great hotels in Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, which is pictured below (my brother took that incredible shot)!
The Big Island is usually less crowded than the other islands, & typically has lower prices.
In a Rush?
Best Warm Weather Trips from East Coast
⭐️⭐️ Miami – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Turks & Caicos & St. Lucia – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Cancun – Click here for rates & availability
Best Warm Weather Beach Trips for January
3) Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula: Great for Girl’s Trips!
Daily Average = 81°F, Water Temp = 79°F (26°C)
The Yucatan’s weather is perfect in January. And you’ve got several great beach destinations: Cancun is ideal for families or couples with its gorgeous beachfront, all-inclusive resorts. Playa del Carmen is perfect for party-lovers & fun seekers, with loads of restaurants & its fair share of beachfront hotels.
But personally, my two favorite spots in the Yucatan are: Cozumel & Tulum.
The sunsets in Cozumel are UNREAL. I took this shot just north of town…
Why?
I love Cozumel for its amazing snorkeling & diving. It also has a beautiful, slower pace than other Yucatan cities. Yes, it gets busy with cruise ships: but only for brief periods of time. The rest of the time, you’ll find it’s very relaxed. And I love Tulum because it has the best beaches in the Yucatan: they’re wide & stretch for miles. Tulum has a relaxed, bohemian feel with sandy streets, fashionable boutiques, & hip hotels like Azulik Tulum, with treehouse views that will make your friends jealous!
Check rates & availability in Tulum here
My friend Eileen on the beach in Tulum.
4) St. Lucia, in the Caribbean: Great for Couples
Daily Average = 83°F, Water Temp = 81°F
Though the Caribbean is known for being warm year-round: St. Lucia is one of the warmest Caribbean islands in January. And it’s one of the most scenic: with the dramatic Piton Mountains rising sharply out of the sea. This epic backdrop can be fully appreciated at stunning Jade Mountain Resort, which has some of the best views on the island ~ including from its bathtubs & balconies!
St. Lucia is ideal for a romantic getaway, with reef-dives, volcanic beaches, rainforest hikes, waterfalls, sleepy fishing villages, & upscale luxury resorts.
St. Lucia.
Incredible views from the Jade Mountain Resort…
Best Warm Weather Beach Trips for February
5) Cartagena, Colombia: Great for Adventurers!
Daily Average = 87°F, Water Temp = 81°F
Oooohhh….how I love Cartagena! It’s got more spirit & culture than most cities combined. Think: salsa dancing, day trips to idyllic islands, & starting your day with that strong, delicious Colombian coffee. I spent most of February in Cartagena, & while it got humid some days: I absolutely loved my time there! The rooftop hotels in Cartagena are where it’s at: Townhouse Cartagena is a fun boutique hotel with playful vibes, a rooftop pool, & a perfect location in Old Town.
Search for Rooftop Hotels in Old Town Cartagena
The author on a rooftop in Cartagena!
6) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Great for Sexy Beach Vibes
Daily Average = 87°F, Water Temp = 77°F
Some of the most beautiful people in the world are from Brazil. And you can see them in itsy-bitsy bikinis on famous beaches like Copacabana & Ipanema. Brazil is super warm in January & February temps, & great if you have more time for an international getaway. Everyone I met who traveled there RAVED about Brazil’s beaches!!!
If you’re looking for a sexy beach vacation in South America: Brazil is the place. Killer beaches to check out: Florianopolis, Buzios, & less-known Fernando de Noronha.
Exquisite Fernando de Noronha.
The Miramar Hotel, overlooking the beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Best Warm Weather Beach Trips for February
7) Bali, Indonesia: Great for Young Adventurers
Daily Average = 79°F, Water Temp = 84°F (29°C)
Bali is the ultimate travel blogger’s paradise. Its balmy temperatures make Bali an ideal January or February beach destination, with too many picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy beaches to name: Seminyak, Kuta, Canguu, the Uluwatu Temple overlooking Bingin Beach, & Klingking Beach (pictured below).
Bali isn’t a county ~ in case you were wondering. It’s part of Indonesia, & one of the country’s most beautiful islands. It’s also where Elizabeth Gilbert “Eat, Prayed, & Loved“……Bali was her final destination.
Klingking Beach in Bali.
Swing in Bali!
Rice fields near Ubud.
Search hotel prices in beachside Canggu, or nearby Seminyak: two of the island’s most popular destinations.
Best Warm Weather Beach Trips for February
8) Phuket, Thailand: Great for a LONG Visit!
Daily Average = 81°F, Water Temp = 82°F (28°C)
Finally, we come to Thailand. Dry season is from November to early April, making January & February ideal times to visit if you’re looking for beach weather. Phuket has an international airport on the north side of the island, & its main town is Patong ~ which has a gorgeous beach, but can feel touristy. I recommend staying north of town: like at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa.
Because Thailand is such a long-haul for U.S. travelers, stay as long as you can! After college, I vacationed in Thailand for a month, & enjoyed daily $5 massages, incredible temples, & the beauty of a totally different culture.
Check rates & availability at beachfront hotels in Phuket
The Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa is perfect for a relaxing beach trip. Photo: Tripadvisor
Krabi offers breathtaking sunsets & many ocean-view, luxury hotels.
Pin It
Discover more from Girl Who Travels the World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This post came at the perfect time – my wife and I are deciding where to get away in January (from COLD Minnesota)! Bali is looking like the place, we’ve been to Hawaii many times and are looking for something different. How long would you suggest visiting for?
Bali is about as far away from the States as you can travel ~ the flight will be about 20-24 hours long, depending where & how you connect. For me, if I’m traveling that long, I strongly prefer to spend at LEast two full weeks, if possible. 10 days would be my absolute minimum…otherwise traveling that far would be a little too tedious! Enjoy your January trip! xoxo
Where did you take that first shot of Cozumel, with the swings???! Wherever that is, it looks AMAZING!!
Hi Allie! Thanks for your comment/question : ) That shot was taken at a bar/restaurant called Turquoise, just south of town, across the street from Villablanca Garden Hotel. It’s a great little spot & good cocktails!
Great ideas for February trips. My wife hates the cold (we live in NYC), this has given me some great ideas to get us out of the cold.
That’s great to hear, Kenny! I hope you’re able to plan a fabulous trip : )