SWEET SPOT IN JANUARY

January’s “sweet spot” travel opportunities are limited to specific winter activities or Southern Hemisphere regions seeing a brief post-holiday crowd dip.

Main Regions for Shoulder (Sweet Spot) Season):

Europe (Winter Sports & Niche City Breaks): Good for skiing in the Alps/Pyrenees (slight lull post-New Year’s) and Arctic Circle for aurora viewing.

North America (Winter Sports / Southern warmth – post-holiday lull): Southern USA (Florida, S. California) has mild weather and a brief crowd dip. Ski resorts (Colorado, Utah) see best snow with slightly thinner crowds after the first week.

Asia (Ideal Dry Season – post-holiday lull): Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam) and the Indian Subcontinent (India, Nepal) are in their cool, dry season with a slight dip in crowds before Chinese New Year.

Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, UAE offer pleasant, cool, dry weather, with a “sweet spot” mid-month after the initial rush.

Africa: East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) is in peak dry season for safaris, with early January being less crowded. Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana) is lush summer, potentially offering better value.

South America: Brazil (Southern), Argentina, Chile (Central), and Uruguay have a brief lull after the New Year’s rush. Patagonia is peak for hiking.

Oceania: Australia (Southern), New Zealand, Fiji, and Cook Islands are in peak summer, with a slight crowd thinning after the initial New Year’s rush, potentially offering better value for tropical destinations.