I currently live in New York where the weather can get bitterly cold during the winter months. I’m talking so cold that I have to step into shops every 5 minutes just to keep warm, and any skin exposure to the air is painful. Forget looking stylish, a down winter jacket is the winter uniform of all New Yorkers. When the weather gets like this, I start to dream of heading south to warmer climates, where I can lay on a beach and defrost.
If you’re looking for ideas of where to go, these are my top destinations:
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum has become the trendiest spot in Mexico, and for good reason. Early January is a popular time to visit, when a series of techno parties attracts influencers and tourists from the world. Jungle vibes, luxury resorts and pristine beaches make this one of the most popular up-and-coming destinations in the world.
Barbados
Barbados is actually a surprisingly large island with a wide variety of beaches ranging from windswept sands on the east coast to sheltered bays on the west coast. I drove around the island in a hire car, visiting places like Bridgetown, the Mount Gay Rum distillery and Animal Flower Cave.
Cartagena, Colombia
Last year I gathered together a group of friends and jetted off to Cartagena, Colombia. It’s a small city with a colorful Old Town and yet there’s so much to see and do. Great restaurants, fresh ceviche, nightclubs, rooftops, sunset venues, white sandy beaches…you can easily spend a week here soaking up the sun and partying the night away. Off the coast you’ll find plenty of idyllic islands, so don’t miss the opportunity to hop on a speed boat to Blue Apple Beach House or the Rosario Islands.
Need some more ideas?
Beaches.com have created an infographic showing you where you can take warm winter getaways from the US in December, January and February.
