Top destinations with great weather in January

When the last red maple leaf has fallen, it's time to brace for the cold winter weather. Winter is one polarizing weather. While half of the world loves braving the snow-covered mountains head-on, the rest is scurrying to move somewhere warmer.

I have asked several travel bloggers where they would usually go to escape from the cold during winter and the response is overwhelming. But before we begin, that beautiful aerial photo of the Moalboal island in Cebu was taken from Ken Suarez' Unsplash profile. You may find more aerial shots of the Philippine Islands on his website, Misty Feathers. And while we're at it, Moalboal in Cebu is one of the many places in the Philippines you would want to visit in January should you decide to move to a warmer place.

Back to our topic, here are the top destinations with great weather in January as shared by travel bloggers.

Bali, Indonesia

For those looking for a sunny getaway during the winter, Bali offers beaches, jungles, culture, and a lot of good food.

Make sure to spend some time exploring the temples of Ubud, cycling through the rice terraces, hiking up the volcanic Mount Batur, soak up the sun on a private beach, and eat lots of nasi goreng. The island is dotted with open-air yoga studios as well, so yogis can adequately indulge.

It doesn't have to be expensive either; January is an especially good time to visit. By then, the holiday rush has subsided but the weather is still gorgeous and villas and resorts are offering incredible deals.

Rowena Li, A Nomad on the Loose

Cartagena, Colombia

We recommend Cartagena, Colombia as a great destination for those looking for a quick getaway from the cold. Cartagena is a vibrant, fun city. You’re constantly surrounded by vivid colors - from the buildings to the street art to the women dressed in colorful clothes selling brilliantly bright fruit - so it’s a great contrast to the grey winter doldrums. You can take walks through the city - much of which is pedestrian-friendly and relaxed - stroll along the ocean promenade, or find shade in its parks. Just keep an eye out for the enormous (but friendly) iguanas! The beach is a taxi ride away, so we would highly recommend accommodations with a pool. Even in January, it gets truly hot. We spent a good amount of time hanging out in our pool and in the free Museum of Gold because it had air conditioning. From ceviche to arepas to the aforementioned fruit, you’ll eat and drink well in Cartagena. It’s a fun, laid back, easy place to spend a few days if you want to get out of the cold this winter, and - as a bonus - it will make you want to see more of Colombia as well.

Sarah and Justin, Travel Breathe Repeat

Barcelona, Spain

While most of Europe is pretty cold during the winter, Barcelona remains reasonably temperate. The city of my childhood is decorated with lights and a Christmas market where you can buy the figurines to make the famous nativities and the many quirky items that fill every Catalan home like the pooping log and the pooping shepherd. As the sun sets earlier than usual and the city is less crowded than in the summer, you can enjoy all the secret spots only locals frequent and truly get under the skin of this cosmopolitan city. Winter is a good opportunity to visit the most famous parts of Barcelona like Sagrada Familia and be surrounded by more locals and fewer tourists.

Mar Pages, Once in a Lifetime Journey

Arizona, USA

While most people flock to islands and sun-kissed sands of beautifu