Where to holiday in January?

[tommyspud]

Hi
I’m just after a bit of advice. We’re planning a short break at the beginning of January, myself, DH and 3 children, ages 12,8 and 3. Ideally we’d like some sunshine and access to pools/ water parks and activities for the children. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks 😊

I’m always crap at knowing these things but I would have a thorough google for the best weather in January.. hopefully this bumps the thread anyway!

Not even the canaries would be warm enough for me so I’d have to go long haul. I don’t go to Dubai (because I have principles) but it would be warm.

Thailand or Malaysia.

Woops. Short haul? Not Thailand or Malaysia.

I don't think anywhere short haul from the UK will be swimming weather in January.

Canaries could be warm, and if you're going for a short break, you probably don't want to go any further. We've been a few times in December/January/February and it's never rained and the weather has mostly been something between high teens and quite cloudy up to high 20s hot and sunny. You want to be in the south of one of the islands to have the best chance of nice weather.

The sea's not warm, granted but if you look for accommodation with a heated pool, it'll be grand and there's usually stuff to do if it's not lazing in the sun weather.

If you're planning to go at that time of year, you want to be there on the evening of the 5th January and go to the Kings Parade, which is like Christmas Eve in Spain and the Three Kings on camels will lead a procession through the streets of the main towns, throwing sweets out to the crowd, so will be great for your younger two at least.

Thanks all! I’ll look into the suggestions above

Flight time to Egypt from London is around 5 hours and there’s not a lot of time difference, so it’s easy on your body for a shortish break. Jungle Aqua Park had heated pools.

We've been to Egypt in January before, wasn't boiling but was sunbathing weather and pretty sure we went in the pool.

I've also been to Mexico in February which was loads better but may be too far for you.

How long do you have OP? When are the kids due back at school - that could narrow down the options.

Marrakesh may be warm then. And a short flight.

The souks aren't kid friendly though and an acquired taste but it's a good destination for some sun if you just want to flop about round the pool.

We’ve done Egypt a couple of times in January and had good sunbathing weather but I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near the pool. We’ve also done Mexico, Thailand and Dominican Republic in January for a week each and had much better weather. It’s obviously a much longer flight but didn’t bother us.

Barbados / Florida

They are back in late this year, 10th January but we’re at a wedding on the 30th December so we’re restricted to a week really.
I wondered about Florida and doing the parks etc when it’s not boiling but I’ve googled the average temperature and it’s saying 15c so I thought that might be too cold for the pool?

Middle East guaranteed warm enough - 7 hours flight though

Florida is much warmer than 15 in January for sure. It's a 9 ish hr flight. I always recommend Barbados because it's the first Caribbean island you get to at around 7hrs so feels fairly quick. And the weather is perfect in Jan and there is plenty to do there, though not Florida style! Stay west coast.

Thanks @Chewbecca
What stuff would you recommend in Barbados?

Submarine ride, wildlife park, plantation tour, caves, museums in Bridgetown, jeep tours. As well as beaches!

Caribbean or Mexico. Dominican Republic flight time isn’t too bad.

East Africa is hot that time of year with some beautiful beaches, its not short hall as its 8 hours direct to Nairobi and then a short hop to either the Kenyan or Tanzanian coast but its only a 3 hour time difference so you don't get the jet lag you would flying to the US. How old are the kids? I would do it with older kids as you could do a mini safari on the way to the beach but it would probably be to much for little ones

Florida can be chilly at that time of year - we had to buy a coat once. It's not warm. enough for water parks (if they're open). Weather can be iffy in Mexico too then.

I'd recommend Antigua, it tends to be less cloudy than Barbados at that time of year and the last time we went we went to Swash water park, the zip wires and the sting ray city - all lots of fun.

The issue you're going to have is that it's really expensive over new year, so you might need to wait til the 1st, but you really need a couple of days when you get back to get over the jet lag..

Jordan is just right in January.