January Vacations

If you are looking for the perfect place to escape the winter chill in January, head to the tropics. Shoes are optional at White Pearl Resorts, Ponta Mamoli, a luxury hideaway in southern Mozambique with a stunning white-sand beach and luxury suites with private pools. With decks facing the ocean, you can enjoy the view of the Indian Ocean while you cool off in the pool or the outdoor shower. The 21 guest accommodations are elegant and airy with an abundance of natural light. If you decide to venture out of your plush suite, the resort offers elegant areas with a view, perfect for relaxing. The swim-up bar serves refreshing beverages while the beach bar offers light snacks. The pool deck has four poster day beds and ocean views. Or take a stroll along the beach and find that perfect stretch of sand that calls to you.

The Restaurant serves fruit and freshly baked pastries for breakfast, salads for lunch, and fresh seafood for dinner. Rates start at R4200 per person, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, a 3-course dinner, selected activities, soft drinks, and butler service (+258 84 605 8112).

New Zealand is one of the best place to vacation in January. Fox Glacier Guiding in New Zealand is an eco-adventure company that offers a series of scenic walks and hikes (Video) that get you up close and personal with New Zealand's beautiful glaciers and rainforests. A good way to get started is the "Half Day Walk" which lasts about 4 hours with the bus transport to the glacial valley. The guided walk leads past the river bed to the glacier terminus. Another 30-minute hike uphill leads to the edge of the ice and onto the middle of the glacier where you can enjoy spectacular views. The company provides you with leather boots, crampons and other equipment for the trip. The guides provide a lot of information along the way about the natural surroundings. Fox Glacier Guiding offers other trips, including heli-hiking, overnight adventures, climbing and more. The company is a 6-hour drive west of Christchurch and 5 hours north of Queenstown.

Loews Hotel New Orleans, located in the Central Business District near the Harrah's Casino, 10 minutes from the cruise ship terminal, is a weekend trip idea for couples and families. Choose from 285 plush guest rooms and suites with views of the Mississipi River and the city skyline. There is a 1,680 square foot fitness center and a 50' x 12' pool. Guests can indulge in a massage in one of the four spa treatment rooms. (504-595-3300, 800-23-LOEWS).

The Fairmont Monte Carlo is a luxury hotel in Monaco which just completed a 45 million Euro refurbishment. Enjoy massages, reflexology and a variety of other treatments at Willow Stream Spa. Afterwards, relax next to the stunning rooftop pool with views of the sea. The hotel has 602 rooms and suites with private terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Coast. Guests can choose from three restaurants, including Nobu, Saphir 24, and Horizon - Deck, Restaurant & Champagne Bar which offers 360-degree views. (+377-9350-6500).

Flights to Europe are cheaper than ever in January, so it's a good idea to take advantage of great deals and head to one of the European cities. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts just open its luxury hotel in Berlin which offers 232 guest rooms and suites with spectacular city views. The hotel is located on high floors of the new Zoofenster skyscraper. The presidential suite on the top floor of the skyscraper is the highest suite in all of Berlin. Guests staying at the hotel will be close to the city's famous tourist attractions, shopping and restaurants. The hotel has several dining venues, including "Les Solistes by Pierre Gagnaire". Relax and rejuvenate at the acclaimed French spa Guerlain with beautiful facilities and signature treatments. Waldorf Astoria Berlin, (49-30-814000-0).

Annupuri Lodge is a lovely, inexpensive, family accommodation with nine simple but beautiful minimalist rooms decorated in natural and black woods. The lodge is located in quaint Annupuri Village in the popular Niseko ski resort, which is known for having about 50 feet of powdery snow every season.

The lodge has its own popular bar named Lucky Fingers, with purple walls and a roulette wheel, and an outdoors hot spring bathhouse. It is conveniently located a few minutes' walk from the main gondola. There is a good Italian restaurant is across the street and a Korean BBQ is around the corner. The lodge has an onsite ski lab, Niseko Winter lab, if you want to improve your skills on the slopes.

482-2 Aza Niseko, Niseko Abutagun, Hokkaido, Japan, Phone: 81-(0)136-58-32-80

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown St Petersburg, The Cordova Inn is a charming boutique hotel that combines historic ambiance with modern amenities to offer guests an award-winning stay. Individually decorated guest rooms are spacious and airy with large windows that frame beautiful views of the garden and feature double, queen and king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms with baths and showers, in-room refrigerators, microwaves and wet bars, and private verandas.

Modern amenities include cable television, free high-speed Internet, and free local calls while a deluxe Continental breakfast is served each morning. The Cordova Inn is perfectly located in the heart of the waterfront district and within walking distance to the world famous St. Petersburg Pier, as well as the Sundial shopping area and many local museums and attractions.

253 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 800-735-6607 or 727-822-7500

Las Vegas is a popular destination year-round. Look for great deals in January, right after New Year's and get away for a weekend of romance and great food. The Venetian in Las Vegas features an array of attractions, ranging from replicas of famous landmarks to museums and shops. Right on the Las Vegas Strip is the famous clock tower, Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro, the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge and the facade of the Doge's Palace. You can enter the hotel on the moving escalators over the Rialto Bridge from which you can enjoy scenic views of other Las Vegas attractions.

One of the most popular attractions at the Venetian are romantic gondola rides offered by authentically-attired "gondolieri." If you are going to pop the question, wait until it gets dark for maximum effect. Visit the Grand Canal Shoppes for shopping, dining and to see the replica of St. Mark's Square. The whole area is covered with a man-made blue "sky" with puffy clouds.

Tucked away in a quiet residential area of Jacksonville, this elegant guesthouse combines refined luxury with modern conveniences to offer a tranquil retreat in the heart of Florida. One of two historic homes that are left from the turn-of-the-century mansions that lined Riverside Avenue, The Riverdale Inn is designed and decorated to echo the Victorian era. Beautifully appointed guest rooms boast romantic four-poster beds, ornate fireplaces, plush furnishings and luxurious en-suite bathrooms (some with whirlpool tubs or body jet showers).

Deluxe amenities abound, including air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, a pantry stocked with drinks and snacks, and a delicious gourmet breakfast in the sunny breakfast room every morning. A magnificent landscaped garden is ideal for relaxing and a short stroll takes you into the nearby town, which is home to an array of museums, galleries, shops, and restaurants.

The Riverdale Inn, 1521 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204, Phone: 904-354-5080