It can sometimes feel like every destination in the world is full — and overpriced — during the holiday season in December. But traveling in the wintertime doesn’t have to mean overcrowded ski lifts and packed beaches. The season may start busy, but as January and February unravel, so do opportunities in surprising places that we don’t always associate with the coldest time of year — in the Northern Hemisphere, at least.
Whether it’s sun or snow you seek, or appealingly mild weather in a cultural hot spot, there are options aplenty that feel blissfully off most people’s radar when mountains and islands tend to take over. Take Los Angeles, where it’s not unheard of to enjoy a beautiful beach day in the middle of January, and you’ll find more people hiking the trails than crowding the shopping streets and sights. In Australia, skip bustling Sydney and Melbourne in favor of Adelaide, which has incredible beaches, wine and festivals. Find powdery snow in a lesser-known part of the Italian Alps, eat your way through Mexico City and immerse yourself in unreal landscapes in Bolivia.
Wherever your interests lie, here are 10 underrated winter destinations very worth a visit this season.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
