The beginning of the year always marks a new start. If you’re thinking of going to somewhere fresh to kick start a memorable journey, here are 5 unique destinations you may want to consider.
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- Banff National Park and Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Undoubtedly, January is the coldest time in Banff National Park, Canada, making it the perfect time to enjoy the snow-capped mountains and encounter the beautiful wildlife of the region. In addition to that is the SnowDays Festival – a free 12-day event with the aim of decorating the downtown streets with snow sculptures taking place from 20 to 31 of January. During the festival, there are play areas for children consisting of an ice rink, a sledding track, and even dog or horse sled riding.
From January 19 to 30, the Ice Magic Festival welcomes visitors with stunning ice sculptures by Canadian artists. Among the wide range of places to stay, some of the most perfect places to warm up and relax are the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Fairmont Banff Springs Resorts, located in national parks.
For extra comfortable, luxurious experience and world-class views from glass-roofed coaches, you can choose to spend days of the new year at Banff National Park or Lake Louise and join their Rocky Mountaineer adventure by railway.
2. Scotland, United Kingdom
Scotland welcomes the New Year in unique style with Hogmanay festivals celebrated across the country. Traditions vary from place to place, but all promise memorable celebrations. On January 25th, there will be a celebration called Burns Night commemorating the birthday of an infamous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, with a chain of events that include speeches, readings followed by appetizing dinner and whiskey.
With over a hundred distilleries in Scotland, the tour will take you to taste all the whiskeys in the history. Visitor favorites such as Oban, Benriach, and Glenfiddich all offer fascinating tours and wine tastings.
Are you excited about your skiing experience in Scotland? If so, don’t miss out on the Glenshee ski area where you can both ski and enjoy snow excursions. You can stay at the classic Gleneagles countryside or The Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh.
3. Venice, Italy
Venice with its postcard-perfect canals and stupendous architecture could be an ideal destination to spend the beginning of the year at. Experience the Italy-style New Year celebration with a romantic dinner, and most outstandingly: a Venetian style dinner retreat on a boat with picturesque views. Next, La Fenice Opera House is also a place to witness a sweet and simple New Year celebration in the form of concerts, especially for the artistic souls.
Don’t miss out the fascinating fireworks at Piazza San Marco and a fancy Italian feast at any of the popular restaurants in Venice. Take part in the Big Party at the St Mark’s Square and feel the New Year’s breeze in the air.
4. The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic occupies two-thirds of Hispaniola island with nearly 1,000 miles of coastline. The weather in January is quite dry here, with temperatures ranging between 22-27 degrees Celsius. Holidays in Dominica provide a variety of resorts that offer luxury amenities, pristine beaches, golf courses, and water sports.
The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana hotel offers an all-inclusive package that includes a water park, deluxe suites, and a Kids & Teens Club. Families may also be interested in the alternative all-inclusive Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana with its water park on-site.
Here are some other options for your new year that you can refer to: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana hotel located on the white sand beaches of Playa Juanillo; Club Med Michels Playa Esmeralda offers luxurious wellness experiences, kids activities, and Archipelago Village with 18 beachfront suites; romantic all-inclusive Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana resort; or the 30,000-acre Eden Roc Cap Cana resort with its lush gardens, lagoon-style swimming pool and beachfront golf course – one of the new favorites.
5. Republic of Maldives
The country consists of more than 1,000 islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean of Sri Lanka. January is the ideal time to visit when the weather is warm and the sea is calm. The wide range of unspoiled beaches, exotic marine life with gorgeous coral reefs, and luxury resorts will allow tourists to choose the perfect destination for themselves.
Here are some recommendations of accommodations for your new year days: Joali Being – the new wellness retreat; Joali Maldives offers fun activities for kids; Nautilus Maldives – a super luxury resort; the infamous Conrad Maldives Rangali Island includes Muraka villa located under the ocean; Jumeirah Maldives with 67 villas by and over the sea; Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi with many villas and entertainment areas for children; the all-inclusive Emerald Maldives Resort with villas and activities for family; or Coco Collection, which offers two boutique-style island resorts for ultimate privacy and luxury.
