Top Places to Travel: January 2026

Start the new year in style—From stargazing in Chile’s Atacama Desert to celebrating cinema in Palm Springs (above, The Parker Palm Springs) January is the perfect month to explore destinations where culture, adventure, and sunshine await. Whether you’re escaping the winter chill or embracing it with Scottish festivities, these exceptional properties promise the ultimate way to kick off 2026.

Getting to The Potlatch Club, Eleuthera’s first true luxury boutique hotel, will be easier than ever this January, with daily Aztec Airways flights from Fort Lauderdale and new Tradewind Aviation service from both Fort Lauderdale and Stuart, Florida, directly into North Eleuthera (ELH) through April 2026.

Offering just 11 suites, cottages, and villas set on a seven-mile stretch of pink-sand beach, this secluded island retreat—once beloved by New York socialites and Hollywood icons—captures the timeless magic of the outer Islands.

Following Napa Valley‘s bustling harvest season, January is the start of wild mustard season, when bright yellow blooms blanket the vineyards and mark the beginning of a new growing cycle. Winter also brings lower hotel rates, a chance to grab reservations at coveted Michelin-starred restaurants such as French Laundry, Kenzo, La Toque, and Bouchon, and a chance to meet winemakers behind the scenes as new vintages age in the barrels.

While the wineries remain the region’s hallmark, the vines only cover nine percent of the Valley floor. The mountain ranges that bracket the area, the Mayacamas and the Vaca, are laced with hiking and biking trails. With temperatures hovering in the mid 60s, it’s an ideal time to explore the more than 5,000 acres protected by the Napa Valley Land Trust. Visitors can also enjoy the Napa Lighted Art Festival, a month-long celebration of art, technology, and light beginning January 17, 2026—where downtown Napa transforms into a glowing, walkable open-air gallery.

January is one of the most magical times to visit the Atacama Desert, when clear summer skies and warm nights make stargazing transcendent. With virtually no light pollution and an exceptionally dry, high-altitude climate, the Atacama offers some of the most dazzling night skies on Earth—so remarkable that NASA partners with local observatories and even uses the desert as a test site for Mars exploration.

Set amid Chile’s Salt Mountains, Nayara Alto Atacama blends seamlessly into its red-rock surroundings, offering unmatched access to the stars in extraordinary comfort. The 42-room adobe-style lodge sits within a designated dark sky reserve, one of the clearest places on the planet for celestial observation. Guests can enjoy the property’s private observatory—equipped with a high-powered Celestron 8SE telescope and rotating lounge chairs—or opt for a more intimate experience on the two new stargazing terraces, perfect for marveling at the cosmos under the desert sky.

Escape the winter blues with a trip to Palm Beach in January, when the island comes alive, and the Florida season hits its stride. The month marks the start of the Winter Equestrian Festival in nearby Wellington, drawing the global riding elite for showjumping, dressage, and après-stable celebrations.

The Palm Beach Polo Season is also in full swing at the National Polo Center, with Champagne-fueled Sunday matches setting the tone for the social calendar. And in its second year, a new kind of sporting spectacle joins the mix: TGL, Tiger Woods’ high-tech golf league, bringing arena-style competition and big-name players to Palm Beach Gardens.

White Elephant Palm Beach is the smartest home base for those who want front-row access to the best of both worlds: Palm Beach’s old-guard glamour and its new-energy arrivals. Set in a landmark building, the 32-room hotel channels the spirit of a grand home, complete with a Mizner-style façade, a buzzy outpost of Nantucket favorite Lola 41°, and an eye-popping collection of over 120 modern and pop art pieces. Guests can unwind in the new Lobby Library: Palm Beach Edition, a rotating collection of society novels, coffee table books, and Florida-inspired reads, or sip throwback classics from the Lola 41° Vintage Cocktail Menu, a mid-century–inspired menu that pairs beautifully with the hotel’s glamorous, art-filled interiors. Families will delight in imaginative new amenities like Cookies & Storytime turndown service, Little Trunket Concierge adventures, and Creative Play kits that transform guest rooms into cozy, artful hideaways. Add signature perks—complimentary BMWs, curated beach setups, and bicycles, all with no resort fees—and it’s never been a better time to make White Elephant Palm Beach a winter address.

Each January, Palm Springs takes center stage with the Palm Springs International Film Festival, drawing A-list talent and cinephiles to the desert for screenings, galas and red-carpet glamour. While the full program of films and honorees has yet to be revealed, the festival has confirmed that Adam Sandler will receive the 2026 Chairman’s Award for his performance in Netflix’s Jay Kelly starring George Clooney.

Just minutes from the action, the Parker Palm Springs offers a playful, design-forward retreat on a lush 13-acre estate that was once home to Gene Autry and Merv Griffin. Reimagined by Jonathan Adler, the 144-room icon features whimsical mid-century style, two sparkling pools, and hidden gems like mister parker’s—one of the desert’s most sought-after dining experiences—and a two-bedroom Gene Autry Residence with its own secret screening room. With mild, sunny winter weather, Palm Springs in January is the beautiful blend of Hollywood buzz and laid-back desert luxury.

January 24 marks Burns Night, one the most important Scottish cultural events honoring the country’s most iconic poet, Robert Burns, often described as the country’s answer to Robert Frost for his lyrical take on nature, identity, love, and everyday life. Many Scots celebrate at home with a supper of Haggis Neeps and Tatties (a classic Scottish dish of haggis alongside potatoes and turnips and a whisky sauce). The tradition of celebrating Burns Night dates to 1801 when a group of Burns’ close friends gathered to mark the fifth anniversary of his passing. Fast forward to present times – the celebrations have evolved into a grand affair featuring traditional Scottish music, poetry recitals, whisky tasting, and a hearty meal known as the Burns Supper.

The Fife Arms, the former Victorian coaching inn built in 1856, is the perfect place to celebrate – it’s even home to an elaborately carved wood chimney in the lobby dating back to the 19thcentury that depicts various scenes from the works of Burns. The hotel is hosting a traditional Burns Dinner as well as Burns poetry readings and musical performances including a Pipe Band, followed by a ceilidh (traditional Scottish social gathering). For literary lovers looking to connect with the written word, the hotel offers a creative writing experience hosted by the award-winning, Aberdeenshire-based poet Gillian Shearer. During the two-hour workshop, guests are invited to harness their inner wordsmith in a supportive, expert-led session inspired by The Fife Arms’ rich interiors and 16,000-piece art collection, before venturing into the Cairngorms to draw further creative influence from forests, rivers, and rugged mountain landscapes.