The Wanderlist: Where to Go in January on a Budget

Alright, we get it: Cancun doesn’t necessarily have the best reputation among travellers, but don’t write off this sunny south-of-the-border destination too quickly. You’ll find better prices and a less raucous atmosphere if you stay outside the party-hardy hotel zone. In the El Centro or downtown part of the city, there are affordable hotels with more authentic Mexican ambiances and unfussy cantinas that don’t cater their cuisine (or their prices) to the tourist hordes.

You won’t be staying right on the beach, but you can easily hop on a cheap bus to the coast and be soaking up the sun on Cancun’s dreamy white sand beaches in no time. Mix up days lying on the beach with an afternoon browsing the eclectic stalls of Mercado Veintiocho, or taking a 15-minute ferry ride out to the charming island of Isla Mujeres.

Sure, January is part of the peak travel season in Bangkok but there’s a reason why this pulsating Asian capital has been a backpacker mainstay for decades: it’s never hard to score a good deal here – plus visiting in January means you get to see Bangkok when the weather is at its best.

Attractions like the Grand Palace and Wat Arun are certainly worth a visit; but Bangkok is less about checking off sites and more about wandering around its labyrinth of streets, soaking up the different vibes of each neighbourhood and feasting on street food. If you can’t fathom visiting Thailand without getting in some beach time, it’s a quick 3-hour bus ride to pretty Koh Samet, or you can jump on a cheap flight to the country’s famed southern islands.

With an enchanting UNESCO-recognized old town, exceptional dining and stunningly beautiful beaches, Cartagena is a triple threat of a destination. Sometimes called the “Venice of Colombia,” this coastal city’s walled old town invites lazy exploration with its cobbled alleys and colourful colonial-era buildings trimmed with flowers. For a different perspective on the city, walk along the 11-kilometre-long stone ramparts that wrap around its periphery.

Nearby, the picturesque Rosario Islands lure travellers with gin-clear waters and sparkling white sands. While Cartagena tends to be one of the pricer cities in Colombia, it’s still quite affordable by Toronto standards and mid-January marks the end of the high season, so it’s often possible to score good accommodation rates later in the month. 

If you’re not set on escaping the cold, Boston can make for a wonderful short or long getaway in January. Kayak is reporting a 16 per cent decrease in flight prices from Toronto to Boston in January, while low tourist traffic in this frosty month ensures that accommodation prices are at their lowest.

One of the oldest cities in the US, Boston offers a compelling mix of old and new. The most rewarding trips to Boston balance visits to historic attractions like the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall, with time spent appreciating the city’s present-day charms like the Museum of Fine Arts and window shopping on Newbury Street. Boston’s compact, straightforward layout makes it easy to explore on foot, but you can always use the “T”, the city’s extensive network of subways, buses and rail services, to get around if the temps get especially icy.