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I do not think there is a month when you need a vacation more than in January.

You may have indulged a bit too much in December and are not feeling great about your weight – add to this the end of festive cheer, bleak darkness and chill with no end in sight and an overall grumpy disposition.

So here’s the best and easiest New Year’s resolution you can make: book some uplifting time away.

Whether you are looking for the sun or snow, we have a few suggestions below of countries which are absolutely fabulous in January.

The weather in January is absolutely perfection – warm, dry and sunny – in the tropics and the southern hemisphere, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and St Marteen (Saint Martin).

Or you can visit Europe which is pretty with many places having a dusting of powdery snow in January – such as Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Southern Florida is also another great winter-sun break, with 21 – 22C / 70 – 72F weather during the day in Orlando and a few degrees warmer in Miami. It is definitely mild enough to get away with some cheeky cocktails alongside South Beach. 

So what are you waiting for!? Welcome in 2017 with cheer and adventure. 

Although a small country, Lithuania is packed full of history and beautiful scenery that you won’t find anywhere else!

The Curonian Spit is an incredible natural beauty that not many tourists have heard of. The spit of land is located in the Baltic Sea and shared by Lithuania and Russia. The area is home to tiny but stunning Germanic villages, rare wildlife and sand – lots of sand! The spit has the highest drifting sand-dune in Europe – Parnidis Dune which has the average height of 35 metres although it can attain a height of 60 metres. Apart from the dunes, the spit also has some of the best beaches on the Baltic Sea.

Just a 15 minute car drive from the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai is the Hill of Crosses. Quite literally, it is a hill with crosses on it. The amount of crosses is unknown, although it was estimated to be 100,000 in 2006. The origin of what started the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain however it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the hill after the 1831 uprising with people continuing to place crosses on the hill to this day.

Another great reason to visit Lithuania is Trakai Island Castle. The castle is around an hour car journey from Vilnius. Trakai is a huge castle built on its own island which has been beautifully restored. We do highly recommend taking the time to simply wander around the castle grounds and taking in the grandeur of the place.

Lastly, we’d recommend that you make a stop at Grūtas Park (also referred to as Stalin’s World) which is a Soviet memorial park. The park is owned by an entrepreneur who began purchasing Soviet monuments and memorials when Lithuania reclaimed its independence in 1990. The sculpture gallery garden has been created into a Soviet Gulag, with barbed wire and observations towers. 

Finland has an array of towns and cities you must visit, with Porvoo, located just beyond Helsinki, being one of these gems.

Porvoo is the second-oldest town in Finland, charming visitors with its historic gems, designer shops and fine dining.

Located just a hour from Helsinki, Porvoo is a great day-trip destination.

As soon as you arrive in Porvoo, the town’s principal landmark is clearly visible – Saint Mary’s Cathedral. The cathedral, with origins dating back to the 13th century, is rich in history.

There is an aroma of tar that still hangs in the air, in and around the cathedral, a reminder that it has been bombed, burgled and burned many times over however each time it has been restored to its former glory.

The cathedral is surrounded by a charming old town, with some quaint houses being over 100 years old.

From the Town Hall Square, you will enter a neighbourhood of delightful boutiques – antique stores, handicraft shops, toy shops and more, giving you the most original selection of items in Finland.

And you cannot leave Porvoo without trying its famous chocolate. The Brunberg Chocolate Factory, which was founded in 1871, still sells its truffles with its competitor, Pieni Suklaatehdas, having a storefront near the cathedral. We honestly couldn't tell you which one has the best chocolate, we recommend that you visit both to decide for yourself!