6 winter trips with warm weather and low hassle
If hopping a direct flight to a place with warm sun and plenty of relaxing activities is on your to-do list this winter, you’re in luck. Whether you’re looking to escape to an island, visit a capital city or leave the country, here are some winter destinations that are warm, walkable and reachable via nonstop flights. For each destination, we list valuable links to help you plan your trip.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Experience an island paradise with temperatures ranging between 70 and 75.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, travelers can fly directly to Honolulu from 35 U.S. airports, including Anchorage, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Sacramento.
Waikiki, a popular neighborhood in Honolulu, is one of the most walkable parts of the city. Kalakaua Avenue has a plethora of shops — both well-known name-brands and local — world-class dining experiences and entertainment venues. Not far away is Waikiki Beach, or if that’s too crowded, other beach options are available. Sightseeing opportunities are also abundant, including the Iolani Palace, the Polynesian Culture Center, Diamond Head and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
https://www.directflights.com/to/HNL
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/hawaii-usa/honolulu-climate
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=high+end+shopping&find_loc=Honolulu%2C+HI
https://shopinternationalmarketplace.com/stores
https://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/shopping
https://travel.usnews.com/Honolulu_Oahu_HI/Things_To_Do
Key West, Florida
For those with water activities high on their to-do list, Key West is hospitable year-round. Average temperatures range between 72.7 and 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit and the average water temperature stays in the 70s for most of the winter. Travel nonstop to Key West from 24 U.S. airports, including Raleigh/Durham, Houston, Boston and Knoxville.
Stay in Old Town, which is walkable and offers plenty of attractions, including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Key West Lighthouse, the Hemingway Home and the Historic Seaport. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach is also nearby for snorkeling, swimming or relaxing on the beach.
https://www.directflights.com/to/EYW
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/florida-usa/key-west-climate
https://seatemperature.info/december/key-west-water-temperature.html
Miami, Florida
On a winter trip to Miami, travelers will enjoy an average temperature range of 69.4 to 77.9 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s possible to book direct flights from 47 different U.S. airports, including Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, New Orleans and San Diego.
Even though Miami is known for its fast pace, plenty of relaxing activities are available for tourists, including boat tours, waterfront dining, art galleries and aquariums. Skip the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach and visit one of the quieter beaches, such as Sunny Isles Beach or Bal Harbour Beach. For a nature-driven experience, visit the Everglades National Park, which is about a 90-minute drive from Miami. During the winter, the park is in its “dry season,” which means fewer mosquitoes, lower temperatures and more opportunities to view wildlife.
https://www.directflights.com/to/MIA
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/florida-usa/miami-climate
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34438-Activities-c42-Miami_Florida.html
https://www.trippy.com/distance/Miami-to-Everglades-National-Park
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/dryseason.htm
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tourists visiting San Juan during the winter months will enjoy average temperatures of 74.7 to 80.8 degrees Fahrenheit, with less rain in the forecast than the fall brings. Direct flights are available from 28 U.S. airports, including Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
In San Juan, travelers will find cobblestone streets and a variety of Spanish Colonial buildings steeped in history, including the Plaza Colon in the heart of Old San Juan and two historic forts by the coast — Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal. Other highlights are restaurants with authentic Puerto Rican food and a chocolate shop, which serves Choco Caliente — a local hot chocolate recipe that’s been around since 1929.
https://www.directflights.com/to/SJU
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/puerto-rico-usa/san-juan-climate
https://www.chocobarcortes.com/old-san-juan/#chocolate-and-coffee-old-san-juan
Cancun, Mexico
For those who want to escape from the U.S., the winter weather in Cancun offers average temperatures of 78.8 to 80.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for lounging on the beach. Currently, travelers can fly to Cancun nonstop from 48 different U.S. airports, including those in Los Angeles, Austin, Denver and Providence.
Travelers who stay in the island’s popular hotel zone can walk to local attractions, including museums and galleries, and also restaurants and shops. Some of the hotels in this zone have private beaches, but public beaches are also available, including the more tranquil Playa Delfines. For historic sightseeing, a couple of small archaeological sites — El Rey and San Miguelito — are located within Cancun. Additional sites are on neighboring islands, such as Cozumel.
https://www.directflights.com/to/CUN
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/mexico/cancun-climate
https://gocity.com/en/cancun/things-to-do/getting-around-cancun
https://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsList-Cancun-Hotels-With-Private-Beach-zfp7092910.html
Oranjestad, Aruba
The island of Aruba has warm average temperatures ranging from 80.1 to 84.8 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, with year-round opportunities to swim. Direct flights to this Caribbean escape are available from 16 different U.S. airports, including Orlando, New York, Houston and Baltimore.
Staying in downtown Oranjestad will make it easy to get around on foot. Shopping, historic sightseeing, cafes, restaurants and the waterfront are all within walking distance. The Fort Zoutman Historical Museum offers a history of the island, and the adjacent clock tower offers a panoramic view of Aruba. For beach time, visit Palm Beach, Eagle Beach or Surfside Beach.
https://www.directflights.com/to/AUA
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/aruba-climate
