Holiday travel · January 1, 2026
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for New Year's Day
Start the year somewhere memorable, from Pasadena's Rose Parade to dry-season beaches and Alpine snow. Every pick here is in season on January 1.
Jump to hotels ↓California, United States
Why New Year's Day
Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game are held on New Year's Day (January 2 when the 1st falls on a Sunday).
- Typical weather
- Highs ~68°F (20°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- culture
- family
Where we'd stay: The Langham Huntington, Pasadena. Historic 1907 hotel on 23 acres near the Rose Parade route.
Hotels in Pasadena →
2Maui
Wailea, Hawaii, United States
Why New Year's Day
Ring in the year with whale season at its peak and sunny, dry days on the south shore.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~80°F (27°C); occasional passing showers
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Oceanfront Wailea resort with an adults-only pool and whale-watching views from many rooms.
Explore Maui →
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Why New Year's Day
Peak dry season on Grace Bay makes for an easy, sun-filled first week of the year.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: Grace Bay Club. Beachfront resort on Grace Bay with adults-only and family wings.
Explore Turks and Caicos →Colorado, United States
Why New Year's Day
Ski off the holiday indulgence on Aspen's mid-season snowpack, with the village still lit for the holidays.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~33°F (1°C); frequent snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- adventure
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Little Nell. Aspen's only ski-in/ski-out hotel, at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola.
Hotels in Aspen →
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Why New Year's Day
Start the year with desert sunshine and whale watching on the Sea of Cortez.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~78°F (26°C); dry and sunny
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort. Secluded corridor resort known for its personal butlers and Sea of Cortez views.
Explore Los Cabos →
Baa Atoll, Maldives
Why New Year's Day
The dry northeast monsoon brings calm seas and clear water for a restorative start to the year.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~86°F (30°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Soneva Fushi. Barefoot-luxury villas on a private island inside a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Explore Maldives →
New South Wales, Australia
Why New Year's Day
Stay on after Sydney's harbor fireworks for summer beach days and the Sydney Festival.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); warm, humid
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
Where we'd stay: Park Hyatt Sydney. Waterfront hotel facing the Opera House across Circular Quay.
Explore Sydney →
Western Cape, South Africa
Why New Year's Day
Cape Town's Kaapse Klopse minstrel carnival parades through the city around January 2, in the middle of summer.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); dry, often windy
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- beach
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Historic pink landmark set in gardens below Table Mountain.
Explore Cape Town →
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Why New Year's Day
Dubai's New Year's fireworks give way to its best beach weather of the year.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~75°F (24°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. The city's sail-shaped icon, with duplex suites and private beach access.
Explore Dubai →Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Why New Year's Day
Dry season, calm seas and cenote swims for a laid-back first week of January.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); mostly dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
- culture
Where we'd stay: Rosewood Mayakoba. Lagoon and beachfront suites with private plunge pools inside the Mayakoba enclave.
Hotels in Playa del Carmen →
Dorado, Puerto Rico
Why New Year's Day
Puerto Rico's holiday season runs well into January, ending with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~83°F (28°C); mostly dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
- culture
Where we'd stay: St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico. A five-star stay in Rio Grande, a strong base for Puerto Rico.
Explore Puerto Rico →Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Why New Year's Day
Dry-season beaches and volcano hikes in Guanacaste.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~90°F (32°C); dry and breezy
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- adventure
- family
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Peninsula resort between two beaches, with an Arnold Palmer golf course.
Hotels in Costa Rica →
13Phuket
Phuket, Thailand
Why New Year's Day
Calm Andaman seas and dry skies for island-hopping into the new year.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~90°F (32°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- family
- romance
Where we'd stay: Trisara. Hillside pool villas overlooking a private bay on Phuket's quieter northwest coast.
Explore Phuket →
Otago, New Zealand
Why New Year's Day
Midsummer in Queenstown, with long days for adventure sports and lake cruises.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~72°F (22°C); mostly dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- adventure
- nature
- romance
Where we'd stay: Eichardt's Private Hotel. Intimate lakefront hotel in a restored 1860s building in central Queenstown.
Explore Queenstown →
15Zermatt
Valais, Switzerland
Why New Year's Day
Snow-sure Alpine skiing beneath the Matterhorn to start the year.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~30°F (-1°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- romance
Where we'd stay: Mont Cervin Palace. Grand car-free-village hotel on Zermatt's main street, open since 1852.
Explore Zermatt →
Arizona, United States
Why New Year's Day
Sunny desert days for golf and hiking as Scottsdale's January events season begins.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~67°F (19°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- adventure
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort. Sprawling resort at the base of Camelback Mountain with a 27-hole golf course.
Explore Scottsdale →
Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
Why New Year's Day
Mild, sunny days in Marrakech's medina at the start of its quieter winter season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~65°F (18°C); nights near 40°F (4°C)
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Low
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: La Mamounia. Legendary palace hotel with century-old gardens steps from the medina walls.
Explore Marrakech →- 18
Key West
Florida, United States
Why New Year's Day
The Keys' driest season, with warm afternoons for sailing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~76°F (24°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton. Historic 1920s oceanfront resort with Key West's largest private beach.
Hotels in Key West → Magallanes, Chile
Why New Year's Day
Patagonian summer brings the longest hiking days of the year in Torres del Paine.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~62°F (17°C); strong winds
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
Where we'd stay: Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa. All-inclusive lodge on Lake Sarmiento with guided excursions into the park.
Hotels in Torres del Paine →
California, United States
Why New Year's Day
Sunny desert days and the Palm Springs International Film Festival in early January.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~70°F (21°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- romance
- city
Where we'd stay: Parker Palm Springs. Playful Jonathan Adler-designed retreat on lush grounds with lawn games and a spa.
Explore Palm Springs →