Eight of the Best Winter Sun Destinations from New York

Eight of the Best Winter Sun Destinations from New York



Tired
of attempting to dodge slushy grey puddles in your new
winter boots? With easy access to weekends in Miami
and surprisingly affordable Caribbean-bound flights, winter in
NYC
suddenly feels far less daunting when there are a few sunny
holidays on the horizon.

Winter blues? Escape NYC in these sunshine-filled
destinations


1.

Cartagena, Colombia

A colourful haven jutting into the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena will
whisk you into an entirely new dimension after a (roughly)
five-hour flight (and with only a one-hour time difference). The
sweetheart of Colombia’s seaside towns, it brings together great
freshly ground coffee, languid meals consisting of just-caught fish
and copious amounts of wine and after-hours dance parties fuelled
by all of the above. To make the most of Cartagena’s prime
waterfront location, rent a boat with your friends and jet out to
the cerulean-rimmed Rosario Islands for a day of skinny dipping and
dancing on deck.

Grote Knip beach, Curacao

2.

Curaçao, Caribbean

This little Dutch island is one of the lesser explored in the
Caribbean, making it a standout winter escape. Not only does it
provide the kind of multicoloured buildings one might expect to
find in a European village, but it also has a number of hiking
trails and national parks that make it more than just a destination
for lazing about on the sand. Beyond its stunning environment and
unique cultural make-up, Curaçao is one of the cheapest of the
Caribbean islands to visit, with round-trip flights from New York
starting at around £230.


4.

Mexico City, Mexico

Not only is CDMX a hub for all things art and design, but it
offers a fantastic escape from the winter blues that involves more
than just sitting by the pool. There are more museums here than in
any other city in the world, so alternate between checking out
exhibitions at Museo Soumaya and sipping lattes in leafy café
gardens on warm afternoons – San Ángel Inn has a particularly
dreamy courtyard in which to enjoy happy-hour drinks. Markets and
gardens abound in Mexico City, so you can spend plenty of time
under the sun between gallery visits and naps at your boutique
hotel (we’re obsessed with Nima Local House Hotel, which has the
essence of a Parisian apartment).


5.

Miami, Florida

Benefitting from one of the most frequent flight routes from New
York, Miami is a favourite getaway destination when temperatures
dip below zero. Plan your holiday around Art Basel in early
December or kick off your winter travels with a post-New Year beach
escape at Miami’s The Standard Spa. If you’re sick of loading up on
butternut squash soup to keep warm back home, make the most of a
Miami getaway by testing out the best of the city’s food scene.
Stop by Lolo’s Surf Cantina during a beach day for pork carnitas
and spicy shrimp tacos or look over the waves at one of Malibu
Farm’s outdoor tables as you inhale its moreish coconut tofu
bowl.


6.

Sun Valley, Idaho, US

While skiing might not top the charts for getting a full-body
tan, you’ll certainly get your fair share of vitamin D on a jaunt
to the mountains out west. The peaks are high here – some reaching
more than 9,000ft – so you’ll be above the clouds and ready for
outdoor lunches sans jacket for the majority of your stay. Not a
snow bunny? Kick back on the terrace at the mountaintop Roundhouse
restaurant with a hot cocoa and soak in the rays, or make the most
of high-altitude (read: warmer) hiking trails before heading to the
spa.


7.

Isla Holbox, Mexico

Rather than jet off to Tulum with the rest of the crowd, fly
into Cancún and head straight to Isla Holbox, an ambrosial island
just two hours’ drive and a ferry ride north. Golf carts are the
main means of transportation here and days are best spent wandering
between small colourful cafés and reading in a hammock while your
toes graze the sea. Water babies will rejoice in the abundance of
aquatic activities, whether kitesurfing, kayaking or hopping on a
catamaran is your activity of choice. Mandarina Beach Club is the
place to raise a toast with margaritas as the sun sinks into the
ocean.


8.

Santa Barbara, California, US

A long weekend in Santa Barbara is guaranteed to shake you free
of winter blues with a healthy dose of sunshine-fuelled California
vibes. For an outdoorsy day, hike to Lizard’s Mouth Rock first
thing in the morning to observe your kingdom for the next few days,
then cycle past rows of elegant palms on East Beach before chowing
down on a breakfast burrito at the pier. San Ysidro Ranch is a
stunning hideaway at which you could spend your entire holiday or
simply visit for a meal at the Stonehouse or Plow & Angel
restaurants on a special evening.