5 Incredible Winter Vacation Destinations To Book Now

1 Maimi, Florida 

Every winter, the promise of sunny, 72-degree weather beckons visitors to Miami, Fla. Beyond the requisite Cuban sandwich in Little Havana, foodies will find memorable cuisine at the annual, star-studded South Beach Wine and Food Festival. With the high season in full swing, you’ll see many a scantily-clad European spending the nights dining at 9 p.m., traipsing along Ocean Drive and sleeping the days away in cabanas — that is how Miami is meant to be enjoyed.

 

 

2 The Bahamas

If blue skies and tan lines seem like a distant memory, a quick Caribbean vacation may be what you’re craving. Consider the Bahamas, a chain of more than 700 islands, cays and reefs, which will feel downright balmy compared with East Coast temps. This year-round island paradise just off the Florida coast is in its peak season, allowing you to choose to splurge on a luxurious resort with all the trappings at Atlantis Paradise Island or escape to one of the more remote Out Islands.

 

3 Orlando, Florida

When you think of Orlando, Fla., you likely think of theme parks — and for good reason. The city is home to Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, each with several parks and resorts. Whether it’s a special parade or fireworks display over the holidays or a much-needed break from frozen temperatures back home, there are countless reasons why winter is an ideal time to visit. The period just after the holidays and before spring break is the least crowded and will have the shortest lines.

 

New Orleans

There are good times to be had in New Orleans year-round, but things get kicked up a notch when Mardi Gras and college bowl games roll through town. Not that you need added reasons to visit — snacking on beignets at Café du Monde and listening to jazz on Bourbon Street should be reason enough to check into the elegant Hotel Mazarin in the French Quarter
 
 

Greek Isles

What’s not to love about the Greek Isles? With 227 islands to choose from, you’ve got plenty of options. Santorini is best known as a romantic honeymoon destination with breathtaking sunsets, while Mykonos and Crete showcase some of the world’s most beautiful beaches — and of course, pulsating Greek nightlife. Can’t decide which island is for you? Take an Aegean Sea cruise and see what each has to offer.