The best places to travel in February

rtrible / iStock

The holidays are officially over, New Year’s resolutions have slowly begun to wane, and that relaxed-vacation feeling is all but a distant memory—welcome to February. But don’t underestimate the value of travel during the shortest month of the year. With low-season rates, fewer crowds, and plenty of celebrations, February is the ideal time to sneak in that first great getaway of the year.

You’ll get a healthy dose of Vitamin C in perpetually sun-kissed locations like Guatemala and Mexico, whose peaceful beach towns and untouched sands are the cure-all for any winter woe. If you’d rather fly toward the action, San Francisco revels in Super Bowl festivities while Singapore buzzes thanks creative new hotels.

Those in love with the cold season can revel in the cozy pubs and communal atmosphere of Montreal, or use Denver as a jumping off point for carving the slopes in nearby ski towns like Breckenridge and Aspen. Seeking a truly white winter? Venture further north to Norway, where reindeer sleigh rides are run-of-the-mill and the Northern Lights are in their prime.

Of course, Valentine’s Day may be reason enough to hop a plane and treat your honey—or yourself. Whether your idea of heaven is exploring the magic of Walt Disney World or lying on a beach fit for royalty in the Seychelles, nothing says romance like finding your own piece of paradise.

1. Montreal 

rtrible / iStockWinter was made for bellying up to bars with friends and enjoying great food over great conversation. The city of Montreal checks all the boxes, what with its French-speaking bed-and-breakfasts, redesigned Museum of Fine Arts, and the allure of its up-and-coming neighborhood, Mile End—full of homey drinking establishments like La Sala Rosa, where guests can pair whiskey-sodas with selections from the complimentary candy bar; and restaurants like Nouveau Palais, the place to soak up a hangover while taking comfort from the cold

2. Honolulu, Hawaii

rtrible / iStockThere’s never a bad time to travel to Honolulu, which has found its cool over the past years—but in February, it’s one of the cheapest places to travel, as hotels slash their rates by up to 40 percent off. The city’s Chinatown is seeing a culinary boom with places like Livestock Tavern and Bar 35 doling out seasonal fare and craft beer to trendy crowds, while the neighborhood of Kakaako, home to buzzy taquerias, coffee shops, and the popular Night Market, has been described as Honolulu’s answer to New York’s Williamsburg.

3. Orlando, Florida

rtrible / iStockVisiting Disney World and Universal Studios can be a nightmare during holiday season, but come February—that sweet spot between New Year’s and Spring Break—the parks record some of their lowest visitor numbers all year. During the slow season, expect shorter lines, more affordable hotel rates, and room to breathe while buying a wand at Harry Potter World or strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. Don’t miss an evening at the re-energized Disney Springs, which welcomed a Morimoto restaurant this year.

4. Singapore 

rtrible / iStockA sudden influx in design hotels is giving Singapore a much-needed boost—from the vibrant Philippe Starck-designed South Beach and the ultra-luxe Patina, Capitol Singapore to the Club Hotel and its rooftop pisco bar overlooking downtown. The 700,000-square-foot National Gallery Singapore, which houses the world’s largest collection of Southeast Asian art, is a must-visit for any art buff. 

5. Tasmania 

rtrible / iStockFebruary spells summer for the southern hemisphere and for Tasmania, consistently ranked as one of the world’s top islands. The Australian state’s remoteness off the continent’s southern coast has helped preserve its diverse environment, a lush habitat for endemic marsupials. The best new place to stay? Pumphouse Point, perched over a lake surrounded by temperate rain forest about two-and-a-half hours from the capital of Hobart. With a mountain lodge-meets- industrial substation feel, it’s a home way from home in the heart of the wilderness.

6. Oman 

rtrible / iStockSummertime in the Middle East is suffocatingly hot, but come February, cooler temperatures create a perfect window to head to the desert landscapes of places like Oman. Take a journey into the past, starting in Muscat with its sultan’s palaces, grand mosques, and colorful, buzzing souks, and concluding at the shifting dunes of the Wahiba Sands desert, with its Bedouin villages and the families that live in them. At the center of it all: the spectacular Alila Jabal Akhdar, a luxurious cliff-top base for exploring the rugged surrounds.

For more places to travel this February, click here.

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