Dubai, UAE
Best time to visit: November–March

A surefire bet for sunshine year-round, Dubai is at its most pleasant and explorable at the start of the year. Temperatures dip into the 60s and 70s, and locals emerge to soak up the city’s golden beaches, venture into the surrounding desert dunes and stride out into the mountains from the adventure hub of Hatta. This might be a city best known for its superlatives—home to the world’s tallest building, largest shopping mall and deepest swimming pool—but it has plenty of less showy, less spendy secrets to seek out too, from the traditional abras (boats) that bob across Dubai Creek for just one dirham each way, to the flamingos that flock to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary during their winter migration.

Cancun, Mexico
Best time to visit: December–March

One of the world’s best-loved beach destinations, Cancun is famous for its idyllic sands and all-inclusive hotels, but delve a little further and it’s a wonderland of watery delights. Just offshore is the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest on the planet. Home to beautiful coral, endangered sea turtles and more than 500 species of fish, it’s paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving. These waters also house the ambitious Cancun Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) whose submerged sculptures promote coral regeneration. Be sure, too, to visit one of the region’s famous cenotes, natural sinkholes of crystal-clear water, which were sacred to the Mayans and are worshipped today by adventurous swimmers and snorkelers.

Bangkok, Thailand
Best time to visit: December–March

All eyes are on Thailand this year as The White Lotus transports set-jetting travelers to the palm-fringed island of Koh Samui. The country’s capital Bangkok is just as transportive, a heady blend of time-slowing tradition and cutting-edge cool. December to March hits the sweet spot of low rainfall and lower temperatures, making it the perfect time to wander sacred temples, the gilded Grand Palace, and the appetite-whetting street food markets. Come at the end of January and see Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, come alive with dragon dancers, acrobats, dim sum and sticky rice cakes for Lunar New Year (January 29, 2025). A delicious way to welcome the Year of the Snake.

Sydney, Australia
Best time to visit: December–March

Summer in Sydney, December through February, is a balmy season of beach days and sunny surf sessions, cooling off in ocean pools and tucking in at outdoor restaurants. This is also one of the world’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities, and 2025 kicks off with the trailblazing Sydney Festival (January 4–26), which this year features gay musical icon Rufus Wainwright at the Sydney Opera House (January 8) and a spangly, high-camp Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorized Opera (January 8–25). The long-standing Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February 14–March 2) follows with parades, parties and the Queer Screen film festival, all under the banner of this year’s theme: “Free to Be.” The ultimate good-vibes getaway.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Best time to visit: December–April

Lush and beautiful, Guanacaste in northwest Costa Rica is a magical choose-your-own-adventure province. Unwind in the deeply pampered luxury of the resort-lined Papagayo Peninsula, or at a blissed-out yoga retreat around Nosara. Inland, you can hike the volcanic Rincón de la Vieja National Park, explore thundering waterfalls like the spectacular Llanos de Cortez, and birdwatch in Palo Verde National Park—so it’s no surprise that Costa Rica has long been an ecotourism pioneer. But it’s the long ribbon of coast that’s perhaps the biggest hit here, with world-class surfers drawn to iconic breaks. For all the big barrels, it’s also brilliant for first-time surfers, especially at Sámara Beach where a reef slows the power of the Pacific into easy curls that lick the golden sands.

Cape Town, South Africa
Best time to visit: January–March

This has-it-all city is coming into peak summer right now, the perfect time to get stuck into its multi-faceted charms. Cape Town is a natural beauty, backed by the majestic Table Mountain and tumbling down to the softly curving coast, but it has also long been a meeting place of peoples and cultures. That diversity can be seen today in the candy-colored suburb of Bo Kaap and the African-art-filled Zeitz MOCAA. For foodies, this is one of the most affordable world capitals to tuck into, with well-priced tasting menus at the likes of La Colombe and Chefs Warehouse, paired with sensational (but not blow-the-budget) wine from down the road in the Cape Winelands. A rich feast for every type of traveler.