After the holiday season, most of us start wishing for the warmth of the tropical sun, so island vacations are on everyone's wish list. There are many wonderful January vacation destinations to choose from, including the Caribbean, Hawaii and Florida. You may even be able to get away for a longer vacation and visit remote tropical islands such as Bora Bora and Tahiti.
January Winter Vacations in the Caribbean
The Caribbean islands are a beach lover's paradise. Great romantic January vacations include The House in Barbados where you can get a suite overlooking the blue Caribbean sea. Covecastles beach resort in Anguilla has villa accommodations and offers a variety of vacation activities.
Bahamas is relatively easy to get to and offers several family-friendly vacation resorts. Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort features a beautiful sandy beach, pools, waterfalls, whirlpools, a kid's pool, and a swim-up bar. Atlantis Paradise Island Resort continues to be a Caribbean family vacation classic, offering something for everyone, including jaw-dropping attractions, pools, spa, restaurants and a choice of accommodations for a range of budgets.
Maui and Oahu
January winter vacation ideas in Hawaii include Wailea Beach Villas in Maui, stylish beach resorts on Oahu, and more secluded getaways on the Big Island of Hawaii, such as The Fairmont Orchid.
A sunset from Waikiki Beach is a sight not to be missed on your romantic Hawaii vacation. Enjoy the sunset right from the beach or plan a romantic dinner for two at a beachfront restaurant such as the Surf Room Restaurant at the Royal Hawaiian. If you decide to go for a walk along Kalakaua Avenue which runs parallel to the beach, watch the sunset from the Duke Kahanamoku Statue or Kuhio Beach Park. Watch the surfers catch the waves just off Waikiki Beach when the sun sets behind the Pacific Ocean.
It's usually the case that if you rise early on your vacation you can have the place to yourself. This is certainly true when staying on Waikiki Beach. If you enjoy walking on vacation, take a morning stroll down the beach and along Kalakaua Avenue which runs parallel to Waikiki Beach. Most stores will be closed and you'll encounter few people. Places that are crowded during the day will be empty, except for an occasional jogger or surfer. A few places open quite early for breakfast, so that on your way back you can sit down and enjoy a good meal after your walk.
Hawaii's Big Island in January
Few things will ruin your vacation faster than arriving at the resort of your dreams only to be given the key to a unclean room. Hotels and resorts all around the world understand the fact that guests won't stay in a filthy room and endeavor to do their best to clean every room and public area of their hotel thoroughly. However, in their quest to eradicate dust, stains and germs from all surfaces in the hotel, many hotels are using very harsh chemicals in large quantities. Chemical build-up can also be bad for guests but not many realize it.
In Hawaii, the Fairmont Orchid has taken environmentally friendly hotel maintence to a higher level. The housekeeping team has switched to botanical cleansers and disinfectants, while the landscaping team (in charge of the resort's beautiful grounds) has switched to organic methods. At the same time oceanographers are monitoring the health of the coral reef at the resort.
The hotel uses Benefect, a Canadian product line developed by Sensible Life Products that surpasses both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada requirements for hospital-grade disinfectants. When you walk through the hotel you won't smell any harsh chemicals but a fresh spring-like aroma from a blend of thyme, clove and lemongrass oils. So when you return from at vacation a the Fairmont Orchid you may not realize it but the hotel's use of botanical cleansers and disinfectants is one more reasons that you will leave feeling relaxed and refreshed. You may decide to switch to natural cleansers in your own home.
Attractions at the Venetian Hotel
The Venetian Hotel Las Vegas features an array of attractions, ranging from replicas of famous landmarks to museums and shops. Right on the Las Vegas Strip is the famous clock tower, Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro, the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge and the facade of the Doge's Palace. ou can enter the hotel on the moving escalators over the Rialto Bridge from which you can enjoy scenic views of other Las Vegas attractions.
One of the most popular attractions at the Venetian are romantic gondola rides offered by authentically-attired "gondolieri." If you are going to pop the question, wait until it gets dark for maximum effect. Visit the Grand Canal Shoppes for shopping, dining and to see the replica of St. Mark's Square. The whole area is covered with a man-made blue "sky" with puffy clouds.
