1
Cebu
Philippines
Dry season, island hopping, and snorkelling with sardine schools at Moalboal.
Value 8/10Beaches 9/10Best time: December-May
Totalest. A$2,833
Flights A$1,258 · Stay and food A$1,575
We looked for destinations where January falls within the best time to visit. We ranked them by value and beaches, and priced each one for one person, ten days, flying from Sydney, at January flight and accommodation rates. We kept trips under an est. A$3,500.
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2
Krabi
Thailand
Limestone cliffs, Railay's beaches and island hopping on calm seas.
Value 8/10Beaches 9/10Best time: November-March
Totalest. A$3,146
Flights A$1,156 · Stay and food A$1,990
3
Phu Quoc
Vietnam
Vietnam's island escape, with long sandy beaches and night markets.
Value 8/10Beaches 9/10Best time: November-April
Totalest. A$3,200
Flights A$1,482 · Stay and food A$1,718
4
Palawan
Philippines
Calm seas for boat trips through El Nido's lagoons.
Value 7/10Beaches 10/10Best time: November-May
Totalest. A$2,828
Flights A$1,009 · Stay and food A$1,819
5
Boracay
Philippines
White Beach in its sunniest season.
Value 7/10Beaches 10/10Best time: November-April
Totalest. A$2,945
Flights A$1,012 · Stay and food A$1,933
6
Langkawi
Malaysia
Dry, sunny days and calm water off Malaysia's northwest coast.
Value 7/10Beaches 9/10Best time: December-March
Totalest. A$3,238
Flights A$1,134 · Stay and food A$2,104
How we priced this: from Sydney, at the Comfortable level, one traveller, ten days, January flight and accommodation rates. Prices checked on 4 November 2026. Totals are estimates of return flights, accommodation, and daily food and spending; they aren't package prices. 4 of these flight prices are model estimates because we don't yet have cached fares for those routes. Open any destination to change the trip and see it re-priced. Flight prices for January include a typical school-holiday and peak-season increase for this region. Christmas week and other peak dates can cost more.
Questions
Where is it warm and dry in January?
All six places on this page have January within their best time to visit, which in this region means the dry season.
What's the cheapest place to go in January from Sydney?
Palawan, at an est. A$2,828 for one person for ten days, with Cebu close behind at an est. A$2,833.
Is January expensive?
January is high season for these destinations, so the prices on this page use January flight and accommodation rates.
What does the price cover?
It's an estimate of return flights, accommodation, and daily food and spending for one person. It isn't a package price.