January may be deemed the most depressing month of the year by many – with daylight and warm weather in short supply, but the first month of the year does deliver on one thing…prices tumble at many major attractions.
And if you’re prepared to wrap up warm – in Europe at least – and go last-minute, you can save hundreds of pounds on holidays that are often much pricier during peak season.
Google Trends data for this week shows searches for ‘beating the January blues’ are up 150% with bookings for quick getaways buoyant.
Research by AttractionTickets.com found that popular family-friendly breaks to places such as Orlando’s theme parks, Center Parcs and Butlins deliver a winter boost at a fraction of the price you’ll pay later in the year.
The study examined traveller satisfaction, destination popularity and online reviews to compile the list of winter pick-me-ups.
Where are people heading? Paris, just a two-hour hop from London, ranks in the top spot, scoring 24.65 out of 25.
And just behind it is Disneyland Paris. Across the board, theme park trips in January are also proving popular, particularly in the US, where the mercury is higher – it’s currently a comparatively balmy 14 degrees in Orlando.
Close to home, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and the Natural History Museum are popular winter days out, the study finds.
Bring on the feel good! Winter pick-me-up breaks have been ranked by AttractionTickets.com – and London’s Warner Bros. Studio Tour is among them
For longer stays in the UK, Center Parcs and Butlin’s fare well too, with January seeing the lowest prices at both holiday parks.
Chris Bradshaw, travel expert at AttractionTickets.com, said of the findings:
‘January is a month when motivation can dip and many people look for small ways to lift their mood after the festive season.
‘This ranking suggests that destinations built around escapism and shared experiences are particularly appealing at this time of year, offering a welcome break from winter routines.’
Advises Bradshaw: ‘For those looking for a last-minute January deal, you need to be flexible with travel dates and ensure that you’re looking beyond weekend bookings.
‘You can also try bundling attraction tickets with accommodation, which can make a big difference when booking late.’
Center Parcs is significantly cheaper in January – and ideal for a last-minute mid-winter getaway
Last week, Disneyland in California came under fire from its guests after eliminating a fan–favorite perk that had long drawn visitors to the iconic theme park.
Until now, visitors staying at a Disneyland hotel enjoyed a 30–minute head start before the park in Anaheim, California, opened to everyone else.
For many, the incentive was one of the biggest draws of staying at more expensive on–site hotels – even with cheaper options just a short distance away.
However, the early access perk was officially scrapped as of Monday, leaving many Disney fans reeling and sparking backlash among longtime visitors.
‘I’ve always stayed on property, but I won’t after this,’ one Reddit user wrote. ‘There’s simply no reason.’
Others blasted the theme park’s constant price changes and complained that the so-called Disney magic was disappearing as a result.
‘The ‘Magic’ is now the Excel spreadsheet that helped the C–Suite make these decision[s],’ another user said.
Until this week, hotel guests could enter the park early, letting them ride popular attractions, shop freely and dine with far fewer crowds.
The perk applied to anyone staying at the theme park’s three hotels, which are the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Pixar Place Hotel.
Now, guests will receive just one Lightning Lane entry to a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction during their stay.
Disney’s Lightning Lane is a paid service that lets visitors skip the regular line and wait in a separate, shorter line after reserving a ride in advance.
