Celebrities making the big bucks sure know how to travel in style. When it comes to the colder, bleaker months of winter, they can simply take to the skies and leave the miserable weather behind (we're not jealous, promise). Wondering where they go, where they stay and what they get up to? Read on for the hottest destinations celebrities go for winter fun in the sun, from Barbados to India.
With envious temperatures between 23-30°C (73-86°F-) Jamaica is a high-hitter for escaping the winter blues. Award-winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross lived her best vacation life at the seriously swish GoldenEye Resort in Oracabessa Bay in December 2022, which offers private villas, cottages and beach huts set amid tropical gardens, private beaches and secluded coves.
Other celebs who have also visited Jamaica for winter sun include Cardi B, Offset and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau – and who can blame them? February tends to be the driest month of the year, with only three rainy days. You can expect average temperatures between 21-31°C (69-87°F) in the winter.
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If you can swap dreary weather for the tantalising beaches of the Cayman Islands, why not? Grand Cayman – the largest island – seems to be Emily Ratajkowski’s favourite, as the model has been spotted here numerous times over the years and as recent as January 2023. This British Overseas Territory lures tourists with its beautiful beaches and world-class dive sites, and is also home to the endangered Grand Cayman blue iguana.
You might find Emily sipping pina coladas and lounging on the beach overlooking the crystal-clear waters, before hunkering down for the night at Palm Heights, an all-suite boutique hotel. Guests who can afford the price tag can choose from ocean-facing and beachfront penthouses, suites and terraces, with a wellness centre offering a top-tier spa and gym. Grand Cayman sees average maximum temperatures of 25-28°C (77-82°F) during the winter months.
If it’s good enough for the Beckhams, it’s good enough for us. The whole clan have seen in plenty of New Years celebrations in the Maldives, a remote archipelago off the south coast of Sri Lanka. Temperatures hover around the 30°C (86°F) mark year-round, so you can enjoy a summer holiday no matter what time of year you visit.
No wonder the A-listers love it here; Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum celebrated their honeymoon and first marriage anniversary in November 2022, where they stayed at Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi Resort. The island hideaway includes 11 restaurants, a world-class lifestyle spa sanctuary and 119 reef, beach and overwater villas spanning three islands.
Offering less humidity and cooler winds compared to the summer season, the winter months are the most popular time to visit Jaipur, the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. Still, even with the crowds, there’s a chance you might spot the odd celeb, if you’re lucky.
Mindy Kaling travelled around the Pink City in February 2023 with snaps showing her soaking up the forts, palaces and temples in all their breathtaking detail. While November is typically the driest month in Rajasthan, January tends to be the ‘coldest’, seeing temperatures of roughly 22°C (71°F).
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The Clooneys haven’t just vacationed in the Seychelles; they also spent their honeymoon here in 2014, so they know a thing or two about top winter sun getaways. The island is rich in wildlife both on and off land, including forest hikes, encounters with giant tortoises and scuba diving to see vibrant coral reefs.
Gal Gadot is another fan of the Seychelles, swapping the fast-paced life of her Wonder Woman character to chilling out with pals on the white-sand beaches in February 2023. The much-loved island sees temperatures of around 27-28°C (80-82°F) between December and March, with intense rain showers only lasting half an hour at a time.
Within easy reach for many celebs, Hawaii is delightfully warm and sunny throughout the year, with February being a particularly good time to visit. Expect balmy temperatures between 23-27°C (73-80°F) during the winter months; just ask singer Shawn Mendes, who mostly spent his winter vacation in February 2022 meditating and working out at the beach.
Plus, Hilary Duff has previously celebrated the new year in Hawaii. Instead of layering up and going for icy New Year Day walks, you can simply enjoy the beaches and swaying palm trees instead. Sounds like bliss.
This swanky Caribbean island is a haven for celebs, as it offers pretty much all they need: beauty, luxury and much-needed privacy. Although the winter months are at their mildest – a modest 28°C (82°F) in January and February – temperatures rarely dip below 22°C (71°F) or above 33°C (91°F) year-round, so you never have to worry about an ‘off’ season or being excessively hot.
The likes of Dua Lipa, Amy Schumer and Mike Tyson enjoy this winter island paradise in typical celebrity fashion: jumping from luxury yachts into crystal-clear waters and lapping up the sun on powdery sand beaches. It's certainly a destination for those who have made it in life with many stars checking into Hotel Eden Rock-St Barths, with previous guests including Tom Hanks and Mick Jagger.
Instead of curling up by the fireplace and watching the snowfall outside, some celebs prefer to spend the Christmas holidays by the sea and under the sun instead. After all, Barbados sees average maximum temperatures of 29-30°C (84-86°F) during the winter months.
Actor Mark Wahlberg and family spent the festive break in Barbados in December 2022, where they indulged in much-needed sunbathing sessions and wholesome family time. And Barbados musical royalty, Rihanna, also enjoys a winter sojourn in her sunny hometown, having previously been spotted in the winter months with her partner A$AP Rocky.
Australia’s summer runs from December through to the end of February, with Sydney’s average temperatures ranging from 18-25°C (64-77°F). In November 2022, Ryan Gosling and his family rented a private property in the city for a few months and really soaked up their surroundings while the actor was on set for a new movie.
On his days off, the whole fam enjoyed Sydney’s brilliant parks and beaches – which is made easier with water temperatures rising to a blissful 22-23°C (71-73°F). Many Australian celebs who live abroad tend to return home for Christmas too, including the likes of Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and the Hemsworth brothers.
Naomi Campbell put her cultural innovator status to good use with a winter visit to Abu Dhabi in January 2023. The catwalk model, her daughter and pals visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as part of a tour where they explored the mosque’s impressive halls, marble domes and intricate minarets.
The mosque also boasts seven Swarovski crystal chandeliers, which is bound to impress even the most well-off celebs. Abu Dhabi sees average temperatures of 20-29°C (68-84°F) during the winter months, making it a more accessible time to visit compared to its peaks of 36°C (96°F) in the summer.
You probably didn’t know that the Dominican Republic is a popular filming location, with Shotgun Wedding, Road House and The Lost City partly or completely shot here. This makes it a popular celebrity haunt as many choose to stay here while they film on location.
But sunning it up on luxury yachts isn’t a bad way to enjoy the winter sun here either – just how singer Camilla Cabello prefers it. A recent visit in January 2022 saw her enjoying some beachfront fun. The gateway to the Caribbean doesn’t really drop in temperature, with winter months experiencing average temperatures of 26-27°C (78-80°F).
Although November to February is considered the cool season in Mexico, there’s plenty of winter sun fun to be had. With its tropical climate, Cabo San Lucas sees average temperatures of 21-25°C (69-77°F) in the winter period, which hasn’t gone amiss with the likes of Selena Gomez, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, who celebrated the new year here in December 2022.
Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry celebrated the actor’s birthday here in late October 2021 too. One of the dreamiest things to do here is to watch the sunset at El Arco, a group of stunning rock formations. Tulum is another popular option with enviable temperatures of 23-27°C (73-80°F) savoured by the likes of actress Drew Barrymore.
Unspoiled by mass tourism, easy-going Dominica lies between Guadeloupe and Martinique and is nicknamed the ‘Nature Island’ for good reason, with plenty of forest trails, wildlife adventures and boutique hotels to enjoy. This lush tropical isle is great for outdoor explorers – including celebs.
Actors Michael Douglas and Catherina Zeta-Jones enjoyed a vacation in February 2022 with their kids here, where they visited stunning waterfalls in Portsmouth, watched sunset by the ocean and generally made the most of their wild surroundings. A welcome break from prying paparazzi, we’re sure. Dominica enjoys winter temperatures averaging 25-28°C (77-82°F).
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