Harsh winter weather can be a challenge, and cause many people to dream of getting away from the US. While longer escapes might be preferable, they’re not always possible due to limited time and budget. So, we’ve pulled together a range of destinations all within a six-hour flight. You’ll find everything from beguiling city breaks with excursions aplenty to entire countries whose highlights can be explored in a few days. Most feature warmer climes but, for those who don’t mind the cold, there are a couple of cracking Canadian ideas too.

Perhaps the most famous site in Belize is its beautiful barrier reef. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this reef system is second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and teems with marine life, from manatees and turtles to fantastical corals and a rainbow of fish. Yet this small central American nation has an array of inland jewels too; deep in the rainforest, jaguars prowl beneath black howler monkeys and toucans.

Belize is also home to spectacular Mayan ruins such as Caracol, a vast ceremonial site dating from the 6th century that once covered an area of 77 square miles (200sq km). If you want to see all that wonder for yourself, fly to Belize City from airports including Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles. Most flights only take between two and three hours, and carriers include United, American and Alaska.

Love this? Follow us on Facebook for more travel inspiration

With vibrant colonial facades lining cobblestone streets, and a glut of architectural treasures such as the Santo Domingo Church, Oaxaca City's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This compelling region is also famed for its delicious agave-based mezcal and pretty handicrafts, so don’t miss a tipple before browsing the many markets.

For an easy day trip from Oaxaca, drive 20 minutes to the nearby pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Alban, an ancient place filled with Mesoamerican pyramids. Want to jet off? Regular flights depart from Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles, with a maximum flight time of four hours. Airlines flying direct include Volaris, American and United.

Dazzling white beaches, tropical vegetation, chic resorts… Jamaica has all the hallmarks of a Caribbean idyll. But while waterside relaxation is a popular pastime, those who prefer more active vacations will find plenty to explore on this diverse and compact island. Swimming in Falmouth’s bioluminescent lagoon is just one option, best followed by some fresh seafood and a sunset rum cocktail.

You can also explore the island's capital, Kingston, where you'll learn about the roots of reggae at the Bob Marley Museum. There are ample flights to both Kingston and the dreamy resort of Montego Bay from across the US. Direct routes fly from cities like Miami (a mere one hour and 45 minutes away), New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Caribbean, JetBlue, United and Delta are among the many airline options. 

Discover these Caribbean islands you can enjoy without the crowds

Jamaica's mild climes feel a long way away from Montreal’s chilly winter weather; the coldest month of January sees temperatures hover around -9°C (16°F), and it doesn’t heat up much until spring. But if you don’t mind wrapping up, this season brings its own charms, with citywide activities ranging from light festivals to ice skating. North America's only walled city, Montreal oozes historic charm at any time of year. 

When you want to switch strolling for slopes, Montreal is just a 1.5-hour drive from the Alpine-style resort of Mont-Tremblant, one of Canada’s most attractive ski destinations. Multiple US airports host regular, often daily flights to Montreal, including Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. Flying times from the East Coast range between one and three hours, while operators span Air Canada to Delta. If you're coming from California, it's more like five and a half hours, but we promise it's worth the wait.

These are Canada's most jaw-dropping views

Among the most biodiverse places on the planet, Costa Rica is an ecotourism pioneer and a must for wildlife lovers. Famous residents include hummingbirds and sloths, but with around 500,000 species known to call this central American paradise home, you’re likely to spot many more critters besides.

Beachside national parks like Tortuguero and Manuel Antonio aren't too far from the capital San Jose – ideal if you only have the weekend. Both San Jose and Liberia (a city further north) are serviced regularly from Houston, Atlanta, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Flight times can top five hours from New York, though from Miami the journey is rarely above three. Volaris, Frontier and Avianca are popular airline options.  

It may mean especially fickle weather and restricted daylight hours, but winter is nonetheless a wonderful time to visit Iceland. On clear days the sky has a gorgeous pinkish tinge you won’t find in summer and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot the glimmering Northern Lights come nightfall. With sights including the Norse-inspired Hallgrimskirkja church and statue of Viking explorer Leif Erikson, it’s worth spending a day or two in Reykjavik itself.

The city also happens to be a handy base for nearby highlights like the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon, plus plenty of pit-stops for spotting the aurora borealis if it makes a spontaneous appearance. Journey times from the East Coast and the Midwest mainly hover around six hours, though from Boston flights can take just five hours and 15 minutes. Other airports flying the route include Seattle, New York and Chicago – with companies like Icelandair and fellow Icelandic airline PLAY offering regular services. 

Check out Iceland's most incredible sights

Ideally you’d need more than a week to explore all of Cuba’s myriad attractions, and allow for long drives from one side of the island to the other (stopping at rum distilleries, beachside cantinas and cigar factories). For those with less time to spare, the capital makes for both a first-rate city break and a compelling introduction to the Caribbean island. 

After admiring Havana’s plazas and landmarks, make sure to salsa the night away in one of its many bars and clubs. Miami takes the lead on fast Havana flights, with the journey taking barely over an hour. Other direct departure options include New York, Houston and Tampa. There's just one tiny hitch: US passport holders aren't currently allowed into Cuba for exclusively touristic purposes, but American citizens can generally qualify for another visa category, 'supporting the Cuban people'. So long as you support Cuban entrepreneurs – eating in restaurants, using authentic homestays and learning to salsa dance from local teachers – you're likely to get a visa.

Part of the Lesser Antilles and often overlooked in favour of the Greater Antilles or Bahamas, Saint Lucia is tiny but full of surprises. Another Caribbean charmer with more to enjoy than its heavenly beaches (though those are plentiful), it ranges from the volcanic Piton peaks to natural hot springs and rainforests filled with rare birds like the Saint Lucia parrot.

Dining is a treat too and at the luxurious Rabot Estate, home of Hotel Chocolat, you can tour the cacao plantations and even make your very own chocolate bar. If you're looking for a piece of the action, Charlotte, Miami, New York and Atlanta airports host regular non-stop flights to Saint Lucia. Most last just over four hours and Delta, American and JetBlue are the leading contenders.

The world’s second-highest capital city, Quito is perched in the Andean foothills on the foundations of an Incan city. Replete with ornate colonial architecture, it’s also known for being near the equator (from which Ecuador takes its name), and straddling the ‘Middle of the World’ is a staple on many a tourist itinerary.

You’d need a longer multi-stay vacation for destinations like the Galapagos, but highlights like the Mindo Cloud Forest and the hot spring city of Banos are doable day trips from Quito. Since Ecuador is closer to the USA than much of South America, flights to Quito usually take a maximum of six hours, and from Florida they’re shorter still at just four hours and 10 minutes. Alongside Miami, you’ll find regular direct routes from Houston and Atlanta with carriers like United and LATAM.

Your South America trip: 50 essential experiences

One of the Canadian Rockies’ lesser-known ski resorts, Mount Norquay is ideal for hitting the slopes without any crowds. Featuring terrain and facilities suitable for all levels, it’s also a good choice for families. Can’t resist its more touristy ski siblings, Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise? The SkiBig3 is a useful pass, offering discounts and easy booking across the three resorts.

If you're open to a less conventional snowsport, Mount Norquay brags eight snow tubing lanes, where you can hurl yourself into a rubber ring and glide over the snow in style. Mount Norquay is just 1.5 hours from Calgary Airport, which is serviced by multiple daily flights from the USA. Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Houston and Chicago all offer direct routes – journey times range from just over five hours to a minimal one hour and 30 minutes. We do love an easy getaway.

Canada's most famous attractions – and their secrets

Situated in the Lesser Antilles, just a few miles off the coast of Venezuela, this Caribbean country is an enigma in more ways than one. While bigger Trinidad is renowned for its lively carnivals and calypso, Tobago has a slower rhythm and is arguably better for a relaxing beach break. Colonial-era landmarks, creole heritage and biodiverse nature reserves are mainstays across both islands.

The island nation’s capital, Port of Spain, is reachable on direct routes from Houston, New York, Orlando and Miami. Most flights take around five or six hours, though from Miami they’re a mere three hours and 45 minutes. Alongside US carriers like United, Caribbean Airlines is a popular choice, and we've heard your inflight meal will be something special. It could consist of a traditional Caribbean dish like Trindad and Tobago's very own 'doubles' (curried chickpeas served in a fried flatbread).  

Once dismissed as a bit insalubrious, this South American underdog is now rightly making its way onto tourist radars. Offering a pleasant year-round climate – think average lows of 17°C (63°F) and highs of 28°C (82°F) – you'll discover an eclectic mix of neighbourhoods, plus fascinating initiatives like the graffiti tour run by social enterprise Casa Kolacho.

Medellin isn’t far from Colombia’s celebrated coffee region either, and you can visit nearby plantations to learn about the bean-to-brew process. Regular flight options to Colombia’s second city include Miami, at just under 3.5 hours, and New York at just under six. Direct routes also go from Orlando, while choice airlines include Spirit and Avianca. It's a brilliant break to brag to your friends about back home.

There's a reason the seafront Peruvian capital is nicknamed the 'City of Kings'. Eat like royalty in the city's plethora of Michelin-starred restaurants (we recommend the salty ceviche for a taste of the tropics), before exploring the opulent Government and Archbishop's Palaces in the heart of the city. Once you're done with cultural pursuits, Lima is a great place to learn to surf, with year-round waves of different heights – ideal for learners and pros alike.

Reaching Lima from the US is simple: it's a five-and-three-quarter-hour flight from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. If you're heading to Lima for a getaway anyway, you may want to go the extra few hundred miles to see the ultimate bucket-list site: Machu Picchu. From Lima's airport, take a 90-minute flight to Cusco, then there's a train followed by a bus connection to the 15th-century Inca citadel. 

The Irish capital is perennially popular with American travellers, the pull of its medieval streets, breweries and rousing folk music too much fun to resist. Learn about Dublin's fierce history in its many museums, from battles with the British at Dublin Castle to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, where you'll see just how much Irish emigrants made their cultural mark on the countries they settled in the 19th and 20th centuries. Don't forget to do a tour of the Guinness Storehouse to taste Ireland's favourite beverage, then go in search of craic on the lively streets of Temple Bar.

But besides the throb of the city, you'll no doubt want to discover the Emerald Isle's mystical countryside. Cue the Wicklow Mountains National Park, just one hour's drive south of Dublin. Visit the Rapunzel-esque medieval monasteries of Glendalough for a particularly postcard-worthy experience. Connections of both the cultural and aviation kind are easy to find from the East Coast: Boston to Dublin can be as short as 6 hours (though it's a little longer on the way home – not that you'll want to rush back).

Now discover the world's top 50 cities: how many have you visited?