"While international favorites such as Dubai and Phuket stood out for value, the Hawaiian island distinguished itself for reliably warm, sunny weather and the convenience of passport-free travel. The island also averages roughly 11 hours of sunshine per winter day (10.9 hours, to be exact), with temperatures hovering around 76.5 degrees-ideal for beach time, hiking, snorkeling, open-air dining, and more outdoor fun."
"The rankings were based on flight and hotel searches from U.S. travelers planning trips between January and June 2026, comparing 30 waterfront destinations worldwide by winter temperatures, sunshine, safety, hotel availability and pricing, and the number of dining and entertainment options. For those weighing sunshine, warmth, and ease, Maui proves that the best winter escape doesn't always require crossing an ocean-just choosing the right island."
Maui ranks among the world's top seaside winter destinations and is the only U.S. location on JB's January 2026 list. The island averages 10.9 hours of winter sunshine and temperatures near 76.5°F, supporting beach time, hiking, snorkeling, and open-air dining. Winter brings fewer crowds than peak summer, enabling sunrise visits to Haleakalā, snorkeling at Honolua Bay and Kapalua Bay, and peak whale-watching season offshore. Rankings compared U.S. flight and hotel searches for January–June 2026 across 30 waterfront destinations using winter temperatures, sunshine, safety, hotel availability and pricing, and dining and entertainment options. Maui offers domestic travel convenience with no passport or currency exchange.
Read at Travel + Leisure
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