February, at the world’s best hotels.

Winter sun season proper: 18 degree afternoons, empty golf courses, heated pools and the Golden Mile's lowest room rates of the year.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

The Alentejo's quiet half-year: olive harvest, starlit skies, fireplaces lit.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

The Alentejo's quiet half-year: olive harvest, starlit skies, fireplaces lit.

Fireside season — frost on the meadows, the village to yourself.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

The January lull — fresh snow, short lift lines, between the holiday peaks.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

The palace without the crowds — winter light in the Hall of Mirrors.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Ireland's great houses in winter: drawing-room fires and the demesne to yourself.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Late wet season: the island at its lushest before the dry-season rush.

The rains bring the jungle alive and the valley falls quiet.

The rains bring the jungle alive and the valley falls quiet.

Winter kaiseki and hot springs with the temple town to yourself.

Snow-country bathing and crab season on the quiet Japan Sea coast.

Deep-winter onsen bathing after the New Year rush clears out.

Green season: newborn game, dramatic skies, and the bush at its lushest.

Winter light on the kasbahs, snow on the High Atlas behind them.

Winter on the strait: gardens in bloom early, the city at its most local.

Kalahari summer: meerkat pups, desert blooms, and the reserve's quietest months.

Green season on the pans: zebra migration, desert flowers, dramatic storm light.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

Storm-watching season — whales offshore, fires lit, the coast dramatic.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

Storm-watching season — whales offshore, fires lit, the coast dramatic.

Deep winter is the Adirondacks at their most atmospheric, with frozen-lake skating, snowshoeing and toboggan runs at a fraction of summer pricing.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.