The Dubai Shopping Festival is the largest shopping and entertainment extravaganza in the Middle East. The festival is held across Dubai for the duration of January, and you’ll find promotions and special offers at most shopping malls and the Global Village, the city’s leading family entertainment and cultural attraction. It has been described as an event of shopping and glamour, festivity and lights, fun and adventure, multi-cuisine food and cosmopolitan culture.

The 12 th Cartagena International Music Festival takes place in Colombia from 5 th to 14 th January. A musical repertoire portraying the links between European and Latin American classical music has been chosen for this year’s festival. Prepare yourself for a musical voyage starting in late 15 th -century Spain and continuing to the Americas, retracing the path of Christopher Columbus, which led to the integration of beliefs, customs, languages and sounds of the Old and the New World.

One of the greatest cities to visit in January, is Madrid which is the highest capital city in Europe. After the 7 th January, the city quietens down and the sales season starts. This is a perfect time to visit Madrid if you are looking for a relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings. On the 5 th January the year’s biggest celebration for children takes place, Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos. This parade through the city is a very popular family event and celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings.

Melbourne in January is full of fun and festivities. On the 4 th January, the South Melbourne night market celebrates its 10 th birthday. Over 8 Thursday evenings, market goers can enjoy eating, drinking and dancing to live music. This is also the place to look out for great bargains on jewellery, homeware and clothing.