Tired of Florida? Go where it's actually summer this winter.

5 min 18 sec read

When it's winter here, it's summer somewhere else.

The Same Winter Escape Every Year

It's February. You're cold. The kids have a school break.

So you book: Florida. Maybe Caribbean. Possibly Mexico.

Warm weather, sure. But it's not really summer. It's just less cold.

Here's what most families don't consider:

While you're escaping winter, the Southern Hemisphere is in the middle of peak summer.

Long days. Warm nights. Everything in full swing.

Argentina in February = California in July.

Cape Town in March = Greece in August.

And the cost? About the same as that week in Florida you were already planning.

Why This Changes Everything

You're not just chasing warm weather. You're chasing summer.

February-March in the Southern Hemisphere means:

• 14-hour days (not 10-hour days like Florida)

• Peak season for outdoor activities

• Beaches, hiking, everything at its best

• Summer energy, not just "warm enough"

The timing works perfectly:

Book now for February-March 2026. Or plan ahead for next winter.

Three months out is the sweet spot for international flights and hotels.

And the money part people get wrong:

These trips cost about the same as a solid Florida or Caribbean vacation. Sometimes less.

What It Actually Costs vs. What You're Already Spending

Your typical winter escape (family of 4, 7-8 days):

• Florida: $3,500-5,000 (flights, hotel, food, parks)

• Caribbean all-inclusive: $4,500-6,500

• Mexico resort: $3,000-5,000

Southern Hemisphere (family of 4, 8-10 days):

• Argentina: $4,800-6,500

• Chile: $5,200-7,200

• South Africa: $6,500-8,500

• New Zealand: $7,500-9,500

It's not double. It's not unreachable.

You're spending $1,000-3,000 more to get an actual summer experience instead of just "not cold."

The value difference:

Florida in February = 78°F, crowded parks, expensive hotels.

Buenos Aires in February = 85°F, outdoor cafes, tango, steak dinners for $12.

One feels like everyone else's spring break. The other feels like you unlocked something.

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4 Places That Deliver Summer (Not Just Warm)

Argentina: Buenos Aires + Beach Towns

When to go: February-March (peak summer, school's in session there so fewer crowds)

How to get there:

• American Airlines: Nonstop from Dallas (DFW) (seasonal Oct-March), Miami, New York (JFK)

• United: Nonstop from Houston (IAH)

• Delta: Nonstop from Atlanta (ATL)

• From other cities: One-stop through these hubs (adds 3-4 hours)

Flight time: 10-11 hours nonstop

Where to stay:

• Palermo neighborhood in Buenos Aires (walkable, restaurants, safe)

• Recoleta for upscale feel

• Beach towns: Pinamar or Mar del Plata (3-4 hour drive or short flight)

The cost breakdown:

• Flights: $700-950 roundtrip

• Hotels: $70-120/night

• Food: $60-80/day for family of 4

• Activities: Beach towns, wine country, city exploring (mostly free or cheap)

Total for 8 days: $4,800-6,200

What you get: Actual summer. European-style city. Incredible food. Your dollar goes absurdly far right now.

The move: 4 days Buenos Aires, 3-4 days at beach towns.

Chile: Santiago + Wine Country

When to go: February-March

How to get there:

• American Airlines: Nonstop from Dallas (DFW) (seasonal Oct-March), Miami

• Delta: Nonstop from Atlanta (ATL)

• United: Nonstop from Houston (IAH) (seasonal Oct-March)

• LATAM: Nonstop from LAX, New York (JFK), Miami

Flight time: 9-10 hours from Texas/East Coast, 8-9 hours from LAX

Where to stay:

• Lastarria neighborhood in Santiago (arts, cafes, walkable)

• Providencia for family-friendly feel

• Casablanca Valley for wine country stays

• Viña del Mar for beach access

The cost breakdown:

• Flights: $650-900 roundtrip

• Hotels: $90-140/night

• Food: $80-100/day for family of 4

• Activities: Wine tours, beaches, Valparaíso day trip

Total for 8 days: $5,200-6,800

What you get: Safe, easy, stunning. Wine country that rivals Napa. Pacific coast beaches. Mountains.

The move: 3 days Santiago, 2 days wine country, 2-3 days at the coast.

Know a family stuck in the Florida-or-Caribbean loop? Send them this. They'll thank you.

South Africa: Cape Town + Garden Route

When to go: February-March (their late summer, perfect weather)

How to get there:

• Delta: Nonstop from Atlanta (ATL) to Cape Town (year-round)

• United: Nonstop from Newark (EWR) to Cape Town (year-round)

• United: Nonstop from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Cape Town (year-round)

• From other cities: One-stop through Atlanta, Newark, or European hubs (Frankfurt, Amsterdam)

Flight time: 15-16 hours nonstop from Atlanta/Newark/DC

Where to stay:

• Sea Point neighborhood in Cape Town (beachfront, walkable promenade)

• Camps Bay for stunning views (pricier)

• V&A Waterfront for central location

• Garden Route: Knysna or Plettenberg Bay

The cost breakdown:

• Flights: $950-1,300 roundtrip from East Coast

• Hotels: $100-160/night

• Food: $90-120/day for family of 4

• Activities: Table Mountain, beaches, penguins, wine tours

Total for 9 days: $6,500-8,200

What you get: One of the most beautiful cities on earth. Beaches. Wildlife. Summer at its peak.

The move: 5 days Cape Town, 3-4 days driving the Garden Route (coastal road trip with beaches and small towns).

New Zealand: If You Can Swing It

When to go: February (peak summer)

How to get there:

• Air New Zealand: Nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Houston (IAH), New York (JFK)

• United: Nonstop from San Francisco (SFO)

• American Airlines: Nonstop from LAX (seasonal), Dallas (DFW) (seasonal Oct-March)

• Qantas: Nonstop from New York (JFK)

• From Midwest/East Coast: One-stop through LAX or SFO (adds 5-6 hours)

Flight time: 12-13 hours nonstop from West Coast, 16-17 hours from East Coast

Where to stay:

• Ponsonby or Parnell in Auckland (neighborhoods with character)

• Queenstown: Stay lakefront or in town center

• Consider splitting: North Island (Auckland, beaches) + South Island (Queenstown, Milford Sound)

The cost breakdown:

• Flights: $1,000-1,500 roundtrip from West Coast

• Hotels: $120-180/night

• Food: $120-150/day for family of 4

• Activities/transport: $800-1,200

Total for 10 days: $7,500-9,500

What you get: English-speaking. Safe. Unforgettable. Beaches, mountains, glaciers, everything.

The move: North Island for beaches and Hobbiton, South Island for Queenstown and Milford Sound.

This one's pricier. But if you can make it work, it's the trip your kids remember forever.

How to Actually Book This

Timeline:

• Book now for Feb-March 2026: Flights are still available, hotels have rooms

• Or plan for winter 2026: Start looking 3-4 months out (November for Feb/March trips)

Flight strategy:

Use Google Flights to compare dates and routes. February is often cheaper than March for these destinations.

Look for:

• Nonstops when possible (saves 4-6 hours and hassle with kids)

• Mid-week departures (Tuesdays/Wednesdays save $100-200 per ticket)

• If you're not near a hub, drive to the nearest one (Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, LAX, Chicago)

Hotel strategy:

• Airbnbs work great for families (full kitchens save money on meals)

• Book neighborhoods, not just downtown (cheaper and more authentic)

• Look for places with washing machines (pack less, do laundry once mid-trip)

Pro tip for Ohio/Midwest readers: If you're near Chicago, Newark, or can easily reach Atlanta or Houston, you'll have the best nonstop options. These hubs are your gateway to the Southern Hemisphere. Worth the drive or positioning flight to skip connections.

The Real Difference

Florida and Caribbean trips are fine.

But they're the same trip everyone takes.

Same weather (warmish, not summer). Same crowds (everyone escaping winter). Same stories when you get back.

The Southern Hemisphere gives you summer.

Not just warmer. Actual summer.

Long days. Peak season. The energy that comes with that.

And it costs about what you'd spend on a good domestic vacation anyway.

If this opened your eyes to something beyond the usual winter escape, forward this to one family who's tired of the same Florida-Caribbean rotation.

That's how this newsletter grows. One share at a time.

Forward to a friend →

Until next Thursday,

Jeff