26 Cheap destinations in 2023 with great weather in December
December is an interesting and unusual month for choosing holiday destinations. Many of the world’s favorite tropical beach areas and cities have the best weather of the year in December, but because most people can only take that last week of the month off work, the prices from one week to the next can be vastly different. The first two weeks of December are some of the cheapest weeks of the year in most of the places listed below, while the last week of the year is often literally the most expensive week of the year. In other words, if you can go in early December you can save a fortune or stay in a much nicer place than if you go for Christmas week.
We have a separate list of cheap and warm places to spend Christmas and New Years and there are similarities with the list below, but the prices are more in line with what you might expect to pay. On the other hand, if you can do a trip early in the month of December, you’ll get basically the same weather and the hotels (and flights) will be half the price. The important thing is to book early if you are going over the big holidays.
This article was updated in July, 2023.
Important December 2023 holidays
- December 2 and 3 – National Day Holiday in United Arab Emirates (major public holiday)
- December 6 – St. Nicholas’ Eve and Day (major public holiday in many European countries)
- December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (public holiday in many Catholic countries)
- December 10 – Constitution Day in Thailand (major public holiday with celebrations on 12-Dec)
- December 24, 25 – Christmas Eve and Day (major public holiday)
- December 26 – St. Stephen’s Day and Boxing Day (major public holidays in many countries)
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve (major public holiday, celebrations)
New video of this article
Here’s a new video I made showing all the highlights of the article below with footage of most places on this list. Please have a look!
The Americas
If you are looking to save money you’ll find that the first week of December will be many times cheaper than the last week of December in the Caribbean and most other places on this list.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean generally has excellent weather in December, although sometimes the rainy season keeps going through the first week or so. Cancun is the most popular destination in the area and it has perfect weather starting in December.
If you are mainly looking for a place to relax on the beach and take a couple boat trips or water sports, you might consider just booking at an all-inclusive resort. There are hundreds of them in the Caribbean and they have to compete for guests by offering prices that can seem suspiciously low, but most of them actually deliver what they promise for those low rates.
- 17 Cheapest Caribbean all-inclusive destinations
- 32 Caribbean destinations from cheapest to most expensive
Cancun, Mexico
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 70°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 3.8″/9.5cm
Cancun is far more popular than any Caribbean island because it is easier to reach and there is excellent infrastructure for visitors. It has a perfect Caribbean climate, although there might be a downpour or two early in December, although those tend to last 15 minutes or less and can be refreshing.
When planning a trip to Cancun it’s important to choose the best area for your style. Cancun itself is mainly a long L-shaped strip of resort hotels and timeshares along a beach, with very few other restaurants or shops between them. If you want to stay in your resort the whole time, Cancun itself is a good choice. But about an hour south of Cancun by shuttle you can be in Playa del Carmen, which is an actual fun tourist town filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. If you want to sample different things on your trip, Playa del Carmen is a better choice. The island of Cozumel is just across the water from Playa del Carmen and it’s kind of a hybrid of the other two. And Tulum is a bit south of those and it’s a smaller and more artsy town that is gaining in popularity in recent years. All of these choices are served by the Cancun airport and are easy to reach from there.
You might also consider getting a Cancun Pass for your trip. It bundles a bunch of expensive attractions into one moderate price. It’s worth a look because some of the attractions are amazing and most people aren’t even aware of them.
>>>New: Guide to choosing where to stay in the Cancun area
- 3-star hotels from: US$67 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$139 per night for two people
>>Cancun prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Cancun resort and package deals
Where to find the cheapest Caribbean all-inclusive resorts
In this new video below I’ll explain exactly how and where to find the cheapest all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean that are really good.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- December avg high: 84°F/29°C
- December avg low: 73°F/23°C
- December avg precip: 0.8″/2.0cm
As December begins in the Caribbean, the hurricane season is officially over and the weather is pretty much perfect by any standard. Punta Cana is the Dominican Republic’s most popular resort areas, especially for those who aren’t particularly interested in absorbing the local culture. This is a resort area with wonderful beaches and not much history.
Unsurprisingly, the end of December is the beginning of the peak season for resort prices, so those who are able to come earlier in the month will be getting better deals. Still, the all-inclusive resorts are locked in heavy competition all year so this area can be a great deal compared to the alternatives, even in high season. If you are looking for where to go in December for an all-inclusive beach holiday, this is your best option for most people. Punta Cana is also on the list of our best Caribbean destinations for families with kids, by the way.
- 3-star hotels from: US$48 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$91 per night for two people
Montego Bay, Jamaica
- December avg high: 85°F/29°C
- December avg low: 73°F/23°C
- December avg precip: 1.6″/4.0cm
As with other Caribbean resort destinations, the weather in Montego Bay is perfect in December, and the first half of the month is still cheap for flights and resort prices. The weekend before Christmas is when peak season here starts, and if you book early enough you can still get a good deal then, but don’t expect many last-minute bargains during that period.
Montego Bay’s busy airport has cheap flights from most major hubs including many in Europe, so it’s one of the easier places to reach as well. If Montego Bay itself doesn’t sound perfect then you might instead consider Negril or Ocho Rios, both of which are about 90 minutes from the same airport and each has a different feel. Two of our 11 best luxury all-inclusive resorts in the entire Caribbean are in Jamaica, and one is near the Montego Bay Airport so it’s easy to reach.
It’s worth noting a couple more points about Jamaica if you are considering a visit. On a positive note, many people enjoy the fact that it’s a place where all of the locals (and therefore the hotel staff) speak English. In Mexico and the DR you’ll find that only the key hotel employees can speak English very well. On the other hand, Jamaica has a pretty bad reputation for aggressive vendors on beaches and sometimes even in shops. If that bothers you then Jamaica will probably be more annoying than most other places in the Caribbean.
- 3-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$209 per night for two people
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- December avg high: 86°F/30°C
- December avg low: 64°F/18°C
- December avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm
The destinations above are good choices for anyone in Europe or the eastern half of the US or Canada, but those in the western US and Canada should consider Puerto Vallarta instead. Unlike many other tropical resort destinations, Puerto Vallarta is a real town with history and an interesting downtown area right on the beach.
The December weather is pretty much perfect and dry, and airfares and hotel rates are very reasonable up until Christmas itself. If you are in California you might also consider Los Cabos (see below), although Puerto Vallarta is more interesting and usually cheaper as well. This is definitely one of the best places to go in December if you are anywhere near the Pacific Ocean.
It’s worth noting that while the hotel prices listed below are real, those are not typical of larger chain hotels on the beach. If you want to stay in, say, a Marriott on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, you are going to be paying much closer to US$200 per night for two people if not more.
- 3-star hotels from: US$35 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$64 per night for two people
>>Puerto Vallarta prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Puerto Vallarta resort and package deals
Mexico City, Mexico
- December avg high: 69°F/21°C
- December avg low: 44°F/7°C
- December avg precip: 0.2″/0.5cm
Surprising to some people, December can actually be a bit cool in Mexico City, especially at night. Its elevation keeps it mild all year, but at least the rainy season is totally over by December, so it’s an ideal month for a cheap cultural holiday, perhaps combined with a trip to one of Mexico’s many beach resorts. You can get cheap flights between Mexico City and Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, for example. This could be a good place to do some Christmas shopping because they have huge shopping centers with appealing prices, while in the beach resorts it tends to be cheap souvenirs and bathing attire.
As Christmas approaches the city will fill up much more, so if you can go early in the month you’ll be much better off. But even if you can’t go before the last week of the month you’ll still find Mexico City to be a tremendous bargain compared to pretty much anywhere else in North America. It’s a great shopping destination, and not just for goofy souvenirs, so that’s something to think about as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$61 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$72 per night for two people
>>Mexico City prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Mexico City hotel and package deals
Los Cabos, Mexico
- December avg high: 80°F/27°C
- December avg low: 58°F/15°C
- December avg precip: 0.6″/1.4cm
While Puerto Vallarta is a classic and traditional Mexican beach resort area, Los Cabos is much newer and very different. One important thing to note is that the evening temperatures in Cabo in December are cool enough that you’ll need to bring a light jacket or sweater, so if you want a real tropical destination you’ll want to go elsewhere. The weather is dry and very pleasant though, so Cabo has become a very popular and trendy winter destination for celebrities and other rich folks in the last decade or so.
Los Cabos is the name for the whole area, but it’s really two towns that are also quite different. Cabo San Lucas is in the west and it’s built around the large and somewhat glamorous marina. This is also where you’ll find the famous Land’s End arch that is in every photo of Cabo. About 30 minutes away by car to the east is San José del Cabo, which has a newer and more modern town center and is close to the airport. There are also really nice beach resorts stretching along the coast between the two towns, so if you don’t want to go bar hopping or do much shopping, you might be better booking at one of the stand-alone resorts in between.
- 3-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$163 per night for two people
>>>Check current Cabo resort and package deals
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- December avg high: 91°F/33°C
- December avg low: 70°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
Costa Rica is known as the adventure travel capital of Central America, partly because a third of the country is national parks. But Costa Rica is also famous for beaches, and the best ones are mainly clustered along the northern Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region. The nearby Liberia Airport provides a convenient way to get in and out quickly.
Tamarindo and Smara are two of the most popular beach areas, but there are other good choices in the area as well. This part of Costa Rica is known for large chain resorts on the beach, and the 4-star resorts can be pricey, while the more traditional 3-star hotels are still very reasonable. Costa Rica is obviously one of the hot countries in December in both temperature and popularity, so book early. Each of the beach towns also has smaller and cheaper family-run hotels that also have the advantage that you can try different local restaurants for every meal. They are very different experiences and you probably know which one suits you better.
- 3-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$179 per night for two people
>>Guanacaste prices and travel tips
>>>Check current San Jose hotel and package deals
Cartagena, Colombia
- December avg high: 86°F/30°C
- December avg low: 76°F/24°C
- December avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
By early December the rainy season is pretty much over in Cartagena, and it cools down just a bit more as well, so the weather really doesn’t get any better than this. As with most others on this list, right around Christmas you’ll find that hotels get more expensive and are more crowded, so if you can go earlier in the month you’ll be paying less and dealing with fewer crowds.
Cartagena is becoming a very popular winter beach destination for people from North America, and it’s still a fantastic bargain compared to better known places, but it might not stay that way forever. As Colombia gets more popular (and as long as it stays safe) then prices should keep going up at these resort towns. The gorgeous and historic walled city in Cartagena makes for a great cultural and culinary visit, and there are nice beaches just a few blocks away. Very few tropical destinations have both in one place.
- 3-star hotels from: US$71 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$119 per night for two people
>>Cartagena prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Cartagena hotel and package deals
Lima, Peru
- December avg high: 76°F/24°C
- December avg low: 66°F/19°C
- December avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
While December is quite busy in Lima, as a very popular summer beach destination for South Americans, it’s also still very reasonably priced so it’s worth considering if you are exploring the continent. The beaches aren’t spectacular as they are in Brazil and elsewhere, but Lima is still a great summer city with great outdoor life this time of year.
The food, including its famous ceviche dishes, is a particular highlight here, and the tourist district of Miraflores is packed with interesting and cheap restaurants. Basic and cheap hotels are in the same neighborhood, so it’s a better alternative to the historic center of Lima for most people. By the way, the rainy season in Cusco starts in December, so the trails can sometimes be cut off, although many people go anyway.
- 3-star hotels from: US$52 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
>>Lima prices and travel tips
>>>Check prices on Peru hotels and resorts
Santiago, Chile
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 54°F/12°C
- December avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm
The weather during December is Santiago is pretty much perfect, with warm days and nights cool enough so that anyone can sleep without needing air conditioning. This is obviously part of high season in Santiago, although the first half of the month won’t be as crowded or expensive as the second half.
It’s true that Santiago is not considered a top-flight destination by everyone, but it’s a fantastic base for a trip involving several stops in Chile, especially this time of year. There’s the Colonial town of Valparaiso and many adventure towns in the mountains, so you can get a bit of everything in at very reasonable prices.
- 3-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$97 per night for two people
>>Santiago prices and travel tips
>>>Check prices on Chile hotels and resorts
Buenos Aires, Argentina
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 65°F/18°C
- December avg precip: 4.1″/10.3cm
Unlike most cities on South America’s west coast, Buenos Aires has fairly consistent rainfall all year long, and you might see a bit of the wet stuff even during December. Still, the temperatures should be ideal for being outdoors, and this is really mostly an indoor city anyway, so when it does rain you’ll be able to pop into a shop or museum or cafe and have a great time.
Hotel prices definitely go up in around Christmas so it’s best to come early in the month if that’s possible, but it’s still a pretty good bargain even during the peak weeks. Book early if you can because the better and cheaper hotels will fill up first, of course. Also consider a side trip to the Mendoza wine region, Patagonia, or the amazing water falls of Iguazu.
In 2023 the Argentine peso continues to drop and local inflation is very high, but the entire country remains incredibly cheap for foreigners. Better still, if you read up on the “blue dollar” and how to bring US dollars and exchange them in Argentina for the current rate, everything will cost about half what it would otherwise. If this is the first you are hearing of it you probably think it sounds very shady or like a scam, but it’s very normal in Argentina where they are desperate to get currencies that don’t evaporate like their peso does for the last decade or so.
- 3-star hotels from: US$33 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$52 per night for two people
>>Buenos Aires prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Buenos Aires hotel and package deals
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- December avg high: 88°F/31°C
- December avg low: 72°F/22°C
- December avg precip: 5.1″/12.8cm
December is yet another fantastic month for weather in Brazil, although you can expect some short tropical rain storms a couple times each week, usually only an hour or so each time. It’s also getting warm enough that you are going to want a hotel with air conditioning to get to sleep at night, since it’ll be warm and muggy even in the wee hours.
As with most on this list, hotels get very full and more expensive just before the Christmas holidays, so it’s better to come early in the month if possible. That way you’ll have your pick of places at some surprisingly good room rates, even at some high-end places on the famous beaches. If you are coming during Christmas then book a hotel NOW because they’ll be full and will keep getting more expensive the longer you wait.
Brazil was one of the more expensive countries in Latin America as of a few years ago, but its currency has dropped and stayed lower so it’s quite a bargain again for foreign visitors.
- 3-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$67 per night for two people
>>>Rio de Janeiro prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Rio de Janeiro hotel and package deals
Europe
From December through February there are literally no European cities that could qualify as having “great weather,” except for the Canary Islands, which is listed below. So during the winter Europe is all about cultural tourism, and lower hotel prices make it especially appealing for those who like to stretch their travel budgets and avoid crowds at the same time.
If you are thinking about a city break instead you should check out our recommended cheap London hotels, our recommended cheap Paris hotels, and our recommended cheap Amsterdam hotels, recommended cheap Rome hotels, recommended cheap Prague hotels, and recommended cheap Berlin hotels.
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- December avg high: 71°F/22°C
- December avg low: 61°F/16°C
- December avg precip: 1.7″/4.3cm
December might be the only month of the year in the Canary Islands where very few people would consider sunbathing. Still, compared to everywhere else in Europe, Tenerife is balmy. The largest and most English-speaking of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is no mystery to the hundreds of thousands of northern Europeans who spend a month or more here every year.
Even if you can’t sunbathe, the weather is still reliably pleasant all the time, with almost no rain. Weekly and monthly apartment rentals here are very popular, but there are plenty of hotels and hundreds of restaurants for those coming for shorter periods. If you want to be with the most English speakers you’ll want to focus on the southwest area of the island around Los Cristianos and Playa de la America.
It’s also worth mentioning that Tenerife is only one of the Canary Islands and there are sometimes even better deals on the others including Gran Canary, Lanzarote, and La Palma. They are usually all shown together when searching ‘Canary Islands’ for hotels, but in Europe they are usually listed separately so you have to check each of them out on your own.
- 3-star hotels from: US$58 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$79 per night for two people
>>>Tenerife prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Tenerife hotel deals
Africa
December is ideal in much of Africa, though Morocco might be a bit too cool by this time. The list below is quite incomplete due to how few cities we cover in the region.
Cairo, Egypt
- December avg high: 68°F/20°C
- December avg low: 50°F/10°C
- December avg precip: 0.2″/0.5cm
In spite of its image of being blazing hot all the time, December in Cairo can actually be on the cool side, at least in the evenings. This is great though because almost all the important sights are outdoors and requite a lot of walking between them. For 9 months of the year it can get very hot doing that, so these few cooler months are ideal for visiting the famous sights.
Fortunately, it rarely rains at all in Cairo, so even though December is one of the wetter months, that means nothing and you are unlikely to see even a drop of rain. Hotel prices do reach their peak in Cairo starting late in December, so it’s best to go early in the month if possible. Egypt is definitely one of the cheapest places to travel in December, and the weather is surprisingly nice as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$36 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$52 per night for two people
>>Cairo prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Cairo hotel deals
Cape Town, South Africa
- December avg high: 77°F/25°C
- December avg low: 59°F/15°C
- December avg precip: 0.7″/1.8cm
Cape Town obviously has its summer beginning in December, so temperatures should feel nice to anyone coming from a winter climate. It’s about as far from the equator as Los Angeles is, and it has a similar climate in reverse, meaning that it rarely gets too hot or cold, at least near the coast.
This is a fairly cheap city compared to Europe or North America, so at least bargains are not hard to find on the ground once you get there. The flights are of course long and usually a bit expensive, so the whole trip will add up for sure. Hotels will be cheaper in early December than during Christmas week, of course.
- 3-star hotels from: US$58 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
>>>Cape Town prices and travel tips
>>>Check Cape Town hotel deals
Middle East
December is cool and even a bit rainy in most of the Middle East. An exception is Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which both have perfect sunny weather.
Dubai, UAE
- December avg high: 79°F/26°C
- December avg low: 61°F/16°C
- December avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm
December and January are the busiest two months in Dubai, primarily because it’s one of the closest places to Europe that actually has warm weather this time of year and is also safe. Even though the UAE is a Muslim country, the Christmas weeks are the most expensive here because most visitors are from Europe anyway.
The December weather is actually warm enough to sit on the beach, but most people who come to Dubai tend to just relax and do a lot of shopping at one of the enormous and modern malls here. The restaurant scene is very interesting as well, and you can eat cheaply if you follow the local workers, or go to one of the hotel restaurants and get world-class cuisine.
- 3-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$79 per night for two people
>>>Dubai prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Dubai hotel deals
Asia
December is an ideal month in most of Southeast Asia, except for much of the coast of Vietnam, which gets rain this month. Crowds, of course, get big just before Christmas, and hotel prices go up accordingly. It’s too cold in China, Korea, and Japan to make this list.
For a longer list see our best December destinations in Asia choices, which includes some of these but quite a few more.
Boracay Island, Philippines
- December average high: 82°F/28°C
- December average low: 75°F/24°C
- December avg precip: 7.1″/17.8cm
The traditional rainy season winds down in early December in Boracay, but even early in the month you are only likely to get a few quick showers each week. Typical of the Tropics, the rain often hits in the afternoon, and is over 30 minutes later, leaving behind yet another amazing sunset as the clouds slowly disappear.
If you are looking for something far less developed than Phuket or any other Thai island, Boracay might be for you. This gorgeous strip of sand is a bit out of the way, but partly because of that it still feels somewhat undiscovered. You’ll spend your days relaxing along White Beach or walking up and down the sandy paths that serve as the only real form of transport for most people. Many visitors come every year, and quite a few of those never seem to leave.
The hotel prices here might seem a bit high for Asia at first glance, but that’s because the island is long and thin so almost every hotel is literally on the beach or within a block or maybe two of it. The value is very good and food is a bargain here as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$72 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$119 per night for two people
>>Boracay prices and travel tips
>>>Check Boracay resort deals
Bangkok, Thailand
- December avg high: 88°F/31°C
- December avg low: 69°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm
The driest and coolest month of the year, Bangkok is ideal during December, or at least as ideal as it’s ever going to get. It’s very hot and quite humid almost every day of the year, but the humidity backs off just a bit during winter, and that will be much appreciated for anyone spending more than an hour or two outside.
There’s a massive range of quality and prices when it comes to hotels in Bangkok, and the city is enormous as well, so you really want to do your research for this place. Most people are happier paying a bit more to stay near the river and all the tourist attractions, or even in the infamous Khosan Road backpacker district, which is cheap and fun, if tacky. If you like to shop then Bangkok is a slice of heaven. There are close to 15 large malls in the Siam Square area, which is also central and convenient since the elevated metro system cuts right through it.
- 3-star hotels from: US$38 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$48 per night for two people
>>Bangkok prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Bangkok hotel deals
Phuket, Thailand
- December avg high: 88°F/31°C
- December avg low: 75°F/24°C
- December avg precip: 2.3″/5.8cm
Phuket is incredibly popular among Europeans in December, especially the final week, of course, so it’s critical to book early to get a good price at a beachfront hotel if that’s your mission. It’s also important to mention that Phuket is an island with more than a dozen different beach towns, each with its own personality and price range. Some are raucous and down-market while others are quiet and very expensive.
The prices given here are on the low side, especially during the winter season, so you are going to pay more unless you are willing to stay in one of the simple hotels in Phuket Town. It’s not a beach resort, but it’s a fun place itself, cheaper than the beaches, and allows an easy way to cheaply visit multiple beaches during a visit. My favorite beaches are Kata and Karon beach, which are both a bit south of the adult-oriented Patong Beach area.
- 3-star hotels from: US$45 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$62 per night for two people
>>Phuket prices and travel tips
>>>Check Phuket hotel and resort promotions
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 59°F/15°C
- December avg precip: 0.8″/2.0cm
Unlike Bangkok, which has warm evenings and blazing hot days pretty much all year, Chiang Mai cools off nicely during December, at least in the evenings. This is an outdoor city with an emphasis on hiking and exploring temples so the cooler temperatures will be welcome for most people. It’s still hot most days, and quite dry as well, so it balances nicely.
Hotels in Chiang Mai are among the world’s greatest travel bargains, with decent private rooms available for under US$15 per night in the city center. Pay more and you get a lot more, so it’s fun to feel like a big shot in a US$30 room that is almost like a suite. It gets crowded around Christmas so prepare for that and book early.
- 3-star hotels from: US$27 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
>>Chiang Mai prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Chiang Mai hotel deals
Goa, India
- December avg high: 91°F/33°C
- December avg low: 69°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 0.3″/0.8cm
If you are looking for a cheap, beautiful, and relaxing beach destination during December then Goa is ideal. This has become hugely popular with package tourists from Europe and Israel (and more recently Russia), and the fact that pretty much everyone speaks English and there aren’t many cultural opportunities means that it’s a perfect place to just vegetate in a beach chair for a week or two.
Not surprisingly, the weeks around Christmas and New Years are literally the busiest of the year in Goa, so either book a hotel way in advance or be flexible once you arrive. Some towns, like Calungute, are lined with package hotels that fill up completely, but other towns, like Anjuna and Vagator, are usually booked in person or by email, so you can often find a place just walking around. If you are in the mood to tour around, Mumbai has great weather during December, and Delhi has warm days but cool evenings this time of year. Goa has some of the best beaches in December in all of Asia, so give this one a serious look.
- 3-star hotels from: US$38 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$72 per night for two people
>>Goa prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Goa hotel deals
Luang Prabang, Laos
- December avg high: 80°F/27°C
- December avg low: 58°F/14°C
- December avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
It’s not the most famous city in Southeast Asia, but Luang Prabang is incredibly popular among those who’ve visited, and fortunately the weather during December is pretty much perfect. There’s no rain to worry about and it even cools off enough in the evenings to where you won’t need an air conditioner and morning hikes will be very comfortable.
Hotel prices definitely jump up around Christmas, so this is yet another place where you should come in the first half of the month if possible. Most people visit along with a trip to Bangkok and Siem Reap, but other cities in Laos are worth a stop as well, especially Vang Vieng (if you are a backpacker type) and Vientiane.
- 3-star hotels from: US$54 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$61 per night for two people
>>Luang Prabang prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Luang Prabang hotel deals
Siem Reap, Cambodia
- December avg high: 88°F/31°C
- December avg low: 69°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm
There is a key reason why December is the best month of the year to visit Siem Reap. More than any non-beach city on this list, Siem Reap is an outdoor town due to the main attraction being the glorious Angkor Wat temples just to its north (and the whole reason you are coming to Siem Reap in the first place).
Those temples are all outdoor for the most part, so cooler and dryer conditions mean you can spend more time touring the temples and still being comfortable. Almost any other month of the year and you’ll be better off going back to your hotel for a few hours in the afternoon, but in December you can carry on all day if you like. The town of Siem Reap is a delight in itself, but of course it fills up near Christmas.
- 3-star hotels from: US$36 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$54 per night for two people
>>Siem Reap prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Siem Reap hotel deals
Hanoi, Vietnam
- December avg high: 71°F/22°C
- December avg low: 60°F/16°C
- December avg precip: 0.8″/2.0cm
It’s actually a bit chilly in Hanoi in December, but generally very dry and exceedingly pleasant around the clock, so it’s a very good time to visit. Nearly everyone who visits Hanoi will be doing it as part of a larger tour of Vietnam or other countries in Southeast Asia, and this is one of the cooler cities this time of year, therefore a nice balance to some of the places that are still quite hot.
Hanoi is actually one of the cheapest tourist cities in the world according to our Backpacker Index, and that’s partly due to beer and museums being incredibly cheap. In reality, you’ll want to spend more money than the minimum because everything is great value. There are hundreds of family-run hotels with 10 to 20 rooms and a breakfast room in the basement serving surprisingly great food included in the rate. They tend to be spotless and well run, so it could be worth skipping a chain hotel and saving some money in the process.
- 3-star hotels from: US$29 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
>>Hanoi prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Hanoi hotel deals
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- December avg high: 87°F/31°C
- December avg low: 71°F/22°C
- December avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
December is the coolest month of the year in Saigon (as it’s locally known) and the rainy season is pretty much over by November, so this is an ideal time to come as part of a tour of Southeast Asia. It’s normally blazing hot and humid here, so the moderate temperatures will be a bonus even if you have nothing to compare it to.
HCMC is not quite as cheap as Hanoi, and it’s not as nice to look at either, but it’s definitely worth a visit for a combination of history and culture. This is a huge and sprawling city so it’s important to choose the location of your hotel carefully. During Christmas things do fill up and prices go up as well, so book early if possible.
- 3-star hotels from: US$46 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$75 per night for two people
>>>Ho Chi Minh City prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Ho Chi Minh City hotel deals
Oceania
Auckland, New Zealand
- December average high: 71°F/22°C
- December average low: 57°F/14°C
- December avg precip: 3.6″/9.0cm
Auckland is where most international flights to New Zealand land, but most people get their fill of the crowded city within a day or two. The real magic of New Zealand is in the scenery and smaller towns. December is the beginning of summer in New Zealand so temperatures should rise as the month goes on. If you’ve got at least a week and hopefully more, New Zealand is best discovered by doing a tour. You can rent a campervan/RV in Auckland and drive around to see the best sights on the North Island, and then take a ferry to the South Island to see even better scenery.
You can also rent a car and drive to the same places where you can stay in cabins in holiday parks/campgrounds, and small hotels and guest houses are reasonably priced as well. But renting a campervan is the classic way to see New Zealand and it can be surprisingly cheap since you’ll only be paying a small fee to park for the night in the abundant campgrounds. You’ll also be cooking many of your own meals, which is helpful because New Zealand doesn’t have many cheap restaurants or take out joints outside of the bigger cities. Queenstown on the South Island is the adventure sports capital of New Zealand and not to be missed. Rotorua on the North Island is also very much worth a stop.
- 3-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$81 per night for two people
My girlfriend and I want to plan a trip anywhere from December 24th ish to January 6th ish mainly for my bday and new years to get away from south Florida! Last year we went to Colorado which was awesome but I’m not sure we want another cold vacation though it’s not out of the question! Saw your blog and Bali looks awesome but very expensive flights! Been to Costa Rica which was pretty cool and always kinda wanted to see machu pichu too. Even maybe somewhere in Europe or the Mediterranean would be great but have to keep the budget down too as we don’t have a ton of money to blow! Any insight or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Sean,
This is a tricky one. Pretty much every destination in the Tropics has its peak rates of the year during the weeks you have in mind. That said, there are still some fairly cheap destinations in the Caribbean, even at peak rates. However, since you live in South Florida and understandably don’t want to go someplace even hotter during the only semi cool time of the year, it sounds like you are ruling out most of the Tropics.
Bali is wonderful, or at least parts of it are, but they now have a volcano issue and those flights are very long and never cheap. Machu Picchu is incredible, but it’s a place you visit for half a day or so, and they actually have their rainy season at the end of the year, so it’s actually not one of the better times to go. Actually, you might consider a trip to Argentina, which is warm that time of year, though rarely scorching. Buenos Aires is a wonderful city that is pretty good value now, and you can also visit the Mendoza wine region and Iguazu Falls and Bariloche, which are all even a bit cheaper than Buenos Aires.
As for Europe, it’s the low season there at the end of the year and you might be able to find a reasonable flight. Have a look at my list of best Europe destinations in December for weather and comments about each of the better places. If money is tight then Europe can be challenging because getting from place to place can add quite a bit to the daily total. I think two weeks in Spain and Portugal could be very nice, with reasonable weather and relatively low prices. Let me know what you think and I can try to help you more. -Roger
Hello Roger, your page is amazing and I’m enjoying reading all these tips.
I’m planning four upcoming vacations that I would like to get helped with. I’m an international student living in New York so I’ll be leaving from there ( but I don’t mind going to philly or D.C. for cheaper flights).
The first one is this coming thanksgiving from Nov 21 to Nov 27. I would like to go with my boyfriend to a warm place with beach but also rich culture. (I have been to Cancun,Florida,los angeles).
The second trip will be the second week of December from the 13th to the 19th. Also warm place with adventure and tourism. Im going with my best friend. I was thinking one of the islands of the Caribbean or Latin America ( since I can travel freely to most of them without the process of getting a visa) but I’m not sure which ones where not affected by Irma.
The third one is in January 9th,2018 to January 20th. I’m going solo to visit a friend in Malaysia and then we want to go to China, but we don’t know how to do it, or where to go.
The last one is a 10 day trip for spring break 2018 most likely to be from March 9th to March 18. I’m thinking Europe but I don’t want to stay only in one country. I have so many options that I need someone to shorten the list in a way that it will work out. I want to go to Amsterdam, Rome,Venice,London,Barcelona,Zurich,Madeira,Dublin, and Madrid. (Amsterdam & Barcelona are a must).
The 2nd option for the same time frame will be Greece and Mallorca/Canary Islands.
I know is a lot of information but I really need the help. I love traveling and enriching my culture with others’ but I’m also a student so I don’t have a big budget. Any cheap/affordable recommendations?
Isabel,
Let’s get started. For the November trip you are going to have a lot of competition for those flights and hotels because those are prime Thanksgiving flight dates. I would normally recommend Puerto Rico, but they won’t be ready for visitors until next year from what I hear. Just a few days ago I published a new article on which Caribbean destinations have no hurricane damage. There are a lot of great choices, including all of the busiest ones, that were untouched by the storms. You might also consider Cartagena, which is probably the cheapest option once you get there. It’s got a wonderful walled historic town area, and it’s a short bus or taxi ride to the modern area with beach hotels and such. The sand there isn’t great, but the value is very good. I wouldn’t go outside of Cartagena at the moment.
You’ve been to Cancun, but have you been to Playa del Carmen? Personally I much prefer it because PdC is a lovely tourist town with hundreds of little hotels and restaurants and bars, unlike Cancun, which is mainly a long string of high-rise beach hotels that are so spread out that you are nearly trapped in your own hotel. It’s about an hour south of Cancun airport by taxi or shuttle. That would be another of your cheaper options, partly because flights into Cancun are pretty cheap. It will be the tail-end of the rainy season in all of these places, but that usually just means a 30-minute rain storm a few afternoons each week.
For your December trip I’d recommend Costa Rica, which is the adventure travel capital of Latin America. You could fly into San Jose and then head to one of the cheaper beach areas such as Jaco. There is a lot to do in Costa Rica and things can be done on a backpacker budget once you get there.
As for Malaysia, I’m a big fan, and with your friend there it should be easy. Interestingly, I was just in China myself recently and a few days ago I published a long article on my advice for whether to go yourself to China or go on a group tour. I also discuss the most popular and best places to visit when you are there in the bottom part of the article. One tricky thing for many of us is that you have to get a China travel visa and some of us can only get that visa issued in our home country, at least according to their rules. I literally spent years traveling around Asia but I was never able to visit China because they required that I get a visa issued in the US and I had to show my flights booked from the US to China and then from China back to the US. If I could have gotten a visa issued at a Chinese embassy in Bangkok or Singapore, I would have done it years ago.
As for your Europe trip, I highly recommend spending 3 nights in any city you visit. If you change cities every day or every other day you’ll end up spending most of your holiday on trains or in airports rather than seeing the places you flew all that way to see. So if Amsterdam and Barcelona are musts, I would add exactly one other city if you’ve only got 9 days. Unfortunately it’s not on your list, but the best and easiest one to add between them is Paris. There is a train from Amsterdam to Paris in a bit over 3 hours, and another high-speed train to Barcelona from Paris in 6 hours 27 minutes with no changes. Paris is easily one of the most impressive European cities for tourists, but if you’ve been there before and don’t want to go again you can obviously choose something else.
Two of the easier other choices would be London or Madrid. From Amsterdam you can take a train to Brussels and then change for the Eurostar train to London, or you can fly. From London to Barcelona you’d want to fly for sure. If you chose Madrid you can go to Amsterdam and then fly to Barcelona and then take a train from Barcelona to Madrid in only 2.5 hours.
The 2nd option is a bit early in the year. The Greek Islands are cold and mostly deserted until mid April or so, and the good weather really starts in May or June. This is true in Mallorca as well. The Canary Islands are much farther south so they have acceptable beach weather almost all year, although you might get some cooler days in March as well. Even still I wouldn’t really recommend them for a younger person. In my opinion, the Canary Islands are pretty boring because the majority of visitors that time of year will be retired people from northern Europe who just want to sit in the sun. The nightlife tends to be cheesy and/or weak if you can find it at all. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger, thanks so much for giving such amazing guidance.
I am from Chennai, India. Me and my wife are planning to spend about 8 days in SE asia around christmas time. Based on your inputs we are looking at either Vietnam or beaches of thailand. We are on a strict budget constraint so which one of these two will be a better option as far as budget goes ? And if it is thailand beaches, where do you suggest we go to avoid over crowding and for budget deals during christmas ? Thanks in advance 🙂
Bharath,
Vietnam is generally cheaper than Thailand, so if that is your primary factor, Vietnam could be the best choice. The beaches in Nha Trang are quite nice and the town is pretty easy for English-speaking tourists. But the other thing about Vietnam is that visitors have to be much more careful, especially when booking tours and that sort of thing. The travel agencies in Vietnam (even those in hotels, but mostly the independent ones) are famous for over promising and under delivering. That said, it’s a lovely country and you can have a wonderful time there on a modest budget. It’s just that you have to be more careful, compared to Thailand where the travel industry is a bit more honest about what you get and how much you’ll pay.
Another consideration is that Thailand is generally easier to get to with far more flights that are often cheaper, and Thailand also has FAR more beach options because of its long southern coastline and especially the islands. The posh beach areas on Phuket are typically the most expensive beach hotels in Thailand, but there are other more remote beaches in Phuket with lower prices so it’s worth a look. Aside from Phuket you should also look at Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Phi Phi. You might also look at the town of Pattaya, which is the closest beach resort to the Bangkok Airport. Parts of town have a lot of single foreign men in certain bars at night, but most of the town is actually quite family friendly and very good value. Let me know if you have other questions. -Roger
I had promised my family a once in a life time trip in Puerto Rico, where my oldest would have celerated her birthday, her daughters’, Christmas and New Year’s. Unfortunately, the hurricane left a lot of damage and I need to reschedule.
I’m looking for somewhere beautiful with warm weather, tropical, and lots to see. I’m considering allowing someone to book a mystery vacation but if you could guide me and help me save I woudl be ever so grateful.
Places we have been Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Acapulco, Cancun, Cabo San Lucus, Yucatan, Columbia, Panama, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Utah, North Carolina, Utah.
It will be a family of 6 (parents, grandpa and 28, 20 and 15 year olds all spontaneous and adventurous.) Any advice would be appreciated.
Magda,
I’m also in grief over what happened in Puerto Rico, partly because I’m such a big fan of the island for winter vacations. I think they will be ready for business again in 2018, but I certainly wouldn’t plan a trip there yet.
It looks like you’ve been to most of the more popular options for winter holidays already, and since you listed them I assume you want to go somewhere new. The one that is missing, which I think could be perfect for you, is the Guanacaste area in northern Costa Rica. The weather will be perfect and you should be able to get a reasonably priced flight into nearby Liberia Airport. There are a variety of smaller towns along those beaches, and Tamarindo might be the most famous. They offer a mix of traditional hotels and resorts in smaller towns along with newer 4-star and 5-star hotels on large properties that tend to be away from the towns. The weather will obviously be similar to Panama, as long as you were on the west coast. Costa Rica is the adventure capital of Latin America and one-third of the country is national parks, so there is plenty to see and do. There isn’t much history there, but you can’t have everything.
If you haven’t been to the San Blas Islands in Panama that is another possibility, although it isn’t as easy to reach.
And you mention that you’ve been to Cancun and Yucatan, but just in case you haven’t been to Playa del Carmen or Cozumel, those could also be worth a look. They are both much more real tourist towns as opposed to Cancun, which is primarily a long strip of high-rise hotels and time-share buildings on a beach. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Dear Roger , finally we have decided on 6 nights in Spain . 3 Nights Madrid & 3 Nights Barcelona . Our 25th of December & 26th will be at Barcelona . Can you suggest the best options to celebrate Christmas in Barcelona & must experience places
From Madrid to Barcelona , we thought of taking a flight . Which is better , a coach or rail or flight ?
Joseph,
I’m sure you’ll have a great time. I don’t have any good suggestions for where to celebrate Christmas, but I’m sure you’ll have no problems finding something by just walking around or checking online. The top draw in Barcelona is the architecture, and especially the 20th Century buildings by Gaudi. I recommend the hop-on, hop-off bus tour because it allows you to see almost all of the famous buildings from the street in just a few hours. Park Guell is worth a visit, but of course the main attraction is the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Check opening times and reserve a ticket in advance if you can.
The fastest high-speed trains between those cities only take 2.5 hours, although most departures are closer to 3 hours. Definitely take the train and also buy the ticket as far in advance as possible for the lowest fare. Not only is it FAR quicker than flying (and of course the coach), but it’s far more comfortable and more enjoyable. This is a link to the official Spanish rail site. The scenery isn’t all that special, but it’s still interesting. Have a fantastic trip. -Roger
Thank you so much Roger. This is a huge help. Thailand then….Going forward. Assuming I start in Thailand then to ?? What makes sense? i was thinking Peru then? I checked airfare from Lima to Cape Town…Huge money $1600.00. If you were doing a once in a lifetime trip around the world what would you ‘must see’? As I mentioned I’ve been to India, Egypt and Jerusalem but my friend has not. I’m not adverse to revisiting but there might be more sensible options. I need to consider ‘safer’ countries as well. I’m one of those people that sold my house, quit my job and am going to travel. Mid life crisis. LOL. How do you spend 2 years abroad? Do you need special visas for being out of the country for so long. As a Canadian we are restricted to 6 months to retain our health care. Problem!
Cathy,
My two years in southeast Asia was over a few trips, although I did have my own apartment in Bangkok for 3 months and in Chiang Mai for another 3 months. As an American I didn’t have a national health restriction and I didn’t even have travel insurance. I don’t recommend it for everybody, but healthcare in those areas is extremely cheap and of pretty good quality. I went to a hospital once in Chiang Mai and I saw an English-speaking doctor for about US$7, and spent another US$25 or so on a prescription. My longest total trip was 3 years and 7 months (only a few years ago), and I went in and out of Southeast Asia a few times in that period.
If you do want to go to Thailand then Bangkok is the obvious starting point and it’s a wonderful city. You also want to visit Ayutthaya, which you can do on a day trip but it’s better to stay a few days. Chiang Mai is the highlight of the north, partly because it’s insanely cheap and the weather is a bit cooler than Bangkok. Luang Prabang is another town not to miss and it’s fun for at least a few days. Don’t bother spending much time in Vientiane though.
The biggest single highlight in the region is the Angkor Wat temples near Siem Reap in Cambodia. It’s one of the most impressive tourist sights in the entire world, and Siem Reap is a fun and mellow town that you can linger in for a while. Vietnam is really lovely and cheap as well. The food there is excellent, as it’s a fusion of French and traditional Asian. You can go from Ho Chi Minh City in the south on the train to Hoi An near Da Nang, and then up to Hanoi to see Halong Bay. I wouldn’t start in Vietnam because it can be a bit trickier than the others. In the rest of the region it’s easy to book tours and buses and such, but in Vietnam the travel agencies are a bit harder to trust, so you have to be more careful. Things there are very cheap though, so even if you pay more for a reputable agency, it’ll still be cheap.
Those countries are all very safe, and especially that time of year, you’ll be surrounded by dozens of other backpackers everywhere you go, including many solo ladies or girls in pairs. There is very little petty crime there, although it’s always wise to keep track of your belongings. It’ll be easy once you get there, and Bangkok is the perfect place to start. You can book a place near the famous “backpacker ghetto” of Khao San Road, which is quite affordable and really fun, as well as close to the top sights.
If you are going to that region I suggest you visit a site called travelfish.org, which is by far the best website on SE Asia and it’s run by a friend of mine who lives in Bali. They have busy forums where you can ask questions and quickly get them answered by experts on every imaginable topic there. I’m happy to help more as you are planning, so let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
I plan to go abroad Dec 2 for a few months from Vancouver Canada or perhaps LA Calif. I need to do this on the cheap. I have no preference as to where to go. Multiple places?? a couple?? It will be myself and a friend. Cheap and safe..I have done traveling..India, Egypt, Morocco,Cuba, DR…I was thinking Peru or Thailand? Thoughts..
Cathy,
If you are looking for a place to go abroad for a few months starting in early December, you are right on the money with Thailand as the best starting location. The weather is really nice that time of year, and it’s quite easy to keep things extremely cheap if you need to. Many of us in the travel writing community have spent months or years traveling around southeast Asia, and I’ve probably spent close to two years there myself. Bangkok is the obvious place to start and it’s an amazing city. After that you can either go north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and then over to Laos, or you can head south to one or more of the islands. Cambodia has a lot to offer, and especially in Siem Reap, and Vietnam can be entertaining for all three months of your first visa there.
Prices go up a bit when you go south into Malaysia, but it’s worth it if you’ve got the money. You might even consider Myanmar as well, which I’ve yet to visit, but I keep hearing great things about. It’s honestly the perfect time of year there. By April it’s insanely hot (the hottest month of the year), but December through February is lovely. It’s all quite safe as well, as long as you keep your wits about you. I’m happy to help with more information if you need it.
Peru could also be good, although probably not for more than a month or so. And it really helps if you speak Spanish, as opposed to southeast Asia where English is all you’ll ever need. Peru is fairly cheap, but your money goes further in southeast Asia, and especially in Vietnam and in Chiang Mai. -Roger
I had promised a colourful vacation to my wife in December . I’m from India . I have been to Malaysia , Singapore , Hongkong , China , Dubai & Thailand . My wife isn’t keen to go to Asia . She prefer Europe . Our tentative dates are in such a way that we will celebrate the Christmas at one of the destinations . We have a budget set for 5 nights . Will you be able to guide us the best place to be for Christmas and yes an enjoyable experience . I had options of Malta , Spain ( Prague – Hungary ) . Though I spoke to our tour agent , they recommend the standard tour packages . I love night life and beach . I checked the flights to Costa Rica from India & they are exorbitantly priced .
Joseph,
That is a shame about flights from India to Costa Rica, but not surprising. Most of the flights to Costa Rica leave from Texas and Florida, so just getting to one of those places is already expensive.
You might be interested in my recent list of the best Europe destinations in December, which has many more options than on the article above. Prague and Budapest are quite chilly that time of year and the days are short, but they do have good nightlife.
I think Spain is probably your best bet, and you can probably get there on a reasonably priced flight with a change in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The winter weather is decent and the big cities are always packed with locals rather than so many tourists. Barcelona is probably more fun than Madrid, though both are big cities with a lot to see and notoriously good nightlife. If you get a cheap enough flight I don’t think you need to do a package. It’s pretty easy to get around Spain’s big cities just on English, as long as you do a bit of research. In 5 days you could spend 3 days in Barcelona and then 2 days in Madrid, or just 5 days in the Barcelona area. It’s a big city with plenty to see and some good day trips. You could also go to Valencia, which is also really fun and a short train ride away.
Malta would have decent weather as well, but I think the nightlife there is pretty dead during the colder months because they don’t get many visitors. They don’t have proper beaches as well, as the coastline is mostly these huge rocks. If you really want a warm beach in December your best bet is the Canary Islands, and even then it can be slightly chilly in December. But the nightlife in Malta is pretty dull, since so many of the visitors are retired Europeans.
Have you thought about Cape Town, South Africa? It looks to be a similar distance from India, but I don’t know if there are cheap flights. You’d get great beaches there and nightlife as well, because December is summer there. Hopefully that gives you some ideas. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Reading through your wonderful comments- looking for Xmas for 6 people that have travelled extensively. Caribbean now is “out” and still fear zika since my kids are in their 30s- or do you think zika is a scare of the past? Uruguay has been on our radar and so i thought it interesting that you had a recent comment. Galapagos is filled. Maldives? Do you think Cuba is still an option after Irma and with current US relations? Thanks
Cindy,
I haven’t heard much about Zika in quite some time, but I just checked the current CDC map and evidently it’s still out there. I also remember hearing that it’s really only pregnant or potentially pregnant women that are at much risk, so perhaps that is what you are implying with the kids in their 30s. I’m no expert on Zika and I’ve visited many places on the map in recent years without much worry.
It’s interesting that Uruguay is clear on that map. If Zika is a big fear then it might be a good choice. Montevideo isn’t very interesting, but they do have small towns such as Colonia as well as beach resorts and also those tourist ranches that are very popular.
The Maldives could be great if you can afford it. December is the most expensive month there, at least the second half of December. There are about 100 private-island resorts there, and most of them have water villas that start at around US$400 per night and go WAY up from there. But island rooms are cheaper. I wouldn’t recommend going to Male or any of the other populated islands that have several smaller hotels. It’s just not the same experience that you get from the private-island resorts. I can help much more with this if you decide to go to the Maldives.
I’m hearing very mixed things about Cuba visits. The main downside for Americans is that you still have to go as part of a package deal, and those packages are all incredibly expensive for what you get. It sounds like the Cuban government is charging very high taxes and fees on companies selling tours to Americans, so they are really only popular among people who are especially curious about visiting Cuba. In other words, they are poor value unless it’s at the top of your list already. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thank you so much. I have suggested Thailand to my fiancé. Please what are your thoughts on Costa Rica and Uruguay
Kaye,
Costa Rica is kind of the Thailand of Latin America in that they have great tourist infrastructure and it’s the easiest place to get around. They also have a lot to offer with the beaches on both coasts and many natural sights and activities, plus of course the Arenal volcano, which is a really nice area. San Jose is best as a place to just pass through on your way somewhere else.
Uruguay is an interesting place. It seems to be a less modern and less developed version of next-door Argentina. Buenos Aires is a larger and more interesting city than Montevideo. There is a town there called Colonia, which is worth a couple days if you like old and charming cities. But most people who go to Uruguay either go to one of the posh beach resort towns (mainly Punta del Este), or they go to the tourist cattle ranches, which are surprisingly popular. If you haven’t been to Argentina yet you might find that it has more and different options, such as the Mendoza wine region and the mountain resort town of Bariloche.
As always, I’m happy to help more if you have other questions. -Roger