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
Hi,
My boyfriend and I are trying to plan a somewhat last minute trip for the second two weeks in December. We would love somewhere that is a little more laid back, but interesting enough that we wouldn’t get bored. We also would prefer a one-stop destination that doesn’t require a lot of additional travel outside the initial flight. If it was a beach that was good for surfing that would be a huge bonus, but we also like snorkeling or hiking. We aren’t really fans of all-inclusives, mostly just because we’re not heavy drinkers and don’t like buffets so it seems like a bad fit. Any ideas off the top of your head for a budget friendly place that would fit all that? I greatly appreciate your time and think it’s really awesome you’ve been replying to all the comments!
Natalie,
I’ll be happy to help, but I’m unsure of your starting point so it’s hard to know which would be the one-stop destinations. Even if you are in the US (a bit more than half the visitors of this site are in the US), it depends on where.
Assuming you might be in the US or Canada, my first hunch is Costa Rica, or Panama, which is a bit cheaper though not as well organized. Costa Rica has good surfing on its Pacific beaches, and there are very few all-inclusive resorts, which means that the restaurant scenes in resort areas are vibrant and interesting. Costa Rica also has limitless adventure opportunities, like zip-line tours and such, although they aren’t exactly cheap. Going inland you’ve got loads of national parks, as well as the famous volcano and its little spa town.
If you let me know your starting airport I might have another suggestion or two. -Roger
Hey Roger. My girlfriend and I are planning to go during Christmas for 13 days from San Diego, CA to South America mainly on the west side. We are not up for beaches but rather historical, adventurous, and scenic places. We are keen on Cusco (Peru) (Inca Trail), Quito (Ecuador), Costa Rica (Rain Forest), Bogota (Columbia). Please can you help us with your expert advice on which cities are a must for first timers to South America. We are not picky and simply want to have a fun time. Thank you for your time.
Miraj,
I’ll be happy to try. First off, if you are doing the actual Inca Trail hike, you’ll need 4 days for that plus another couple of days in Cusco to get acclimated. So really that whole part of your trip would be a week. Also, to get to Cusco you pretty much have to go through Lima, and it’s also an interesting city so I’d recommend probably 2 nights there. If you don’t do the Inca Trail and take the train instead, you could save 3 days in Cusco.
With the remaining week or so I think Costa Rica is probably the the best place for thrills, although I assume you realize that the Christmas weeks are the busiest of the year there.
I’ve yet to make it to Quito or Bogota, and to be honest I don’t hear many raves about either of them. They are mainly popular among people on long, slow trips through the whole region. It would be like someone visiting Tuscon on their first trip to the US. They’d enjoy it, but there are more dramatic options for a first trip.
Costa Rica, as you probably know, is all about nature and adventure sports, along with some decent beaches. It would be perfect if you are up for that sort of thing. If not, Santiago and Valparaiso (nearby cities in Chile) could be good for more of an urban adventure. Or Buenos Aires is even nicer and more interesting (and probably cheaper if you bring cash) if you can get a deal on a flight there.
In Central America, Panama City is interesting, and elsewhere in Panama you have scenery options that are a bit cheaper than Costa Rica.
So I’d say half your trip in Peru, and choose one of the other options mentioned for the other half of the trip. If you go to Lima, and Cusco, I don’t think it’s wise to add more than one other major destination because you don’t want to be spending half your time on flights and such.
Hopefully this helps, and let me know if you have other questions. -Roger
Hi – I want to go to se asia islands in nov, dec, jan and feb.
I intially thought of going to koh phi phi but heard its very expensive, heard Koh Chang and Koh Lanta are good but then they are more expensive now too.
Other options are Sri Lanka or Palawan in Phillipnes
Anyone know what the general cheapest daily budget would be during these months? I’m afraid of going to a thai island and prices exceeding my budget.
As a solo male traveller my preference is cheap, not too crowded not too deserted, but a friendly nightlife scene. I never enjoyed deserted beaches or overcrowded.
I thought Koh Tao, Pai, Siem Reap, Vang Vienne, Varkala Kerala in India were about the best places in asia I’ve been too. Bangkok, koh pangyan, hanoi and goa were a bit too much and difficult to get to make friends with other travellers.
John,
Sri Lanka doesn’t really have a good infrastructure for budget travelers at this point. There are loads of nice hotels if you are willing to pay US$40 or more per night, but almost nothing below that except for a few hostels. I haven’t been to Palawan but I have been to Boracay and Palawan can’t be too much cheaper. Boracay doesn’t have many budget options either, so my guess is that Thailand or Cambodia is your best bet.
Have you been to Sihanoukville? I haven’t, but I believe it’s cheap.
My first thought was Goa, which you say you’ve been to before, but maybe you don’t realize that there are about 20 different beach areas that are different from one another in terms of vibe and types of visitors? Personally, I found that Anjuna and Vagator were both kind of mellow but also busy enough and easy to meet other people. But if you don’t like those, there are many different beaches in the south, which I’ve heard are also great and draw different groups. It’s something to think about because it doesn’t get much cheaper than Goa for beaches anywhere in the world. -Roger
Thanks for your speedy reply (excellent site btw)
When I was in Goa I think I stayed in Palolem Beach. I guess travelling solo depends a lot on the luck of the draw meeting people I remember my neighbour in the guesthouse was a bit cold. If I had of met some people I would of had more fun.
Varkala on the other hand, had more of a community feel and easier to make acquaintance and friends with people.
But I’ll take a look at Anjuna and Vagator, do you know if the rates go up a lot in Goa in Dec / Jan?
I guess also the last time I was there the exchange rate was bad for me and it seemed a bit more expensive. The exchange rate has got better for the British pound vs Indian Rupee, so perhaps I could at least enjoy some more beer next time!
I only did a small section of India last time, I didn’t head up to Mumbai and Rajasthan and over to Nepal. Part of me would love to do that, part of me dreads the trains, buses and overcrowding.
I also generally loved the conveniences of Thailand regarding the easy access to atms, street food and even the 7elevens.
I’ll look into Sihanoukville too.
Do you know the visa situation in Thailand for British person, if I land by plane I’d get 30 days if I then went to cambodia Sihanoukville for 30 days, could I get a two month visa for thailand there and go back to thailand?
Thanks
John,
I totally agree about the solo traveling thing being down to luck in many cases. Right now I’m on a long trip around Europe again, and from one night to the next I might meet a bunch of interesting people, or be sitting there alone in a sea of locals with no interest in chatting with foreigners. At least in a place like Goa, everybody is on holiday, so I’ve had good luck meeting people.
The hotel rates all over Goa are highest in December and January, but in Anjuna or Vagator they still start at around £10 per night for a private room with ensuite. The cheap places are quite shabby, so it might be worth spending more. Vagator has an amazing beach, but it’s often filled with Russians these days. Anjuna is famous for its beach raves and music scene, but I’ve honestly heard nice things about many other beach areas in Goa.
Traveling around India is a shock to the system, but it’s not as bad as it looks. If you pay a bit more for the AC3 class on trains (air-conditioned, 3 bunks per side of the compartment), or AC2, it’s pretty comfortable and civilized. Mumbai is worth a couple days before you’ll be desperate to get out, but many parts of Rajasthan are much nicer and fascinating.
I know what you mean about how easy everything is in Thailand, with a 7-Eleven on every corner. But I don’t know the current visa situation because it’s changed recently and might change again. Still, I think they are mainly trying to cut off the people who try to stay forever on consecutive Tourist Visas, and they are still welcoming of the 60-day visits. I hope so anyway because I might be heading there this winter myself.
Also, have you been to Bali? It can rain a bit in December, but I find it more welcoming than Thailand, and at least as comfortable. I’ll be spending a month there this winter myself. It’s very easy to meet people there, and prices are similar to the Thai islands. I’m sure you’ll find one or two good places for the winter. -Roger
Hi again Roger, sorry for the delay in my reply.
Yes I know it’s difficult sometimes especially in western nations meeting people as you can blend into the scenery, people don’t know you’re a tourist, so no-one makes any effort talking to you.
But at the same I don’t mind that as much as being in a fun place like Goa, and not having the luck of making friends early then sitting in a café or bar as Johnny-no-mates, slowly feeling more like a loner by the day.
Yes I travelled a bit by train in southern India, I got lucky on my first few journeys with lack of people, then I hit some Indian holidays and it was hellish. I remember the trains being booked up for all the upgraded a/c and upper class carriages. One time even the Indians were fainting on the over packed carriage so you can imagine the heat for little old gringo me!
Yes I’ve been to Bali, but it was a short stop in hectic Kuta, before heading up to the more tranquil Ubud. Though I wish I would have explored the island more, as so many people said the people and the scenery is beautiful.
The first night I was there in Kuta I had prostitutes accost me and later in the week saw western tourist handing out wads of money to woman street beggars with their kids scurrying around like excitable pigeons.
I felt a bit sad with Kuta, spoiled by the tacky booze ridden Australian tourists, just like many Mediterranean spots are spoiled by British boozers, and I’m guessing the same for Mexican resorts with Americans.
Bali was the legendary well-travelled TV presenter, Alan Whickers favourite location; he praised the friendliness of the people. So exploration of the lesser corrupted parts of Bali is on my must do if I go back there list. I don’t mind the rain too much, I find the big SE Asian clouds amazing.
I think I had a bit of a wayward dream about staying in Thailand for £10 a day inc food and drink, because last time I was there it was the off season June-Aug, some places were £5 a night. I even found a decent place for £1.50 a night!
Looking at the Nov-Feb prices looks like I would have to pay upwards of £10 a night for any Thai island accom. Perhaps I’ll look at volunteering, teaching or bar work just to save money on accom and food.
Do you know much about getting work out in Thai/Cambodia easily?
John,
I definitely know what you mean about feeling a bit more like a loner every day. That has happened to me many times as well, and sometimes it’s hard to pull myself out of that.
In India I’ve always had good luck with the trains by booking at least a couple days in advance, and also being flexible and only going when an AC3 ticket is available. As you know, the actual train stations are nightmares. But every hotel has a person who can fetch a ticket for you by going through the back door and bribing someone at the train office. Like a AC3 ticket might cost US$20, and for an extra US$4, your hotel will go buy it for you and it’ll be waiting at the front desk later that day. It’s a pretty sweet system.
The Bali thing is also kind of a mess for those on low budgets. Kuta is a headache, and pretty much the opposite of what is so beautiful about the rest of the island, but it’s also where nearly all the really cheap beds are located. If you go a bit north in that same area into Legian and Seminyak, it’s nicer, but prices also go up. And Ubud is nice, but also more expensive for hotels and such. I’ll probably rent a place in Seminyak for a few weeks, which won’t be cheap.
As far as finding work on the road, the only decent-paying job that is fairly easy to get that I’m aware of is teaching English, but I think those gigs tend to last at least a few months. Right now Thailand is trying to get rid of any foreigners who are working in hotels and bars without permits, so Cambodia might be better at the moment. I’m one of the thousands of people who work online while traveling, and it seems much easier to make a decent living that way compared to working in hostels and such. Good luck with whatever you decide, and maybe I’ll see you on the road at some point. -Roger
Yep those lonely times can seem awfully long, but I think it makes up for it when you meet up with some good people eventually, you appreciate it all the more.
I’ll keep in mind the Indian hotel train ticket system, though I don’t think I ever stayed at any hotel that had a guy to do that.
I’m now tied between the thought of Goa-northwest India-Nepal, more interesting and adventurous but equally taxing or relatively stress free Thailand-Cambodia
Online work sounds good, any tips? Thanks for the advice.
John,
If you ask at a hotel in India about getting train tickets, they almost certainly know a way of getting them for you. They share in the profits of the commission, so they will usually find a way. However, perhaps in Goa it is less common because the train stations are a long way from the beaches so it could be a 3-hour return trip to the station instead of a 20-minute trip in the cities.
If you are going to Nepal, keep an eye on the climate. There are only 4 to 6 good months per year, divided into two sections, and in the rainy season it can be miserable. Also, the end of the dry seasons you only get maybe 10 hours of electricity per day, which can also be frustrating.
As for working online, many people start out with writing and editing projects. You seem to write pretty well, but it would take me many pages to explain how to get started in this. Best of luck, and feel free to keep in touch. -Roger
bali is no longer cheap. dont ask for that, hotels are expensive, boutiques selling 400usd dresses, fine dining restaurants priced the same like in develop countries but bali aint develop yet. bali is a paradise if you can live so cheap and didnt expect much, or you have no budget lifestyle and live like a royalty there.
new delhi is not a tourists city, its too noisy esp in december. or is it always noisy since the city is busy?
I agree luang prabang is a nice city eventhough 3 days is enough, like seriously enough.
what about bagan? I find it beautiful eventhough the food and the transport going around the city really painful, same goes to cambodia. get ready to be scammed.
Hi. Looking for good summer vacation areas to go to in December/January with children?
Hi, You have nice list of recommendations, but don’t u think New Delhi (North India) should also make the cut? It has excellent weather and is certainly an inexpensive destination.
Rincon, Puerto Rico!!!
Hi, I am from the African Continent and have travelled extensively in December in this region as it is our summer vacations. A few suggestions; Yes, Mauritius is cheap, safe and warm; Zanzibar is another beautiful destination with friendly people, beautiful weather and stunning beaches and resorts; I would recommend almost any province in South Africa, especially the Cape Regions, Kwa Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga Province- the seaside resort without the sea and The Sun City Resort in Rustenberg. I suppose a first time visitor could book a package to a few regions. And no, we don’t have lions running around, nor is it as dangerous as the media portrays it to be. Good luck May!
Can anyone recommend a family holiday , I have twin boys age 13 both with ADHD and a girl of 14, we need a holiday where we with things to do but also a bit of relaxing time . They won’t go to any kids clubs . We have done Florida , Dubai, Turkey . Would like some where hot
Claire,
There are a lot of possible places that might work for you, so it’s hard to narrow my suggestions down without knowing where you are starting from and how far you are willing to travel from there. But two things that come to mind are Bali, Indonesia, and the Cancun area of Mexico. If you are in the US or Canada then it will obviously be a long flight to Bali, but things are quite cheap once you get there so it’s really worthwhile. The island has beaches and water sports, but also really interesting culture, not to mention loads of shopping and beach resorts. Its main problem these days is vehicle traffic, so getting around the island is slower than it used to be.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya area are also quite affordable, and warm, in December. There are thousands of beach hotels and water sports, but also the ruins nearby and some other interesting options. Best of luck and I hope you find something nice. -Roger
I spent a few weeks in Ghana in Dec 2010 (as part of two months in West Africa) – beautiful weather, extremely cheap, rich in history, and all in a variety of gorgeous ecosystems/settings.
Not to mention having some of the warmest people you could possibly meet.