Best Places to Travel in December 2026

December splits travelers into two camps. Some want sun and sand. Others want snow and Christmas lights. The good news: flights drop 15-20% in the first two weeks of December before spiking for the holidays. Book before December 10 for the best deals.

Cancun, Mexico

Round-trip flights from the US start at $250. Hotels average $120 per night for a beachfront property. December is peak season in Cancun but the weather is perfect: 82F days with low humidity and almost no rain. The Hotel Zone stretches 14 miles along the Caribbean coast.

Skip the all-inclusives in the Hotel Zone if you want authentic food. Downtown Cancun has tacos al pastor for $2 and ceviche for $5. Take the ADO bus to Tulum ($15, 2 hours) for ruins overlooking the sea.

Bali, Indonesia

December is rainy season in Bali but that keeps prices 30% lower than July and August. Expect afternoon showers that clear within an hour. Flights from the US run $600-900 round-trip through Tokyo or Singapore. Hotels in Ubud start at $25 per night for a villa with a private pool.

Seminyak is the beach and nightlife hub. Ubud is rice terraces, temples, and yoga. Canggu sits between both with surf breaks and digital nomad cafes. Most travelers spend 3-4 days in each area over a 10-day trip.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna runs the best Christmas markets in Europe. The Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz has been operating since 1298. Mulled wine costs 4 euros, handmade ornaments run 8-15 euros. Flights from New York start at $450 round-trip in early December.

Stay in the 1st district (Innere Stadt) to walk to most attractions. The Vienna Pass ($89 for 2 days) covers Schonbrunn Palace, the Hofburg, and unlimited tram rides. Temperatures hover around 35F so pack layers.

Dubai, UAE

December is Dubai's sweet spot. Temperatures sit at 75F, the humidity drops to 50%, and the city goes all-in on holiday celebrations. Flights from the US start at $500 round-trip on Emirates. Hotels range from $80 per night at a Marina apartment to $400 at a Palm Jumeirah resort.

The Dubai Shopping Festival kicks off December 15. Expect 30-75% discounts at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. The Global Village runs through March with pavilions from 90 countries. Friday brunch is a Dubai institution where hotels offer unlimited food and drinks for $50-150.

Costa Rica

December marks the start of dry season on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio National Park gets clear skies and warm water for snorkeling. Flights from Miami run $300 round-trip. A rental car costs $35 per day and opens up the entire country.

La Fortuna sits at the base of Arenal Volcano with hot springs, zip lines, and hanging bridges. Monteverde's cloud forest has 400 bird species. Santa Teresa is the surf town on the Nicoya Peninsula with a laid-back vibe and $10 casados at beachside sodas.

Thailand

December through February is Thailand's cool season. Bangkok hits 85F with no rain. Flights from the US start at $500 round-trip through Tokyo or Seoul. Street food runs $1-3 per dish. A decent hotel in Sukhumvit costs $40 per night.

Chiang Mai in the north is cooler (70F) with night markets, temple hopping, and cooking classes for $30. The islands split by coast: Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman side get the best December weather. Koh Samui on the Gulf side still has some rain through December.

New York City

NYC in December is iconic but expensive. Hotel rates in Midtown jump 40% over November. The Rockefeller Center tree goes up in late November and stays through early January. Ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park costs $20. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs $50-200 per ticket.

Save money by staying in Brooklyn or Long Island City. The subway runs 24/7 and a 7-day MetroCard costs $34. Bryant Park has a free Christmas market. The holiday window displays at Saks, Bergdorf, and Bloomingdale's cost nothing.

Cape Town, South Africa

December is summer in Cape Town. Days hit 80F with 15 hours of sunlight. Table Mountain, Camps Bay beach, and the V&A Waterfront are all within 20 minutes of each other. Flights from London start at $500 round-trip. Hotels in the city bowl average $80 per night.

The Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek) are a 45-minute drive. Wine tastings run $5-10 with world-class vintages. Boulders Beach has a penguin colony. The Cape of Good Hope is a full-day trip combining Chapman's Peak Drive, the lighthouse, and ostrich farms.

Lapland, Finland

Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus. Temperatures drop to -10F but the Northern Lights peak from December through March. Flights from London run $300 round-trip on Norwegian or Finnair. Glass igloos at Arctic TreeHouse Hotel cost $400 per night but sell out months ahead.

Husky sledding tours cost $150 for 2 hours. Snowmobile safaris run $200 for a half-day. The Santa Claus Village is free to enter and sits right on the Arctic Circle. Reindeer sleigh rides through the forest cost $60.

Maldives

December starts the dry season in the Maldives. Water visibility hits 30 meters, perfect for snorkeling and diving. This is peak season: overwater bungalows start at $300 per night at mid-range resorts and climb to $2,000 at luxury properties. Flights from the US run $800-1,200 through Dubai or Singapore.

Budget travelers can stay on local islands like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo for $60-80 per night with guesthouse-run snorkeling trips for $25. The seaplane transfer from Male to remote atolls costs $300-500 round-trip.

How to Book December Travel for Less

Book flights 6-8 weeks before departure for the best December prices. The first two weeks of December are 15-20% cheaper than the week of Christmas. Use flexible date searches to find the cheapest days. Tuesday and Wednesday departures save $30-50 over weekend flights.

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