Travel topic · Season
Where to go in December
Pick winter sun if you want beach weather (Canaries, Mexico, Thailand, UAE — book by October); pick a cold-weather city or ski trip only if you accept peak prices and short daylight; avoid the last week of December in Europe unless you booked early.
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Applies to
The short answer: December splits the world in two. Northern-hemisphere winter sun (Canaries, Caribbean, Gulf, Southeast Asia) is peak season and priced accordingly; Christmas markets and ski resorts are cold, busy and best booked months ahead. Here is how to choose, what it costs, and the exceptions that catch people out.
Key facts
- Short answer
- Winter sun in the tropics or subtropics, or a cold-weather city break; both are peak season
- Book bycheck
- October for flights and hotels over 20 Dec – 2 Jan; later for early December
- Cheapest windowcheck
- 1–15 December, before school holidays start in most markets
- Most expensive window
- 20 December – 2 January, worldwide
- Daylightcheck
- Northern Europe: roughly 7–8 hours in London, under 6 in Stockholm (check)
- Southern hemisphere
- Early summer: warm in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa
- Weather risk to plan aroundcheck
- Caribbean and Indian Ocean cyclone season runs into December (check)
- Visa lead timecheck
- Apply 4–8 weeks ahead for anything requiring an embassy appointment
The short answer
>- December is the one month where the decision is mostly about temperature, not about a specific place. If you want to swim, you are choosing between the Caribbean and Mexico, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and the southern hemisphere. If you want cold-weather atmosphere, you are choosing between European Christmas markets, Japan and Korea, and ski resorts in the Alps, Rockies or Japan.
>- The trade-off is the same everywhere: December is peak. Flights and hotels in the last ten days of the year cost the most they will all year, and popular ski weeks sell out in autumn. The first half of December is materially cheaper and quieter almost everywhere, which is why it is the best-value window if your dates are flexible.
>- Two structural exceptions matter. First, the southern hemisphere is in early summer, so Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina are warm and busy with their own domestic holidays. Second, tropical wet seasons are still running in parts of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, so "warm" does not always mean "dry".
Do
- Fix your dates first, then pick the place. A cheap destination in the 20 Dec – 2 Jan window is rarely cheap.
- Check the return date: many people fly home on 2–3 January, which is the single busiest travel day of the period.
Who this applies to
>- This page is for travellers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland planning a December trip, whether that is a two-week holiday, a long weekend or a winter escape from a cold home city. It assumes you are choosing a destination, not already committed to one.
>- It matters most if you are travelling with school-age children, because your dates are locked to school holidays and therefore to peak pricing. It matters less if you are flexible, solo or travelling in the first half of the month, where the same destinations are cheaper and calmer.
>- Passport and visa rules depend on your nationality and destination, not on the month. Check your own government's travel advice and the destination's immigration site before booking anything non-refundable.
| Traveller | Best December fit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Family with school holidays | Winter sun with direct flights; book by September–October | Peak pricing 20 Dec – 2 Jan; ski weeks sell out |
| Couple, flexible dates | 1–15 December anywhere; Caribbean or Southeast Asia | Fewer events, some seasonal closures in resort towns |
| Ski trip | Alps, Rockies, Japan; book accommodation early | Snow cover is not guaranteed before mid-December (check) |
| City break | European Christmas markets, Japan, Korea, New York | Short daylight, cold, high hotel rates |
| Southern-hemisphere summer | Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina | Domestic holiday crowds and road traffic |
SeeTravel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Show 6 sectionsHideHow to choose, step by step, What it costs and how long it takes, Exceptions and things that catch people out, Compare the main December options, Questions people ask, Related
How to choose, step by step
>- Step 1: decide what weather you actually want. Swimming weather in December means the tropics, the subtropics or the southern hemisphere. Everything else is a cold-weather trip, and that is a different packing list and a different budget.
>- Step 2: fix your budget band. The 20 December – 2 January window typically costs the most; 1–15 December the least. If you can move your trip by two weeks, you can often change the cost more than by changing the destination.
>- Step 3: check the season, not just the temperature. December is dry season in Thailand's Andaman coast, the Gulf, Mexico's Pacific coast and the Caribbean's high season, but it is still wet in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the South Pacific. Confirm rainfall for your specific region, not the country as a whole.
>- Step 4: check entry rules. Visa-free stays, e-visas and onward-ticket rules vary by passport. Apply early: December is when consulates are slowest because of holidays.
>- Step 5: book the long-lead items first — flights, then accommodation, then anything with a fixed date such as a ski pass, a Christmas market hotel or a New Year's Eve dinner. Everything else can wait.
>- Step 6: buy travel insurance at the same time as the flights, so cancellation cover starts immediately, and check that winter-sports cover is included if you are skiing.
| Step | What to do | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose weather type: warm or cold | Any time |
| 2 | Pick your date window (early vs late December) | Before booking |
| 3 | Confirm dry season for the specific region | Before booking |
| 4 | Check visa and passport validity (6 months is a common rule) | 4–8 weeks ahead |
| 5 | Book flights, then hotels, then fixed-date items | By October for late December |
| 6 | Buy insurance with cancellation and medical cover | Same day as flights |
What it costs and how long it takes
>- December pricing is driven by demand, not distance. Long-haul flights to warm destinations from the US, UK or Canada commonly run 30–60% above the same route in September, and the gap is widest for departures between 18 December and 2 January. Hotel rates in resort areas follow the same curve, with minimum-stay rules over Christmas and New Year at many beach properties.
>- As a rough 2026 estimate: a one-week winter-sun package for two, including flights from a major hub, typically lands in the low thousands of US dollars in early December and noticeably more over the holidays. A European city break of three nights is usually cheaper than a beach week, but Christmas-market cities charge a premium for the same rooms.
>- Time is the other cost. Long-haul winter-sun routes from North America or Europe generally mean 8–14 hours in the air plus transfers, so a one-week trip is really five usable days. A short-haul city break needs no recovery day. If you only have a long weekend, stay regional.
| Trip type | Typical length | Cost pattern (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean or Mexico beach week | 7–10 nights | Highest 20 Dec – 2 Jan; minimum stays common |
| Canary Islands or Cape Verde | 5–7 nights | Cheaper than the Caribbean; still peak at New Year |
| Southeast Asia | 10–14 nights | Long flights, low on-the-ground costs |
| European Christmas-market city | 3–4 nights | Hotel premium; flights cheap outside the holidays |
| Ski week (Alps, Rockies, Japan) | 6–7 nights | Package pricing; Christmas and New Year weeks cost most |
| Southern-hemisphere summer | 7–14 nights | Domestic holiday demand pushes up internal flights |
Exceptions and things that catch people out
>- Cyclone and rainy seasons do not pause for the holidays. The Caribbean hurricane season officially runs to the end of November, but December weather in the region can still be unsettled, and the Indian Ocean cyclone season runs through the southern summer. Check forecasts close to departure and buy insurance that covers weather disruption.
>- Snow is not guaranteed in early December. Many Alpine and North American resorts open in late November or early December with limited runs, and cover builds through the month. If skiing is the point of the trip, aim for the second half of December or later, and check snow reports rather than marketing photos.
>- Public holidays change what is open. Christmas Day and New Year's Day close many restaurants, museums and transport services in Europe and North America, while in much of Asia and the Middle East businesses run normally. In majority-Muslim destinations, dates follow the Islamic calendar, so check whether your trip overlaps Ramadan or a major holiday.
>- Peak-season rules bite. Some resorts impose minimum stays, some restaurants run fixed-price New Year menus only, and some tours sell out weeks ahead. Read the cancellation terms before paying a deposit.
>- Southern-hemisphere summer is domestic holiday season. Internal flights and coastal roads in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are busiest from mid-December, so book internal transport early.
Watch out
- Do not assume warm means dry: check regional rainfall, not national averages.
- Early-December ski trips can run on a handful of open runs.
Compare the main December options
>- Use this as a first filter, then check the specific country page for entry rules and costs. Ratings here are about December conditions only, not about how good a destination is in general.
| Option | December weather | Crowds and price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean and Mexico | Warm, dry season; some unsettled spells | Peak, highest of the year over the holidays | Beach, resorts, direct flights from the US |
| Canary Islands, Cape Verde | Mild to warm, some wind and rain | Peak but cheaper than the Caribbean | Short-haul winter sun from Europe |
| Gulf (UAE, Oman, Qatar) | Warm days, cool evenings, dry | Peak; events and shopping season | City plus desert, short flights |
| Southeast Asia | Dry on the Andaman side; wet elsewhere | Peak; long-haul flights costly | Long trips, beaches, food, value on the ground |
| European cities | Cold, short days, possible snow | Peak around markets and New Year | Christmas markets, museums, food |
| Ski resorts | Cold; snow builds through the month | Peak; Christmas week sells out | Skiing and snowboarding |
| Southern hemisphere | Early summer, warm | Domestic holiday peak | Beaches, road trips, long daylight |
Questions people ask
Where to go in December: what is the short answer?
For warm weather, choose the tropics, subtropics or southern hemisphere: the Caribbean and Mexico, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, the Gulf, Southeast Asia, or Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For cold-weather atmosphere, choose European Christmas-market cities, Japan or Korea, or a ski resort. Everywhere is peak season, and the last ten days of December cost the most.
Who does it apply to?
Anyone choosing a December destination, especially travellers tied to school holidays, who face the highest prices and the tightest availability. Rules on passports and visas depend on your nationality and destination, so check your government's travel advice and the destination's immigration site.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
As a 2026 estimate, long-haul flights to warm destinations commonly run 30–60% above the same route in September, with the biggest gap between 18 December and 2 January. A one-week winter-sun trip for two from a major hub typically lands in the low thousands of US dollars in early December and more over the holidays. Long-haul routes mean 8–14 hours in the air plus transfers, so a one-week trip gives about five usable days.
Is early December cheaper than late December?
Yes, usually by a wide margin. The first half of December sits before most school holidays and before Christmas pricing, so the same flights and hotels often cost noticeably less. If your dates are flexible, moving the trip earlier is the single biggest saving available.
Can I ski in early December?
Sometimes, but cover is not guaranteed. Many resorts open in late November or early December with a limited number of runs and build up through the month. If skiing is the main purpose, aim for the second half of December or later and check current snow reports.
Where is warm and dry in December?
The Gulf, the Caribbean high season, Mexico's Pacific coast, Thailand's Andaman coast and the Canary Islands are generally warm and drier in December, though regional variation is large. Parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the South Pacific are still in their wet season, so check rainfall for the specific region.
Do I need travel insurance for a December trip?
It is strongly advisable. December brings weather disruption, and winter-sports cover is usually a paid add-on that is not included by default. Buy cover when you book so cancellation protection starts immediately.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialUS State Department – Travel advisories
- officialUK FCDO – Foreign travel advice
- officialGovernment of Canada – Travel advice and advisories
- officialSmartraveller (Australia)
- officialSafeTravel (New Zealand)
- officialDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
- officialWorld Meteorological Organization
- secondaryWikivoyage – Christmas and New Year travel