December is a weird month for travel. Half the world shuts down for holidays, prices spike, and everyone seems to be heading to the same three places. You want a real vacation — not a crowded airport terminal and a resort that charges $18 for a beer.
I’ve spent December in 14 countries over the last decade. Some were fantastic. Some were a complete waste of money. Here’s what actually works.
1. The Caribbean Should Be Your First Thought — But Pick the Right Island
December is peak season in the Caribbean for a reason: 28°C (82°F), low humidity, and almost zero rain. But not every island delivers the same experience. The Bahamas and Jamaica get slammed with cruise ships. You want islands that stay quieter.
Best bets for December sun
- Barbados — December is the start of the dry season. Water temperature sits at 27°C. The west coast has calm swimming, the east coast has world-class surf at Bathsheba. A double room at a decent guesthouse runs $120–$180/night.
- St. Lucia — The Pitons are visible without cloud cover in December. The Sulphur Springs mud baths are less crowded before the Christmas week crush. Budget $150–$250/night for a mid-range hotel.
- Dominican Republic — Punta Cana is the safe choice, but Samaná Peninsula has whale-watching starting mid-December. Humpbacks arrive from the North Atlantic. A room in Las Terrenas costs about $80/night.
What to avoid: Booking a resort in the Bahamas between December 20 and January 2. You’ll pay double for a room with thin walls and a buffet that runs out of bacon by 9 AM.
2. Christmas Markets in Europe — But Only These Three Cities
Every European city has a Christmas market. Most of them sell the same mulled wine and wooden ornaments. Three cities do it differently.
| City | Market Name | Dates | Why It’s Different |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna, Austria | Wiener Christkindlmarkt | Mid-November to December 26 | Rathausplatz setting, 150 stalls, real ice skating rink. Expect crowds but organized queues. |
| Strasbourg, France | Marché de Noël | November 26 to December 30 | Called the “Capital of Christmas” since 1570. 300 chalets, Alsatian food, less touristy than Paris. |
| Dresden, Germany | Striezelmarkt | November 24 to December 24 | Germany’s oldest market (1434). Famous for the 2-meter-tall prune tower and Stollen cake. Cheaper than Munich. |
One rule: Go during the first two weeks of December. After December 15, every market becomes a human traffic jam. Hotels double their rates. You’ll spend more time in line than enjoying the Glühwein.
3. Japan in December Is Cold, Quiet, and Worth Every Yen
Most travelers go to Japan in spring for cherry blossoms or autumn for leaves. December is the secret season. Crowds drop by 40% compared to November. The air is crisp, the onsens are steaming, and the illuminations are genuinely spectacular — not tacky like some Western light shows.
What to do:
- Tokyo — Shibuya’s Blue Cave illumination runs from late November to Christmas. 600,000 blue LEDs along a 1.2 km path. Free entry.
- Hakone — Two hours from Tokyo by train. December is the best month for seeing Mount Fuji without cloud cover. Stay at a ryokan with a private onsen. Expect $200–$400/night including dinner and breakfast.
- Kyoto — Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) looks unreal with snow on its roof. Snowfall is rare but happens 2–3 times in December. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove has almost no tourists before 8 AM.
Failure mode to avoid: Don’t assume all restaurants are open around New Year’s. December 29 to January 3 is Japan’s biggest holiday. Many places close. Book dinners in advance or stick to convenience stores (which are excellent in Japan).
4. Morocco in December — The Best Winter Sun You’ve Never Considered
Marrakech hits 22°C (72°F) in December. Flights from Europe cost $50–$100 return. A riad in the medrar runs $40–$80/night. This is absurd value for winter sun, and almost no one talks about it.
What works:
- Marrakech — The souks are less intense than summer. You can actually walk through Jemaa el-Fnaa without being shoulder-to-shoulder. A tagine at a street stall costs $3.
- Merzouga Desert — Night temperatures drop to 5°C, but daytime is perfect. Camel treks are half the price of peak season. A two-night desert tour from Marrakech runs about $120 per person including meals and a tent.
- Essaouira — Coastal wind can be strong, but the medina is empty. Fresh grilled sardines cost $2. Surfing in December is possible if you have a wetsuit.
Tradeoff: December is the rainy season in northern Morocco. Tangier and Chefchaouen get real rain. Skip them in December. Stick to the south and the Atlas Mountains.
5. The Alps in December — Ski Without the Insane Prices
Everyone thinks Christmas week in the Alps is the only time to go. That’s wrong. The first two weeks of December offer the best snow-to-price ratio of the entire ski season. Resorts are open but not full. Lift passes cost 30% less than January.
Best resorts for early December skiing:
- Val Thorens, France — Highest resort in Europe (2,300m). Guaranteed snow by early December. A 6-day lift pass in early December costs about €280 vs. €400 in February.
- Sölden, Austria — Two glaciers mean skiing from October. December 1–15 is dead quiet. A 3-star hotel runs €100/night including breakfast.
- Livigno, Italy — Duty-free zone. Ski gear costs 20% less than elsewhere. A week of skiing here in December costs about €700 total — half of what you’d pay in Courchevel.
What to watch for: Not all resorts have enough snow by December 1. Check the snow report before booking. Val Thorens and Sölden are safe bets. Lower resorts like Chamonix or St. Anton might have patchy coverage until mid-December.
6. Costa Rica in December — Green Season Ends, Dry Season Begins
December is the transition month in Costa Rica. The Pacific coast dries out by mid-December. The Caribbean side stays wet until January. Pick your coast carefully or you’ll spend your vacation in rain gear.
Where to go:
- Guanacaste (Pacific) — Tamarindo, Nosara, and Santa Teresa have blue skies by December 10. Surf is consistent. A 3-star hotel in Tamarindo costs $100–$150/night.
- Manuel Antonio — December is the driest month. The national park is open with minimal rain. You’ll see sloths, monkeys, and toucans. Entrance fee is $18. Book a guide for $50 — they spot things you’ll never see on your own.
- Arenal Volcano — December has the clearest views of the volcano. The hot springs at Tabacón are less crowded before Christmas. Entry costs $35.
Failure mode: Don’t book the Caribbean side (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita) in December. It gets 400mm of rain that month. The Pacific gets 50mm. Check the forecast before you book.
December travel doesn’t have to be a compromise between crowds and cost. You just need to pick the right place and the right week. The first two weeks of December are almost always better than the last two. Book early, skip the obvious choices, and you’ll have a trip that actually feels like a vacation.