If you live in Europe or North America, December is probably one of the most popular months to travel abroad.
Ironically, this is also the start of the winter season, so usually you can expect quite low temperatures, cold wind and sometimes even a deep snow cover.
In most of Europe and North America, December comes with long, cold nights and short, dark and grey days.
If you into winter sports and skiing – great! This is the perfect time for you.
However, if you prefer summers, sea sports, long walks, warm weather, swimming and sunbathing, then you need an alternative.
1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
There is nothing more bright, blue and cloudless than winter in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Visiting Punta Cana in December, you will find typical summer weather with temperatures of around 28 – 29°C.
The average sea water temperature is about 27°C and is just perfect for swimming and diving.
When it comes to swimming and sunbathing, the great beaches of Punta Cana do not need advertising, because they are considered to be among the best in the world.
More or less crowded, they are all snow white and dotted with coconut palm groves. There are many things to do, but it all starts and ends on the beach.
2. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
The colorful Egyptian resort city on the southern coast of the Sinai Peninsula is a very good choice if you are looking for a warm place to visit in December.
After the sweltering heat of summer, December brings very nice and pleasant weather with temperature of about 23°C.
The chance to encounter clear sunny weather conditions is almost 100%, and the average seawater temperature is about 24°C.
December is a great time to enjoy sunbathing, swimming, diving, snorkeling, horseback riding and wonderful adventures outside.
Because of the proximity to Europe, Sharm el-Sheikh is a great choice for many tourists who do not want to spend a whole day flying.
The main disadvantage is that the nights are sometimes relatively cool, and the sun sets between 4:45 and 5:00 pm, so if you are used to wake up late, you have to change your schedule, at least for a while.
3. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Over the last years, Puerto Vallarta has become the best vacation destination on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
The city is famous for its fragrant cuisine, music, architecture and wonderful weather.
The average temperature during the day in December in the colorful Mexican resort is about 30°C, which is the same as in July in Southern Europe.
Nights are warm with temperatures of around 18°C, and rainfalls are quite scarce with only about 2 rainy days on average.
Since winter is the busiest tourist season in Puerto Vallarta, in December you can expect to see every single restaurant or bar opened as well as most of the hotels full of visitors.
The main disadvantage, however, is that prices in December are slightly higher compared to July or August for example.
4. Miami, Florida
Miami is one of the most colorful and interesting to visit cities in the world, especially in winter.
After the long heavy summer and with the beginning of the winter season, Miami becomes even more attractive for visitors from the northern countries and states.
The average daytime temperature in December is about 26°C, and the white fabulous beaches are crowded with tourists who enjoy the combination of warm ocean and bright sun. There are always thousands of things to do in Miami.
Museums, amusement parks, casinos, restaurants, bars, gardens and a bunch of places to walk.
And if you have some luck, you will be able to see a number of celebrities who live here or just spend the winter in this incredible city.
5. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is a true rainbow of thousands and thousands of colors. This is perhaps the city with the most saturated and bright culture in Latin America.
Located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena combines successfully colonial heritage and local traditions with the typical diversity of a large and modern American city.
In close proximity to Cartagena, just a few miles away from the noise of the big city, there are many places to enjoy the white sand, warm sea and unspoiled nature in the atmosphere of a Caribbean-style resorts.
In December the temperature in Cartagena is very high – about 31 – 32°C, which makes the city one of the warmest winter tourist destinations in the world.
6. Phuket, Thailand
The most attractive tourist island of Southeast Asia enjoys a growing interest among tourists from around the world.
In searching for warm weather and intense sun shining, many visitors come here to spend their winter holidays.
Today Phuket is a world top destination and attract visitors with its incredible people, delicious cuisine, rich culture, music, traditions, architectural monuments and magnificent scenery.
While enjoying the superb white beaches and coral reefs, the temperature of about 31 – 32°C will make you forget about the fact that winter is just beginning.
7. Sydney, Australia
Over the last years, Sydney has acquired the fame of one of the most beautiful, expensive and interesting cities in the world to live, work and visit.
In many different ways, Sydney is even more expensive than London, Tokyo, New York, Oslo or Moscow.
The best time to see this vibrant metropolis in December, because this is the first summer month in Sydney.
The beaches and the city’s streets are full of visitors, and the average temperature is about 26°C during the day. A short visit to sunny Australia will make you forget about the winter.
And if you have the great luck to visit the city during New Year’s Eve at the end of December, you will be able to see and experience the most exciting New Year’s Eve fireworks show you have ever imagined.
8. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is located in the southern hemisphere, and for this reason summers here start in early December.
So if you are in the right mood to spend a great holiday in Paris, but if you are interested in something more unknown and exciting, you can head to one of the most beautiful and sophisticated cities in the world – Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
December brings perfect weather conditions, temperatures of about 28 – 29°C, plenty of sunshine and cloudless blue skies.
The main disadvantage here is the lack of beaches, although the city is located on the Atlantic coast.
On the other hand, there are so many things to do and to see that you may not even think of the beach.
9. Dubai, UAE
December is the best time to visit this ultra modern city on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
While summers bring extremely hot weather, December offers pleasant temperatures of around 26°C, which is very comfortable for tourists who come from the temperate latitudes.
But why to choose Dubai?
There are many reasons to visit the most dynamic city in Southwest Asia. Here you will be able to find incredible hotel other cities can only dream about.
Furthermore, the weather is lovely in winter, and the beaches are quite attractive. In addition, there is always something interesting to do, because the city is very rich in attractions.
Sometimes they even call it the “Arabian Las Vegas”.
10. Maspalomas, Canary Islands
If you have already booked a December holiday in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, you can expect plenty of sunshine and spring-like temperatures of about 22°C during the day and pleasant temperatures of around 16°C during the night.
Seawater temperatures are comfortable too – usually about 21°C. Maspalomas attracts many visitors in December.
This is because the weather is neither cold nor hot and reminds of California.
Also, the average daytime temperature in December will be just perfect for you if you want to explore the majestic sand dunes on the outskirts of the city.
