Language 
10 Cheap places to travel in December 2026
Looking for a cheap place to travel in December that doesn't feel “cheap”? From tropical islands to European gems, these 10 destinations offer sunshine, warmth, and incredible value!
Gray skies and freezing mornings make December the month when a sunny getaway sounds best and looks least affordable. The price problem mostly belongs to Christmas week, though. Travel before the Christmas rush, and many destinations stay sunny, lively, and surprisingly cheap, from the beaches of Southeast Asia to Latin American cities and a few European gems.
This list covers 10 cheap places to travel in December, with average daily costs from $35 to $100 and the weather to expect in each. A Holafly travel eSIM keeps you connected with unlimited data in all of them.
Limitless data, endless adventures
Stream, scroll, and share as you please. With Holafly, your data is always unlimited.
Hoi An, Vietnam: Tasty street food and cozy homestays for less than $40 a day
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $40 (£30)
Vietnam’s most picturesque riverside town is one of the cheap places to travel in December internationally. Visitors rate Southeast Asia highly, as it blends warmth, charm, and affordability.
With December daytime temperatures of 25-28°C (77-82°F), you can enjoy riverside cruises, strolls through the ancient town, and cycles through the countryside.
And with similar nighttime temperatures, Hoi An remains lively after dark, when the lanterns illuminate the river and the air fills with the aroma of classic Vietnamese street food.
With unlimited data on a Holafly eSIM Vietnam, you can follow countryside cycling routes on your map without searching for WiFi.
Cebu, Philippines: Wallet-friendly diving and island-hopping
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $55 (£42)
December marks the start of Cebu’s dry, sunny season, making it the perfect time to enjoy the Philippines’ stunning beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs.
Activities and day trips here are extremely wallet-friendly. If you’ve ever wanted to try scuba diving, here you can do so for a fraction of the cost, with full-day diving trips under $100 (£78).
Island-hopping tours are another must, where you can snorkel and swim in marine reserves for as little as $20 (£15).
Book island-hopping tours and dive trips on the go with a Holafly eSIM Philippines.
Bali, Indonesia: Where luxury meets affordability
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $50 (£38)
December in Bali brings warm 27-30°C (80-86°F) weather, though with a few brief tropical showers. If you visit before Christmas (Bali’s second peak season), you’ll evade the crowds and price hikes, making it possible to snag a cute guesthouse in Ubud or Canggu for as little as $30 (£23) a night!
With mainly dry weather, you can relax at the island’s beach clubs, go temple-hopping, or even take the iconic sunrise volcano hike. And if it does rain, head to one of Ubud’s yoga studios or wellness centers for a bit of “R&R.”
A Holafly eSIM for Bali keeps you online with unlimited data between Ubud, Canggu, and the beach clubs.
Phuket, Thailand: $2 Pad Thais and $10 Thai massages!
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $50 (£38)
If you want to swap winter coats and hot water bottles for bikinis and beaches, Phuket in Thailand is the place to go. December marks the start of the dry season, when the rain clears and the sun shines all day.
While December is the peak season in Phuket, prices don’t tend to rise much until Christmas. An early December trip will let you experience Phuket at its liveliest (without the high price tag). In fact, you can find Phuket Town guesthouses for around $30 (£23) a night and boutique resorts right by the beach for less than $100 (£75).
Spend your days relaxing on the beach, tucking into Thailand’s iconic street food, such as Pad Thai for a couple of dollars, and indulging in a blissful Thai massage for $10 (£8)!
Set up a Holafly eSIM Thailand before you fly, and you land in Phuket with unlimited data and 24/7 support.
Cartagena, Colombia: Salsa, sunsets, & $1 arepas
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $40 (£31)
With its pastel streets, Caribbean rhythm, and endless sunshine, Cartagena feels like a dream winter escape. However, it’s surprisingly affordable, especially for US residents, as return flights from US cities start from $259 (£199).
Colombia is one of the cheapest South American countries to visit, so you won’t need a ton of spending money either. You can wander through the cobblestone lanes of the Old Town for free, snack on $1 arepas from street vendors, and sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar for the cost of a coffee back home.
With minimal rainfall and daytime temperatures up to 31°C (88°F), Cartagena stands out among cheap warm places to travel in December.
A Holafly eSIM Colombia gives you unlimited data for finding your way through the Old Town’s cobblestone lanes.
Lima, Peru: Fine-dining for a dime
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $50 (£38)
December is the beginning of Peru’s summer in Lima, a stark contrast to the cold winter of the Northern Hemisphere.
This city’s architecture is so beautiful that you could spend hours exploring the streets without spending a dime. But perhaps the biggest draw is the food, as Lima is one of South America’s most underrated (and affordable) foodie capitals. You can find Michelin-level Peruvian cuisine for under $15 (£11) a meal!
Lima is also an excellent hub for surfing, with several nearby beaches offering year-round swells.
Reserve restaurant tables and check the surf with unlimited data on a Holafly eSIM Peru.
Oaxaca, Mexico: A vibrant cultural escape that won’t break the bank
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $45 (£34)
For US residents, Oaxaca is one of the top places to travel for cheap in December, as it’s considerably warmer than many US cities and there are tons of lively festivals this month.
As southern Mexico’s creative hub, every corner of Oaxaca is vibrant, from the artisan markets to the quirky cafes to the streets that glow with handmade lanterns.
What’s more, boutique guesthouses and homestays start from around $25 (£19) a night, allowing you to stay for longer and soak up the culture and warmth (both literal and local).
With a Holafly eSIM Mexico, you can look up festival schedules and market locations as you go.
Lisbon, Portugal: Affordable winter sun just 3 hours from London
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $70 (£54)
With abundant sunshine, mild winters, and December flights from the UK under £60 ($78), Lisbon is one of the most popular cheap places to travel to in December for Europeans.
With an average daytime temperature of 16°C (61°F), it’s warm enough for sightseeing and seaside strolls. Plus, Lisbon’s affordable apartments and digital nomad-friendly coworking spots make it easy and tempting to stay a little longer.
For a short visit, a Holafly eSIM Portugal covers you with unlimited data. If Lisbon’s coworking spots convince you to stay for months, Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly eSIM subscription you can cancel anytime.
Sri Lanka: The budget traveler’s dream island
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $35 (£27)
December brings perfect weather along Sri Lanka’s south and west coast, which makes the island one of the warm, cheap places to travel in December. With daytime temperatures up to 30°C (86°F), you can spend your days sunbathing on the beach, strolling through the national parks, or surfing in the warm ocean.
What’s more, as one of the cheapest Asian countries in 2026, you can find guesthouses from just $20 (£15) a night and local meals for just a few dollars.
A Holafly eSIM Sri Lanka comes with unlimited data and 24/7 support as you move between the south and west coast.
Gran Canaria, Spain: Europe’s year-round summer destination
- Average daily cost (excluding flights): $100 (£77)
There are not many destinations in Europe where you can wear short sleeves in December, but Gran Canaria, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, is one of them. Gran Canaria boasts year-round sunshine and warmth, with average December temperatures of 17-22°C (63°-72F).
While Christmas in Gran Canaria brings a second peak season, if you visit at the start of the month, you’ll find flights as cheap as £40 ($53) from the UK and holiday apartments for less than £75 ($100) a night.
Plus, there are tons of free things to do on the island, from beach days and old town strolls to mountain hikes and volcanic trails.
A Holafly eSIM for the Canary Islands gives you unlimited data for trail maps on Gran Canaria’s mountain hikes.
Stay connected wherever December takes you with Holafly
Roaming fees can undo the savings at even the best cheap places to travel in December. With a Holafly eSIM, you get unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 support in 200+ destinations, so the trip stays on budget and you keep your peace of mind.
Every eSIM also includes Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data, at no added cost in 150+ destinations. It renews every month for as long as the eSIM stays installed, so you have backup data for an unexpected extra day or a short trip later in the year.
For one country, pick your destination and the number of days in the eSIM store. If your trip strings together several Asian stops, such as Hoi An, Cebu, Bali, and Phuket, a regional eSIM Asia covers them with a single eSIM.
Planning to stay for months? Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly eSIM subscription with coverage in 160+ destinations on a single eSIM. Choose between the Unlimited and Light tiers, and cancel anytime.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
FAQs about the cheap places to travel in December
Sri Lanka is among the cheapest places to go in December, at an average of $35 a day excluding flights. Hoi An in Vietnam and Cartagena in Colombia cost around $40 a day, and Oaxaca in Mexico around $45. Prices stay lowest before the Christmas rush.
Yes, $500 is enough for a trip once flights are paid. At average daily costs, it covers around 14 days in Sri Lanka, 12 in Hoi An or Cartagena, or 11 in Oaxaca. Guesthouses from $20-30 a night in Sri Lanka, Oaxaca, Bali, and Phuket help the budget last.
Cartagena, Sri Lanka, Bali, and Hoi An are cheap places to travel in December that are warm. Daytime temperatures reach 31°C (88°F) in Cartagena, 30°C (86°F) in Sri Lanka and Bali, and 28°C (82°F) in Hoi An, with average daily costs of $35-50 excluding flights.
With $1,000, you can spend about 18 days in Cartagena, Colombia, with return flights from US cities starting from $259 and daily costs averaging $40. If flights are already paid, the same budget covers roughly 28 days in Sri Lanka, 25 in Hoi An, or 20 in Bali, Phuket, or Lima.
Plans that may interest you
Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
