Where to travel in December: Destinations for everyone!

If you’re planning the last trip of the year and need some inspiration about where to travel in December, keep reading this post. You’ll find destinations for different types of travel, such as going on vacation or shopping, traveling with children, getting away for a weekend, spending Christmas, or finding budget destinations for the most special month of the year.

Best destinations to travel in December

In detail, in this first section, we will explore the best destinations to travel in December. Actually, they’re not Christmas-related, we are talking about those destinations that at this time of the year offer warm weather, sunny days, and a wide tourist variety to enjoy with your family or friends.

Costa Rica

Indeed, there are several reasons to consider Costa Rica as one of the best destinations to travel in December. In fact, the start of the dry season is one of those reasons. So, these days you’ll have sunny days in the country known for its beautiful beaches, volcanoes and enormous biodiversity.

Places of interest in Costa Rica

Tortuguero National Park, Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano; the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Conchal Beach, Jaco Beach; Samara Beach; Playa Hermosa, Del Coco Beach, among other must-see places.

What to see and do in Costa Rica?

You can start your tour in San Jose, the country’s capital, along Paseo Colón street, where you’ll find a large part of the city’s heritage attractions, such as the National Theater, the Metropolitan Cathedral of San José, Plaza de la Cultura, and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum.

Now, if nature is your thing, you can start your ecological tour in La Fortuna, a small town located northeast of San José. This is the gateway to visit the Arenal National Park, the Fortuna River, the Tabacón hot springs, and, the famous Mistico Park.

Finally, we recommend you visit some of the best beaches in Costa Rica; among them: Conchal Beach, Avellana Beach, Tamarindo Beach, Santa Teresa Beach, and Manuel Antonio Beach.

What do you need for your trip to Costa Rica?

• Have your documents up to date
• Get the yellow fever vaccine
• Have round-trip tickets
• Bring a data eSIM to connect to the internet

Thailand

This country located in Southeast Asia, famous for its tropical beaches, palaces, ruins, and Buddhist temples, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world.

December marks the beginning of the dry season, being one of the best times of the year to get to know one of the country’s most sought-after places by backpackers.

Places of interest in Thailand

The Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Chetuphon, Railay Beach, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Chatuchak Weeken Market, Similan Islands of Thailand National Park, Koh Tao, and many other tourist attractions in this destination.

What to see and do in Thailand?

After you arrive in Bangkok, you can start your tour in the Thai capital. Ideally, you should hire a guided tour, but you can also download different travel apps to have a tour guide with you at all times.

This way, you can visit the famous markets and shopping areas, the royal palace, and Buddhist temples, among other important tourist destinations, such as the ruins of Ayutthaya, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

And of course, you can’t miss visiting the most impressive beaches at this destination, such as Hong Island, Koh Similan Beach, Phra Nang Beach, Koh Nang Yuan, and Maya Bay.

Travel apps you’ll need in Thailand

• Google Maps to find places quickly
• The Passporter app to plan your trip
• Skyscanner to find accommodation
• Apps to translate languages
• App to manage your data plan

South Africa

This country on the African continent is known as “the rainbow nation“, thanks to this diverse state with people of many different territories and languages, beliefs, and traditions; in addition to its exuberant nature and wildlife.

Places of interest in South Africa

Kruger National Park, Maclear’s Beacon, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Robben Island, Boulders Beach, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape of Good Hope, Addo Elephant National Park, and much more.

What to see and do in South Africa?

Surely, if you travel to South Africa in December, you’ll enjoy warm weather and sunny days, as it’s the beginning of summer. An ideal time to enjoy the main tourist attractions of this country, just keep in mind to ensure your internet connection in South Africa with an eSIM.

On the other hand, as a curious fact, you should know that South Africa is the only country in the world that has three capital cities: Cape Town, Pretoria, and Bloemfontein for different historical reasons.

So, to get to know this magical destination, we recommend you start your visit in Cape Town, where you’ll find Table Mountain, one of the natural wonders of the world.

In addition, you’ll get to know the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood, the largest Art Museum in Africa, and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which has a wide gastronomic, commercial offer and different tourist activities to enjoy the city.

And finally, after this city tour, you’ll be ready to go on a safari through the famous Kruger National Park and enjoy your way through some of South Africa’s natural reserves and landscapes.

Tips to find cheap flights in December

Certainly, finding cheap destinations to travel to in December depends on several factors. First of all, consider your location because from there you can get direct flights with short journeys, either on domestic flights or nearby international destinations.

Secondly, you should buy the tickets at least six (6) months in advance through travel search engines such as Kayak, Skyscanner, and others, since their main purpose is to help travelers like you find the best deals on flights and accommodation for the destination you hope to visit.

Third, keep in mind the date, undoubtedly, traveling before or after special dates like Christmas or New Year will help you save some money.

Finally, consider the choice of destination. Normally, when we search for a flight, the first thing we are asked is the destination. But if, instead, you choose the option: “explore anywhere”, you’ll see several options, including destinations that you had not even considered.

Table of cheap flights to travel in December

We took on the task of consulting some cheap flight options to travel in December, from some cities in Spain, Mexico, and Chile, and this is what we found:

Where to travel with children during Christmas?

December is also a time to share and travel with the family. So, if you’re looking for the best destinations to enjoy the Christmas season, we recommend the following options:

New York, USA

This city is one of the most popular Christmas destinations in the world because, during this time of year, it becomes a magical place for adults and children to enjoy in the streets, squares, parks, and shopping centers of the city.

The highlights are the Christmas decorations with colored lights, the traditional characters such as Santa Claus and the reindeer, the ice rinks, the snowmen, the Christmas trees, the Christmas markets, the mythical toy stores, and much more.

Lapland and Rovaniemi in Finland

Finland is considered the home of Santa Claus, so in this destination, you’ll find unforgettable experiences for children.

Like, for example, going for a sleigh ride, meeting the adorable elves, exploring snowy landscapes, and visiting Santa Claus Village. Without a doubt, you’ll have an unforgettable trip here.

Disneyland in Paris

The Christmas celebration at Disneyland Paris is also a unique experience for children at this time of year.

They’ll be able to meet their favorite Disney characters, attend different theme parades, Christmas musicals, light shows, and fireworks, and visual effects full of magic and color. Therefore, you should prepare for this trip ahead of time.

Where to find the best Christmas markets

If you like to travel and shopping during Christmas, then you’ll love the Christmas markets in Europe, as they are quite a tradition here. Especially in countries like Austria, Germany, and France, where they tend to be older. But in general, there are many other destinations, as we will see below:

Europe’s most popular Christmas markets

Salzburg and Vienna (Austria)

Berlin, Dresden and Rothenburg (Germany)

Bruges and Brussels (Belgium)

Paris (France)

Budapest (Hungary)

Copenhagen (Denmark)

Bern (Switzerland)

Belfast (Northern Ireland)

Manchester and Edinburgh (UK)

Prague (Czech Republic)

Madrid (Spain)

Madeira (Portugal)

And many more!

Tips for your trip to Europe

• Define routes and destinations
• Create a travel itinerary
• Check the weather
• Take cash
• Get your camera ready
• Check how to get internet in Europe

What to see and do at the Christmas markets in Europe?

The Christmas markets open their doors to the public at the end of November, marking the beginning of the Christmas season.

These are small booths or stalls, decorated with Christmas lights and decorations, recreating a festive atmosphere full of joy to surprise those who visit them.

Normally, these markets are accompanied by multiple attractions and artistic and musical presentations for adults and children.

In addition, it’s an opportunity to explore the typical flavors of Christmas such as chocolate, mulled wine, sweets, cookies, donuts, breads, sausages, fritters, and many other delicacies from each destination.

In these stalls, you’ll find crafts, scarves, coats, Christmas decorations, costume jewelry, jewelry, decorative elements, hats, and kitchen utensils, among many other local products to get Christmas gifts or simply take a good memory of the destinations you visit.

As a fun fact, you should know that these markets are so important that they compete to be in the ranking of the best Christmas markets in Europe, through organizations dedicated to promoting culture and tourism, such as European Best Destinations.

Recommended places to escape Christmas

If you’re one of those who wants to escape the cold Christmas season or because you simply wish to live another type of experience in the month of December, we recommend you visit countries with other cultures, or places far from the Christmas festivities, like the ones we will share with you below:

Istanbul, Türkiye

In this country, the majority of citizens are Muslims, so you won’t find crowded Christmas celebrations. On the contrary, they tend to be more discreet, in fact, “Christmas trees” are trees to celebrate the New Year, although their decorations are very similar.

Santorini

So, if what you’re looking for is a trip to disconnect and rest, the beaches of Santorini or Mauritius are the perfect places to enjoy the beach and crystal clear waters, sunbathe, swim, or practice your favorite water sport.

Rural tourism

Rural destinations are the closest option to get away from large urban centers and the festive atmosphere of Christmas.

So, it can be a suitable alternative to make short trips, rent a farm, a country house, or the famous camping to immerse yourself in an environment of nature and a lot of tranquility.

Tips for choosing the BEST destination to travel to in December

As you could see in this post, to find the best destination to travel to in December you should bear in mind your time and budget, as well as the type of experience you want to enjoy this season.

Create a list with several destinations and filter them according to the travel documents you need to enter these countries. Surely in some of them, it’ll be easier than in others, so keep it simple.

And of course, make sure you have the internet on your trip with a data eSIM. This way, you’ll be able to use travel apps that will help you solve any issue, from finding an address to creating travel itineraries for each place you visit. If you have any questions about eSIM data, we invite you to visit this link.