Where to go · December
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for December
December brings Christmas markets and snow in the north, the start of Caribbean and Southeast Asian dry season, and summer holidays in the Southern Hemisphere.
Jump to hotels ↓Bavaria, Germany
Why December
The Christkindlesmarkt is one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets, usually running from late November to December 24.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~39°F (4°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg. Art Nouveau hotel near the old town walls.
Hotels in Nuremberg →Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Why December
Snowy Christmas atmosphere, husky safaris and Northern Lights during the long nights.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~21°F (-6°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- family
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. Glass-fronted suites in the forest near the Santa Claus Village.
Hotels in Rovaniemi →Toiny, Saint Barthélemy
Why December
The dry season begins and the island's famous New Year's Eve celebrations draw yachts to Gustavia.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Hotel Le Toiny. Hillside villas with private pools on the island's quiet east coast.
Hotels in Toiny →
Quebec, Canada
Why December
Snow-covered Old Quebec and its German Christmas market make it one of North America's most festive cities.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~25°F (-4°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- family
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Castle hotel above the Christmas market and the St. Lawrence.
Explore Quebec City →
England, United Kingdom
Why December
Festive lights on Regent and Oxford Streets, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and holiday theater.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~46°F (8°C); damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Savoy. Thames-side landmark with an Art Deco ballroom and the American Bar.
Explore London →Bern, Switzerland
Why December
The ski season typically opens in December and the village is at its most festive.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~34°F (1°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Alpina Gstaad. Chalet-style hotel above the village with a Six Senses Spa.
Hotels in Gstaad →
Guanajuato, Mexico
Why December
Dry, sunny days and nightly posadas (December 16–24) lead up to Christmas.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~73°F (23°C); cold nights
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- romance
Where we'd stay: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende. Colonial-style hotel with rooftop views of the Parroquia.
Explore San Miguel de Allende →
New South Wales, Australia
Why December
Early summer beach weather and one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve fireworks displays over the harbor.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
Where we'd stay: Shangri-La Sydney. The Rocks hotel with harbor views from upper floors.
Explore Sydney →Park City, Utah, United States
Why December
Holiday ski season in Utah's light snow at a skiers-only mountain.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~32°F (0°C); snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- ski
- family
Where we'd stay: Montage Deer Valley. Ski-in/ski-out resort at Empire Pass.
Hotels in Park City →
Scotland, United Kingdom
Why December
Christmas markets fill December, followed by Hogmanay, one of the world's biggest New Year's celebrations.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold, damp
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. Former railway hotel with views of Edinburgh Castle.
Explore Edinburgh →
11Anguilla
West End, Anguilla
Why December
The dry season arrives with calm turquoise water and powdery beaches.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel. Moorish-style villas along Maundays Bay.
Explore Anguilla →
Florida, United States
Why December
Art Basel Miami Beach is usually held in early December, and the weather is warm and dry.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Setai, Miami Beach. Art Deco-meets-Asian oceanfront hotel with three temperature-controlled pools.
Explore Miami Beach →
13Krabi
Krabi, Thailand
Why December
The Andaman dry season brings calm seas for island-hopping to Phi Phi and Railay.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~88°F (31°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Rayavadee. Pavilions on the Phra Nang peninsula, reachable only by boat.
Explore Krabi →
14Santa Fe
New Mexico, United States
Why December
Farolitos line Canyon Road on Christmas Eve, and nearby Ski Santa Fe usually opens in December.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); sunny, cold
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
Where we'd stay: Inn of the Five Graces. Intimate Relais & Châteaux inn with Silk Road-inspired suites.
Explore Santa Fe →
15Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Why December
Pleasant winter weather, the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival and New Year's Eve fireworks at the Burj Khalifa.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Atlantis The Royal. Architectural landmark on the Palm Jumeirah with celebrity-chef restaurants.
Explore Dubai →Santa Cruz, Argentina
Why December
Early summer brings long days for Perito Moreno Glacier and treks around El Chaltén.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); windy
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
Where we'd stay: EOLO Patagonia's Spirit. Estancia-style lodge on the steppe with glacier excursions.
Hotels in El Calafate →- 17
Arenal
La Fortuna, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Why December
The dry season is starting, the volcano is more often clear, and hot springs feel perfect on cooler evenings.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); some showers
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- adventure
- nature
Where we'd stay: Nayara Springs. Adults-only villas with private hot-spring plunge pools.
Hotels in La Fortuna → - 18
Taupō
Waikato, New Zealand
Why December
Early summer brings warm days for fly fishing, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and lake activities.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~72°F (22°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- nature
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Huka Lodge. Riverside fishing lodge on the Waikato River.
Hotels in Taupō → 
19Goa
Benaulim, Goa, India
Why December
Dry season, festive Christmas celebrations in Goa's Catholic communities and beach shacks in full swing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~91°F (33°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. Mediterranean-style beachfront resort in South Goa.
Explore Goa →
20Phu Quoc
Vietnam
Why December
The dry season (roughly November–April) brings calm seas and sunny days.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~86°F (30°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa. Whimsical Bill Bensley-designed resort styled as a French university.
Explore Phu Quoc →
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