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‘Tis the season for festive travel. Either you want to get away from the cold of winter or embrace the Christmas cheer with a snowy retreat to some local markets. Either way, a holiday is on the cards. It is a popular time to go away, but you can be tactical with where you go and when you travel to get a good deal.
. Seek out some alternative destinations, like Poland and Romania, or stick to the classics, like Germany and Belgium. In Sweden, the darkness in December is the perfect time to see the Northern Lights. If you’re too old for Santa and fancy doing December differently, who says you can’t? Winter sun destinations are thriving in the Southern Hemisphere.
Best destinations for December holidays
These are the spots you should pick to make the most of this month.
This group of Spanish isles is way closer to Africa than Spain. This works to their advantage – guaranteeing plenty of sun for their batch of beaches.
Whether it's the wall-to-wall sunny skies, the palm-fringed beaches, or the ‘home of reggae' crown that tempts you, a holiday to Jamaica won't disappoint.
Holidays to Dubai bring you to a desert metropolis, with ultra-modern skyscrapers close to a hot and sunny seaside.
Busking mariachi bands, jungle-clad ruins, chilli-fuelled enchiladas – Mexico's got a standout personality no matter which way you look at it.
This little island is a firm holiday favourite – and for good reason. Beyond the amazing beaches, it lines up rainforest-covered mountains, lively towns, and locals with a laid-back approach that’s textbook Caribbean.
Beaches, national parks, culture – Thailand comes first in its class for just about every category. The so-called Land of Smiles manages to put on an out-and-out feast for visitors, who can choose from buzzy Bangkok, daredevil Chiang Mai in the north and a super-green south.
Cheap Holidays this December
Why book December holidays
COOLCATION’S ARE IN
IT’S CHRISTMAS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Top City Breaks this December
This season’s hottest city breaks, right here…
Cheesecake and pizza by the slice against a backdrop of skyscrapers and high-end boutiques – holidays to New York dish up all those United States hallmarks in generous portions.
Berlin’s up to its elbows in historic sites – most are reminders of its rocky 20th century. People flock from far and wide to peek at the remaining sections of the capital’s iconic Berlin Wall.
Copenhagen started off as a teeny Viking fishing village. Nowadays, it’s Denmark’s capital, but it hasn’t strayed too far from its waterside roots. Nyhavn Harbour’s still jam-packed with vintage boats – and its backdrop of paintbox-hued cafés have nudged it into prime Insta-snap territory.
Krakow is a city of two halves – ornate architecture, pretty courtyards and tempting restaurants are up top in the city's old town.
France’s capital has a near-permanent place in the top 10 most-visited cities list every year, and with more attractions than you can shake a French stick at.
Think of Brussels as a dartboard, and the historic centre would be its bullseye. Except in this case the red target would be a little different, as the Belgian capital’s five-sided heart is nicknamed the Pentagon.
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FAQs
Think Southern Hemisphere – summer is in full swing down there. Places like the Maldives, Mexico and the Caribbean are thriving and so are Cape Verde and Costa Rica. Tacos instead of turkey and a tan for Christmas? Yes, please.
If you’re willing to travel on the big days – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve – you can bag yourself a great deal. Most people want to have arrived by then or will be spending time with their families at home, so there’s less demand.
In Europe, it’s about going a bit more niche. Everyone’s going to be thinking about France, Germany and Belgium for their Christmas market fix. So, you should think of Poland, Romania and Hungary. If you’re after a ski trip, Bulgaria and Romania are where you can shred some powder for less – shhh.
For long-haul destinations, flights are always a bit more to fork out for, just because they are much further to get to. But places like Sri Lanka, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean are more affordable once you get there.
