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Best beach destinations in December
Countries our desk rates good or better for December, and marks as beach months: warm enough water, and a coast that is open rather than shut for the season.
70 countries rated good or better
Chapter 01
Best beach destinations in December
Oman95
about €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.40
Djibouti93
about €140 / $151 a day
Egypt92
about €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.90 / $5.30
Gambia92
about €50 / $54 a day · eSIM from €8.40 / $9.10
Guinea-Bissau92
about €70 / $76 a day · eSIM from €8.40 / $9.10
Palau92
about €190 / $205 a day
92QatarExcellent weather; peak season and peak rates.about €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4092United Arab EmiratesExcellent weather with a sharp holiday price spike.about €165 / $178 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9091Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunhaabout €130 / $140 a day91Senegalabout €60 / $65 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8091Sierra Leoneabout €60 / $65 a day · eSIM from €7.50 / $8.1090CambodiaCool, dry and clear; the busiest and priciest fortnight is the last.about €38 / $41 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9090Guamabout €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6090MaldivesExcellent conditions; the holiday fortnight is the most expensive of the year.about €130 / $140 a day · eSIM from €8.80 / $9.6090New Zealandabout €135 / $146 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9090Northern Mariana Islandsabout €140 / $151 a day90ThailandDry and cool nationwide; the busiest and priciest fortnight is the last one.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9089Côte d'Ivoireabout €70 / $76 a day · eSIM from €7.90 / $8.6088ColombiaDry season returns; Feria de Cali; prices and crowds surge from mid-December.about €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4088Costa RicaDry season returns; from mid-month, peak prices and crowds.about €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €6.60 / $7.2088CubaExcellent weather; prices and occupancy surge from mid-December.about €70 / $76 a day88Norfolk Islandabout €130 / $140 a day88TanzaniaRains easing; good wildlife and a holiday price spike.about €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4088UruguaySeason begins; prices ramp toward New Year on the coast.about €100 / $108 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7086Equatorial Guineaabout €170 / $184 a day86Ghanaabout €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4085AnguillaSeason opens; Christmas is the dearest fortnight.about €180 / $194 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7085Antigua and BarbudaDry season returns; festive surge and peak pricing from mid-month.about €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €6.60 / $7.2085ArubaDry season and the December rush.about €105 / $113 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085BarbadosDry season returns; festive-season pricing from mid-month.about €140 / $151 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085BelizeDry season returns; prices spike from mid-month.about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €7.90 / $8.6085Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaSeason opens across all three.about €130 / $140 a day · eSIM from €6.60 / $7.2085British Virgin IslandsSeason opens; Christmas charters book a year out.about €165 / $178 a day · eSIM from €7.50 / $8.1085Cayman IslandsSeason opens; Christmas is the dearest week.about €175 / $189 a day · eSIM from €8.40 / $9.1085CuraçaoDry season and the holiday rush.about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085Dominican RepublicDry season returns; festive surge from mid-month.about €85 / $92 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8085GrenadaDry season returns; festive premium from mid-month.about €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085GuadeloupeDry season returns.about €100 / $108 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9085IndiaPeak season in Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa; northern fog disrupts trains.about €40 / $43 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4085MartiniqueDry season returns before the Christmas rush.about €105 / $113 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9085MexicoPerfect weather; Caribbean prices surge from mid-month.about €75 / $81 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9085NicaraguaDry season and La Purísima festivities; holiday bump late month.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €10.10 / $11.0085PhilippinesDry season returns; Christmas is the country's biggest event by a distance.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9085Puerto RicoDry season and the longest Christmas season anywhere.about €95 / $103 a day85Saint BarthélemySeason opens; New Year is the peak of the Caribbean year here.about €260 / $281 a day · eSIM from €7.50 / $8.1085Saint Kitts and NevisDry season returns; Sugar Mas carnival from mid-month.about €145 / $157 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085Saint MartinSeason opens and the island fills.about €130 / $140 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8085Sint MaartenSeason opens and cruise traffic peaks.about €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085Sri LankaSouth and west dry out; high season and holiday prices begin.about €45 / $49 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4085Turks and Caicos IslandsSeason starts; Christmas is the dearest week anywhere here.about €190 / $205 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6085United States Virgin IslandsSeason opens; Christmas is the dearest fortnight.about €170 / $184 a day · eSIM from €4.00 / $4.4084El SalvadorDry and festive; beach towns busy over the holidays.about €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.90 / $5.3084JamaicaDry season returns; festive and increasingly busy from mid-month.about €110 / $119 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6084Saint LuciaDry season returns; festive crowds from mid-month.about €150 / $162 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6082BahamasHigh season begins; Boxing Day Junkanoo in Nassau. Prices peak over the holidays.about €160 / $173 a day · eSIM from €6.20 / $6.7082Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesDry season returns; Nine Mornings festivities before Christmas.about €125 / $135 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6078PanamaRains stop mid-month; verano and high-season pricing begin.about €80 / $86 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6078São Tomé and Príncipeabout €95 / $103 a day76Seychellesabout €160 / $173 a day · eSIM from €7.00 / $7.6075TaiwanCool and drizzly in Taipei; the south is at its best.about €65 / $70 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9074Cocos (Keeling) Islandsabout €145 / $157 a day72EcuadorCoast and islands warming into high season; Quito fiestas early month.about €55 / $59 a day · eSIM from €4.40 / $4.8072South AfricaCape peak season and peak prices; the bush green and thick.about €90 / $97 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9070Réunionabout €120 / $130 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9070VietnamCool and dry; pleasant in the south, cold and misty in the mountains.about €40 / $43 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9068BrazilSummer ignites mid-month; Réveillon on Copacabana draws two million.about €70 / $76 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9068New Caledoniaabout €160 / $173 a day66Gabonabout €160 / $173 a day · eSIM from €5.30 / $5.8065SpainCool cities, Christmas lights and reliable Canary sun.about €95 / $103 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.9062IsraelCool and wet in the north; the Dead Sea and Eilat stay warm.about €140 / $151 a day · eSIM from €3.60 / $3.90
Chapter 02
Why these and not others
The tag is editorial: our desk writes it on a month it has written up, never derived from the score. A country scored from climate normals alone carries no tags, so it is not here - and nothing rated below good is, however well it would fit otherwise. A country under an active travel advisory is left out of the recommendation; the advisory itself is on its guide.
Chapter 03