Best places to visit in December
Holiday markets, ski weeks, and Caribbean warm-weather trips. Here are the destinations US travelers should book for December.
Skip the search — let a CheapoTrav expert do it for you.
Phone-only fares, 24/7.
Call 1 (815) 473-8090Key facts
- 12 destinations curated for December travel
- Mix of beach, mountain, city, and outdoor picks
- Best for travelers from the US looking for in-season weather
- All picks have direct flights from major US gateways
- Phone-only fares available 24/7 from the CheapoTrav travel desk
December sits in a specific spot on the US travel calendar — and the destinations that work best are different from any other month. Holiday markets, ski weeks, and Caribbean warm-weather trips.
This shortlist picks 12 destinations that are at their best in December: good weather, manageable crowds, and live flight inventory at reasonable prices. We've grouped them by trip type so you can quickly find the right one for your travel style.
Once you've picked a destination, run the search for live fares — or call our travel desk and we'll quote the full trip in five minutes.
Top picks
- Travel guide: New York
Five boroughs, world-class museums, and pizza by the slice.
- Travel guide: Quebec City
Walled UNESCO old town with Château Frontenac on the cliff.
- Travel guide: Aspen
Bluebird ski days and Maroon Bells summer wildflowers.
- Travel guide: Park City
Olympic-grade ski town 30 minutes from Salt Lake airport.
- Travel guide: Jackson Hole
Tetons rising above sage prairie — winter ski, summer wildlife.
- Travel guide: Whistler
Two-mountain ski resort 90 minutes north of Vancouver.
- Travel guide: Banff
Turquoise glacial lakes inside Canada's oldest national park.
- Travel guide: Cancun
Hotel Zone beaches, all-inclusives, and a quick ferry to Isla Mujeres.
- Travel guide: Punta Cana
All-inclusive resort coast on 30+ miles of palm-lined beach.
- Travel guide: Aruba
Outside the hurricane belt — 82°F year-round on Eagle Beach.
- Travel guide: St. Thomas
Magens Bay beach and duty-free Charlotte Amalie shopping.
- Travel guide: Honolulu
Waikiki sunsets and Diamond Head hikes on Oahu's south shore.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the cheapest place to travel in December?
- Off-peak destinations in December — typically the ones outside the dominant season for your departure region — see the biggest price drops. Run a flexible-date search to spot specific weeks.
- Where is the warmest place to visit in December?
- For US travelers in December, the warmest reliable bets are the Caribbean (Aruba, Punta Cana, St. Thomas) and Mexican beach destinations (Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta). Call 1 (815) 473-8090 for phone-only fares
- What are the best December weekend getaways?
- Short-haul flights to one of the cities or beach destinations on this list make the best December weekend trips. Filter by destinations within 3 hours of your home airport.
- Is December a good month to travel?
- Yes — every month has destinations at their seasonal best. The question is matching December to the right destination, which is what this list does. Call 1 (815) 473-8090 for phone-only fares
- How far in advance should I book December travel?
- Book domestic 6–10 weeks ahead, international 3–6 months. Holiday weeks within December need 4–6 months for best availability.
- Can CheapoTrav build a full December trip?
- Yes — call the travel desk and we'll quote flights, hotel, and ground transport as one bundle, usually 10–25% under public prices. Call 1 (815) 473-8090 for phone-only fares