So a holiday in Sri Lanka can be as cheap or as luxurious as you want it to be, without compromising on the experience. You have done a great job man!!! Vietnam and Sri Lanka could both be excellent choices for what you have in mind. My goal is relaxing mostly but as a solo upper 40’s male, it wouldn’t be bad to run into some people (and ladies) to visit with some of the time. The real magic of New Zealand is in the scenery and smaller towns. Our tentative dates are in such a way that we will celebrate the Christmas at one of the destinations . Pay more and you get a lot more, so it's fun to feel like a big shot in a US$20 room that is almost like a suite. India is cheaper as long as you minimize time in Mumbai and other big cities, but that is good advice for many reasons. I know there’s trip chasing the aurora borealis/northern light. You can get locally made clothes at local markets for much lower prices than the chain stores in the malls. Hopefully one or more of those suggestions sounds interesting to you. It's not the most famous city in Southeast Asia, but Luang Prabang is incredibly popular among those who've visited, and fortunately the weather during December is pretty much perfect. New Zealand is an excellent option in December, as it’s before the Christmas crowds and just before the summer holidays there. -Roger. It's best to book as far in advance as possible for both your flights and hotels, since so many people have the same idea and prices generally just keep going up as it gets closer. For the Cancun area I would recommend Playa del Carmen (about an hour south of Cancun Airport) because there are fairly cheap hotels near the town center, which is packed with bars and restaurants. Brussels Hi Roger, I want to travel cheap destination because my budget is limited. The culture there is fascinating and it’s also very tourist-friendly and safe. Typical of the Tropics, the rain often hits in the afternoon, and is over 30 minutes later, leaving behind yet another amazing sunset as the clouds slowly disappear. If your main goal is to go somewhere in the region and avoid beaches, then I agree that it can be a bit tricky. I was thinking of Maldives or Malaysia. You could get a reasonably priced flight into San Juan, which is also a really nice place with some surfing and great beaches, and then hire a car for the drive to Rincon. I hope this helps. I took my 2 daughters aged 11 and 18 to SE Asia in December and they loved it. I’m not into trekking and looking for good warm/hot places to visit for the less mobile. Siem Reap – lovely vibe over new year and not too busy. I’m a fan of your architecture. Even maybe somewhere in Europe or the Mediterranean would be great but have to keep the budget down too as we don’t have a ton of money to blow! I love night life and beach . And you can’t go wrong with Bali, even though December is part of the rainy season. I’m not sure if you’ve been there before, but it has some of the best shopping in the world with every store imaginable and very good prices because duties and taxes are low. More so, I went to Punta Cana last October during the cold period and it was gorgeous every day, and what little rain fell was usually overnight or little drops that you could stay on the beach unbothered. Credits: Wikimedia. If your real goal is to sit on a European beach and not freeze or be alone in December, your only real choice is the Canary Islands. You could fly into any of those and then visit the others by high-speed train. will turkey be a good option? Madrid, Have a great trip. Osaka, however Sicily And Sardinia have beautiful beaches especially the emerald sea. Morocco isn’t too cold and has loads of great outdoor activities, but there’s no real nightlife there unless you know some locals or want to sit in a generic hotel bar. Thanks. There’s a nice beach there and a bit farther away is Denang, which has large resorts along an excellent beach. If you are in California you might also consider Los Cabos, although Puerto Vallarta is more interesting and usually cheaper as well. We are hanging on your every word to make this decision by the way. I am from Chennai, India. I still clearly remember standing in almost 2 feet of water trying to push the minibus I was riding in to a dry enough area to start the engine again. Norway Will it be a good idea ??? Our starting point is Pakistan. If you are interested in a place that isn’t focused on beaches in that area then I’ll point you to some recent answers just above where I mention the charms of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, or Luang Prabang in Laos, and/or Siem Reap in Cambodia. Klom Thong Hot Springs is the scene of natural hot springs flowing from within the volcanic chambers of Klom Thing. But the other thing about Vietnam is that visitors have to be much more careful, especially when booking tours and that sort of thing. Again, it really depends on what you are looking for and what you are hoping to avoid. Barbados A few parts of Latin America are still rainy in December, but most of it is clear and enjoying the best climate of the year. You can also rent a car and drive to the same places where you can stay in cabins in holiday parks/campgrounds, and small hotels and guest houses are reasonably priced as well. All of those are wonderful places with temples and other sights, and they are quite affordable once you are there as well. >>>Cape Town prices and travel tips We just did this and it was fantastic. With temperature in December between 25-33 degress, good hotels, eco tours, rare birds and wild life, great food and lovely people. If you are looking for an all-inclusive resort with reasonable airfares from Chicagoland, your best bets will be in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, or the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area. For the November trip you are going to have a lot of competition for those flights and hotels because those are prime Thanksgiving flight dates. I’m afraid of going to a thai island and prices exceeding my budget. Sri Lanka is abundant in local homestays and guest houses. Viet Nam Southern Europe is also too cold to reliably enjoy the outdoors. It's also important to mention that Phuket is an island with more than a dozen different beach towns, each with its own personality and price range. We have decided on an African Safari to Tanzania. Assuming you might be in the US or Canada, my first hunch is Costa Rica, or Panama, which is a bit cheaper though not as well organized. One of the best places to travel in December is Bagan in Myanmar. St. Croix, As for getting around, the trains are modern, and they can be reasonably priced if you buy a couple months in advance. First off, if you are doing the actual Inca Trail hike, you’ll need 4 days for that plus another couple of days in Cusco to get acclimated. We are greatfull for ideas and tips that point us in the right direction. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Serbia But the weather will be fantastic and the beaches are great, even in and near the city. Costa Rica, as you probably know, is all about nature and adventure sports, along with some decent beaches. The hilly areas experience rains during the monsoon, so by December, there is dense greenery all around. Most of the time the weather is still sunny and the temperatures are not low when compared to other countries. Or you might be touring around to see temples and rice terraces and whatnot, and everything is outdoors and beautiful. It’s a pleasant tourist town on its own, but it only exists as the gateway to the amazing Angkor Wat temples nearby. I have been reading the thread with great interest. I am thinking it is too late to plan the Galapagos as those trips seem to get booked so far in advance. Travel. I’ll keep in mind the Indian hotel train ticket system, though I don’t think I ever stayed at any hotel that had a guy to do that. Kuala Lumpur is my favorite city in Asia because it’s got such a great mix of things and it’s also pretty affordable, but not everyone is looking for a big modern city. Pls help us shape our itenary. Sharm el-Sheikh The weather will obviously be similar to Panama, as long as you were on the west coast. That way you'll have your pick of places at some surprisingly good room rates, even at some high-end places on the famous beaches. It would probably be a bit more expensive, but another idea that could be great would be to fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and rent an apartment for two weeks. The December weather is pretty much perfect and dry, and airfares and hotel rates are very reasonable up until Christmas itself. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ultimately and up to this point, we’ve been considering Mexico and Central America, but after having read this entire thread on your site, we would love to hear if you have any suggestions in particular? There are many stalls scattered along with the interiors of the city. San Juan will be more expensive because there just aren’t many cheap hotels in the good parts of the city. Hungary What about African Safari? I’m looking for somewhere beautiful with warm weather, tropical, and lots to see. However, still debating if it’s a good time to go considering rains, availability of attractions etc. Antigua and Barbuda Clarke Quay is the hub of nightlife in Singapore. On a porch in New Orleans, which is one … Let’s get started. Kyoto, The best places to visit in December are of course close to the equator or even below it. Have a great trip. But Phuket has over 1,000 hotels and hundreds of those are wonderful fairly luxurious hotels or villa complexes that could be perfect for a romantic honeymoon stay. Another non-beach option in your area would be the mountains and national parks of Sri Lanka. And it will be quite cold in all of southern Europe, including Malta and Greece, with the only exception being the Canary Islands off Africa. Samaná To name at least a few, I love Bali and will spend a month there again early next year. Spain What are your thoughts? I’m always happy to hear that people find this information to be useful. For hiking and views I think Costa Rica could be a good choice, or Nicaragua. Sorrento, As far as finding work on the road, the only decent-paying job that is fairly easy to get that I’m aware of is teaching English, but I think those gigs tend to last at least a few months. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. There is a train from Amsterdam to Paris in a bit over 3 hours, and another high-speed train to Barcelona from Paris in 6 hours 27 minutes with no changes. Interestingly, I’ve been to Bali exactly twice so far (going again in early 2016) and both times have been in December. Washington D.C. Argentina All of your best choices will be on that list, and most of the best and most famous ones are closer to the bottom because they tend to be pricey. Manila Still, the temperatures should be ideal for being outdoors, and this is really mostly an indoor city anyway, so when it does rain you'll be able to pop into a shop or museum or cafe and have a great time. Hi Roger!! I’m also in grief over what happened in Puerto Rico, partly because I’m such a big fan of the island for winter vacations. As for the Northern Lights, Iceland is one to consider, and its Aurora Tourism sector is pretty famous. It’s reasonably warm there during December, and there is quite a bit to do. >>>Check current Hanoi hotel deals. But check my guide for more tips. >>>Check current Goa hotel deals. Other options in that general area to consider are Luang Prabang, Laos, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. -Roger. For a family I’d recommend Kata Beach or Karon Beach, but of which are just a bit south of the main town on Phuket’s west coast called Patong Beach. Bali is wonderful, or at least parts of it are, but they now have a volcano issue and those flights are very long and never cheap.