Where to Travel in December 2026: 8 Trips That Fit the Season
Christmas-market Europe (go first two weeks or wait until January)
Prague and Vienna both run Christmas markets from late November through December 23 or 24. The first two weeks of December are the sweet spot: cold enough to feel like winter, warm enough that outdoor markets stay crowded without being miserable. Hotel rates typically run $120 to $220 per night in both cities, roughly 20 to 30 percent lower than summer peaks. By Christmas week itself, markets wind down and prices spike for the holidays themselves. If you want the markets, go December 1 through 20; if you want quiet post-Christmas Europe, late January and February are better value.
Warm-weather escapes with reliable December weather
December is dry season in Southeast Asia, Mexico's Yucatan, and much of the Caribbean. Bali is at its driest from late April through October (September is often the single best month), so December is a shoulder window where rain is possible but usually brief. Cancun, Punta Cana, and other Caribbean destinations hit their peak December through April. Prices climb into the second half of December as US schools break; the sweet spot is December 1 through 15. Expect $200 to $450 per night for mid-tier all-inclusive resorts in that window.
Ski trips that are worth the full week
By mid-December, Aspen, Whistler, and Zermatt all have enough snow to make a week worth planning. Early-season rates (first two weeks of December) typically run 30 to 50 percent below peak holiday weeks. Zermatt has the longest ski season in the Alps and runs reliably from mid-November. The best value window is December 1 through 18, before holiday pricing kicks in. If you only want the snow, aim for that window; if you want the holiday atmosphere, pay the premium and go between Christmas and New Year.
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