Travel tips
Best honeymoon destinations in December: 5 places to go
While it is dark at home, the dry season begins in several warm places. These are five honeymoon destinations for December, and the hotel we would choose in each.
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In short
The Maldives is our first choice for a December honeymoon, when the dry season begins and the water turns clear. Sri Lanka and Zanzibar are also in season, Oman offers winter sun with a shorter flight, and St Lucia is dry from December. Book early, as Christmas and New Year fill first.
Our first choice: See rooms at Soneva Jani
December is the darkest month in northern Europe, but the best season is just beginning in the Indian Ocean. Many couples who marry in autumn or around Christmas wait until now for their honeymoon. You get settled heat and clear water, and you are home just before the new year starts.
Five honeymoon destinations for December
Maldives: Soneva Jani, Noonu Atoll
The dry season in the Maldives begins in December, and visibility underwater is among the best of the year. Soneva Jani is on Noonu Atoll, with large villas far out in the lagoon. Each has its own pool, several have a slide straight into the sea, and the roof opens to the stars. Six resorts are in our Maldives honeymoon guide.
Best for: couples who want space, privacy and a little fun.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Soneva Jani
Weligama
Cape Weligama sits on a headland above the south coast.
Sri Lanka: Cape Weligama
December marks the start of the season on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Cape Weligama is a Relais & Châteaux resort on a headland above the sea, with thirteen outdoor pools and Turtle Bay beach close by. Start with a tour of the hill country and finish here. The route is in our Sri Lanka honeymoon guide.
Best for: couples who want to combine a tour with the beach.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Cape Weligama
Musandam
The villas sit between the mountains and the sea.
Oman: Six Senses Zighy Bay
Oman offers winter sun without the long flights to Asia. Six Senses Zighy Bay is in a remote bay on the Musandam Peninsula, where steep mountains drop into the sea. The villas have private pools and terraces, and some guests arrive by paraglider down the mountainside.
Best for: couples who want beach and mountains in a villa far from everything.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Six Senses Zighy Bay
St Lucia
The rooms at Jade Mountain have no fourth wall.
St Lucia: Jade Mountain
The Caribbean dry season starts in December, and the hurricane season is over. At Jade Mountain the rooms have no fourth wall, so you look straight out at the Pitons from bed and from your own pool. Anse Chastanet beach lies just below.
Best for: couples who want one of the most unusual hotels in the Caribbean.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Jade Mountain
Zanzibar: Uzuri Villa, Jambiani
December is hot and dry on Zanzibar, and you can spend Christmas with your feet in the sand. Uzuri Villa is a small boutique hotel on the beach at Jambiani, with three suites and three junior suites. Guests rate it 9.6. Six hotels are in our Zanzibar honeymoon guide.
Best for: couples who want somewhere small and personal over Christmas.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Uzuri Villa
Christmas and New Year on honeymoon
The week between Christmas and New Year is the most expensive and most booked week of the year at most of these places. Travel in the first half of December and you get the same weather for less. If you want to be away over Christmas, book nine to twelve months ahead.
Frequently asked questions about a December honeymoon
Where is best for a honeymoon in December?
The Maldives is the best choice, as the dry season begins and the water clears. Sri Lanka’s south coast and Zanzibar are also in season. Oman offers winter sun with a shorter journey, and St Lucia is dry and past the hurricane season. Avoid Mauritius and the Seychelles over Christmas if settled weather matters.
Is December a good month for the Maldives?
Yes. December is the start of the dry season, with more sunshine, calmer seas and good visibility for snorkelling. It is also high season, so prices climb towards Christmas and New Year. Go early in December for the same weather at a lower price. Soneva Jani on Noonu Atoll is our first choice.
How much does a honeymoon over Christmas cost?
The week between Christmas and New Year is the most expensive of the year at most beach destinations, and many hotels set a minimum stay. Prices can be far higher than in early December. Choose the first two weeks of December, or wait until January, to get more for your money.
When should you book a December honeymoon?
Book nine to twelve months ahead for Christmas, and around six months ahead for early December. The best villas in the Maldives and on St Lucia go first. Mention that you are newlyweds when you book, as hotels often do something extra.