Hotels
Where is hot in December? 9 winter sun destinations and where to stay
From the Canary Islands and Madeira to Dubai, Barbados and Cape Town: these are the places where it is hot in December, with one hotel in each that makes the trip worth it.
When December settles in with short days, soggy shoes and festive stress, there is something almost indecently good about stepping off a plane into warm air. Perhaps it is a long weekend in Tenerife, perhaps two weeks in the Caribbean over Christmas. Either way, it helps to know where the sun is actually waiting, and where you want to stay once you get there.
We have gathered nine places where it is hot in December, from short flights to the Canary Islands and Madeira, via the Middle East, to long-haul escapes to Thailand, Mexico, Barbados and South Africa. In each, we have picked one hotel we would happily check into.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You choose your own dates and room on the hotel page.
How to choose a December winter sun destination
Start with how far you are willing to fly. The Canaries and Madeira give you mild weather and a short flight, perfect for a long weekend. Dubai and Oman bring more heat and sunshine while staying comfortable. For tropical warmth and properly warm seas you need to go further, and then two weeks or more makes sense.
Short haul and mild: Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Madeira
Sunshine with little time difference: Dubai and Oman
Tropical heat: Thailand, Mexico and Barbados
Summer in the southern hemisphere: Cape Town
Mild and close to home: the Canaries and Madeira
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
The pool at sunset, with the Atlantic right in front.
Tenerife: Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
The Canary Islands are the classic winter sun escape from the UK, and for good reason. The islands are mild all winter, the flight is around four hours, and in December you can have lunch outside in shirtsleeves while it is grey back home.
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites is in Adeje on the south-west coast of Tenerife, close to Fañabé beach. There are five restaurants and a spa, and every suite has a kitchen and a balcony or terrace, so your morning coffee comes with a sea view.
Book your stay: See rooms at Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
The historic hotel stands in a park in the middle of Las Palmas.
Gran Canaria: Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
Gran Canaria is more than the beaches in the south. The capital, Las Palmas, has a long city beach, an old town of colonial houses and a lively food scene, and it is just as warm as the rest of the island in December.
Santa Catalina is a historic hotel in Doramas Park, with three restaurants, three bars and a pool framed by palm trees. A good choice if you want to combine sunshine with a city break.
Book your stay: See rooms at Santa Catalina
Madeira: Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel
Madeira is known as the island of flowers, and in December it is both mild and dressed for celebration. Funchal decorates for Christmas, and the New Year fireworks over the bay are among the most famous in Europe.
Reid’s Palace sits on the cliffs above Funchal and has been one of the Atlantic’s best-known hotels for generations. Guests praise the staff, and breakfast is included. From here you look straight out over the ocean and the town.
Book your stay: See rooms at Reid’s Palace
Sunshine in the Middle East: Dubai and Oman
Jumeirah Al Naseem
The Burj Al Arab in the background, seen from the hotel.
Dubai: Jumeirah Al Naseem
December is one of the best months in Dubai. It is warm enough for the beach and the pool without the searing heat of summer, and the evenings are perfect for dinner outdoors.
Jumeirah Al Naseem is on the beach, a few minutes from the Burj Al Arab, with five outdoor pools. For more ideas, see our guide to the best luxury hotels in Dubai.
Book your stay: See rooms at Jumeirah Al Naseem
The Chedi Muscat
The pool stretches out towards the Gulf of Oman.
Oman: The Chedi Muscat
Oman offers much of what Dubai does, with warm winter days and long beaches, but at a gentler pace, with mountains, desert and old forts within reach.
The Chedi Muscat is a seafront resort in the capital, near the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Breakfast is included, and its long pools facing the sea are among the most photographed in the region.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Chedi Muscat
Tropical heat: Thailand, Mexico and Barbados
Trisara
A private beach and sala in the north of Phuket.
Phuket: Trisara
On Thailand’s west coast the dry season begins around November, and December brings sunshine, warm seas and calm evenings.
Trisara is in Choeng Thale in the north of the island, next to Sirinat National Park. The villas have balconies or terraces, and airport transfers are included, which you will appreciate after a long journey.
Book your stay: See rooms at Trisara
NIZUC Resort and Spa
The pool area in the evening, when the lights come on between the palms.
Cancún: NIZUC Resort and Spa
In Mexico the dry season begins in December, and the Caribbean Sea off Cancún is warm all year. Read more in our guide to Cancún.
NIZUC sits on Punta Nizuc, beside a marine national park and away from the busiest stretch of the hotel zone. There are five outdoor pools, and guests single out the staff.
Book your stay: See rooms at NIZUC
Coral Reef Club
Tropical gardens and a pool on the west coast of Barbados.
Barbados: Coral Reef Club
Barbados enters its dry season in December, and the west coast is known for calm, turquoise water. Plenty of British travellers spend Christmas here, and the mood is relaxed and elegant.
Coral Reef Club is a family-owned hotel in Holetown, a couple of minutes from Sandy Lane Beach. It has two outdoor pools and lush gardens running down to the sand, and guests rave about the room service.
Book your stay: See rooms at Coral Reef Club
Summer in December: Cape Town
The Silo Hotel
The signature windows frame Table Mountain.
Cape Town: The Silo Hotel
In the southern hemisphere December is summer, and Cape Town has long, bright days of beaches, winelands and Table Mountain right behind the city.
The Silo Hotel is in a former grain silo on the waterfront, with huge glass and steel windows and views of the mountain. Breakfast is included, and there is a spa.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Silo Hotel
When should you book a December winter sun holiday?
December, and especially Christmas and New Year, is peak season almost everywhere warm. Flights and the best hotels fill early, so book in the autumn if you can. The first half of December is often both cheaper and quieter.
Book flights and hotels early for Christmas and New Year
Check entry requirements and any visa rules in good time
Choose a hotel close to the beach if you want to make the most of the sun
See also our overview of where is hot month by month.
Frequently asked questions about where is hot in December
Where is hot in December in Europe?
The Canary Islands and Madeira are the warmest places in Europe in December, with mild weather and plenty of sunshine. Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Madeira are a short flight from the UK and suit a long weekend or a week away. Southern Spain and Cyprus can have mild days, but the weather is less reliable.
Where is hot in December with a short flight?
The Canary Islands are the easiest choice, at around four hours from the UK. Madeira is a similar distance. If you want more heat, Dubai and Oman give you sunshine and comfortable temperatures, with a few hours more in the air.
Where is hot at Christmas?
The Caribbean, Mexico, Thailand and Dubai are popular places for a hot Christmas. Cape Town is in the middle of summer. If you would rather stay closer to home with mild weather, the Canaries and Madeira are good choices.
Where is tropical in December?
Thailand, Mexico and Barbados have tropical heat and their dry season in December. Phuket and Krabi are on Thailand’s west coast, where the weather is best in winter. In the Caribbean, December marks the start of the best time to visit.
When should you book a holiday for December sun?
Book in the autumn if you can, especially for Christmas and New Year. It is peak season in most warm destinations, and both flights and hotels get pricier and fill up. The first half of December is often quieter.