While the holiday season is typically a traditional time for families to get together and enjoy each other’s company, not everyone wants to spend hours listening to sweet Aunt Edna talk about how she met someone who is distantly related to a celebrity for the twentieth time.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend the holidays trapped in a house with all your relatives! There are some amazing travel destinations to visit in December, even while living on a budget. You can invite your family to come along with you to one of these amazing locations, or there’s always the option of enjoying your December far away from fruitcake, mistletoe, and Aunt Edna’s “special” eggnog.
Cancun, Mexico
If you’re wanting to avoid the ice and snow, Cancun is the best place to travel in December. With the average temperature in the low 80s, the sunny and sandy beaches can help you relax and escape from the stress of the holidays.
To get the best from your Cancun trip, schedule your time there earlier in December. If Cancun is a bit too expensive for your tastes, but you’re still looking for a beach resort to enjoy, you might want to consider Playa del Carmen. It’s about an hour south of Cancun, is tourist-friendly, and gives you more to experience than the resort town of Cancun while staying in your budget.
Rome, Italy
In Rome, you can lose yourself in the beautiful architecture, art, and expansive history while fully enjoying its vibrant culture. Visiting Rome in December means smaller crowds, lower room rates, and more accessibility to all of the things that make Rome worth visiting. By visiting in December, you will be able to explore the city without having to fight traffic and navigate through endless crowds of people, which will give you time to find the perfect spot to call your own.
To get the best price for your trip to Rome, you might want to consider some alternative options on where you’ll stay. Rather than booking a hotel, you can go with Airbnb or Homestay. Not only can this help you save money when booking your trip, but it will also give you the chance to be in the center of the Roman community and culture rather than just being a temporary tourist.
Las Vegas, Nevada
If you don’t want to leave the country and are focused on reasonable rates while still being able to get the luxury you want, then Las Vegas is where to travel in December. Las Vegas is a town for tourists, but it does have some slow seasons—one of those being December. That means hotels are looking for customers, and are willing to give good deals for rooms and shows.
If you want to save a bit of money while scheduling your time in Vegas, look for hotels that are not located on Las Vegas Boulevard, also called the Las Vegas Strip. While the most famous and popular hotels are on the Strip, there are more hotels in the valley that are high quality and reasonably priced. Consider looking at hotels in the older part of downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street, or even some of the hotels and casinos that are scattered in the residential areas in the city like the Station hotels and casinos.
If you want the Las Vegas experience without having to be on the Strip, the suburbs of Las Vegas are also a great place to visit. Henderson, Green Valley, and even North Las Vegas can give you the experience of Las Vegas without putting you over budget.
Orlando, Florida
One of the best places to travel in December on a budget is Orlando. Orlando can be relaxing and enjoyable, and is a warmer alternative when the temps start to drop.
Most hotels are close to half price in December and airfare can be an equally good deal if you book early. That gives you the money left over in your budget to spend time at Disney World, Universal Studios, and even SeaWorld Orlando.
Stowe, Vermont
If you like snow, and you want a place to visit during December to enjoy skiing or snowboarding, Stowe is for you. If you decide to plan your trip to Stowe, make sure to buy your lift tickets online at least a week ahead of time, as there can be discounts there. While there aren’t many seasonal deals in Stowe, one of the biggest savings can come in hotel deals and can be over $100 cheaper a night if you schedule at the right time.
If you’re not a skier there’s still a good amount to do in Stowe. The resorts have luxurious spas that will pamper you and offer multiple first-class restaurants any foodie would embrace.
No matter where you are planning on going in December, Nomatic travel bags can help you bring everything you need on your trip. Check out Nomatic’s travel gear to find out more about how we can help you on your next trip!