The 10 best holiday destinations for winter sun in December

There is something of an air of extravagance to the idea of being abroad for Christmas, shunning turkey bones and dirty plates for Santa hats on the beach. And with the school holidays also appearing as part of the equation, the thought of seeing your children swap sleet and 3pm darkness for paddling and sunsets will always be tempting.

Of course, you tend to pay a premium for holidays in the festive period. But with December (and January) generally considered the best time to visit the Caribbean, this can be a cost worth considering.

Not that Antigua, Barbados et al are the only options for a hot-weather getaway as the year comes to a close. Here, we pick 10 of the best sun-kissed options for the next few weeks.

Fuerteventura, Spain (19-24C)

The second largest of Spain's Canary Islands (after Tenerife) only dangles a leg below the 20C mark in the coldest weeks of January, but is otherwise a haven for sunshine at any time of year. Corralejo, at Fuerteventura’s northern tip, is one of the accommodation hubs, home to a splendid beach which gazes at the neighbouring islet of Lobos. But there is rugged scenery too – not least the protected expanse of the Parque Rural de Betancuria.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No.

How to do it: A seven-night half-board stay at the four-star Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas in Corralejo, flying from Manchester on December 10, costs from £532 per person with Tui (020 3451 2688; tui.co.uk). For more inspiration on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's complete guide to the best hotels in Fuerteventura.

Cape Town, South Africa (19-24C)

South Africa may seem a far-flung choice on any quest for accessible winter sun, but Cape Town earns convenience points for the lack of time difference (GMT+2) to the UK, and its refusal to dip below 20C during the European winter. Throw in its beauty, Table Mountain rising – along with the prettiness of the Cape Peninsula (the beaches of Camps Bay, oceanside towns like Muizenberg and Fish Hoek) – and you have a winning hand.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No.

How to do it: Wexas (020 8125 4271; wexas.com) offers an 11-day “Cape, Wine and Whales” tour of south-western South Africa that features two days amid the vineyards at Franschhoek, two whale-watching at Hermanus, and four exploring and relaxing in Cape Town. From £2,315 per person, with flights. 

The Maldives (30C+)

December is an excellent month to visit the Indian Ocean's desert-island archipelago. The heavy rains which fall between May and November have tailed off into the occasional shower. Christmas, inevitably, can be an expensive time to check in to a luxury water villa, straddling the shallows on spindly wooden legs - but if you cut your dash earlier in the month, prices will be lower accordingly.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No, beyond a travel declaration form (see travel.immigration.gov.mv), to be completed within 96 hours of arrival and departure. 

How to do it: A six-night stay at the five-star Velassaru Maldives, flying from Gatwick on December 3, costs from £2,515 per person, including transfers and breakfast, with Kuoni (0800 098 8216; kuoni.co.uk). For a complete guide on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's best hotels in the Maldives.

Singapore (25-29C)

Sometimes dismissed as a stop-off point on a longer journey, this fascinating city-state is far more than a place to change planes. Singapore sings of its former British era in the iconic courtyard of the Raffles Hotel (where a Singapore Sling cocktail is essential) but shouts loudly about its vibrant 21st century feel in the futuristic flora of its Gardens by the Bay, and the shopping malls that gleam on the long retail avenue of Orchard Road.

Any remaining Covid requirements? The fully vaccinated must be able to demonstrate their vaccine status to enter Singapore. The unvaccinated can also enter, but must pass a professionally witnessed Covid test no more than two days before travel, and must purchase travel insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 (£18,660) for potential Covid-19-related treatment. Full details at safetravel.ica.gov.sg.

How to do it: A seven-night break to the five-star Shangri-La Singapore, flying directly from Heathrow on December 10, costs from £3,063 per person, including breakfast, with Destinology (01204 208 474; destinology.co.uk). For more inspiration on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Singapore.

Krabi, Thailand (30C+)

The British love affair with Thailand – which may be the most dependable Far Eastern country for winter-sun escapes – shows no sign of fading. Krabi is a holiday stalwart in the Andaman Sea, gazing onto Phang Nga Bay, where dramatic limestone stacks litter the water. Krabi Town, with its many hotels, is one of the focal points; the area’s beauty summed up by the sands and scuba diving opportunities of Ao Nang Beach.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No.

How to do it: The 11-night “Extraordinary Thailand” holiday sold by Scott Dunn (020 3733 9378; scottdunn.com) includes six days at the Tubkaak resort in Krabi. From £3,200 per person, including flights. For more advice on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's complete guide to the best hotels in Thailand.

Orlando, USA (19-24C)

The concept of “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” takes a twist in Florida, where Santa has to don his trademark red suit in heat that rarely drops below 20C. And the festive season takes a particular spin in Orlando, where the main theme parks – not least Disney World and Universal Orlando – do their best to impersonate a “real” winter via a carnival of artificial snow, repentant Scrooges, talking mice, boy wizards and general merriment.

Any remaining Covid requirements? There are no longer any entry restrictions for vaccinated travellers, but unvaccinated foreign tourists are still prohibited from entering the USA.

How to do it: A seven-night break to the four-star Grove Resort & Waterpark in nearby Kissimmee, flying from Manchester on December 10, costs from £1,165 per person with British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0787; ba.com/holidays). Read more: A complete guide to the best hotels in Orlando.

Oman (25-29C)

The United Arab Emirates’ neighbour enjoys the same mid-Twenties warmth during the European winter as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while projecting more of an air of refinement than the latter. Muscat certainly sees itself as an artistic city, home to an ornate opera house, plus the contemporary paintings at Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art. But for many visitors, it is all about the beaches, with the hotels of Zighy Bay providing chic welcome.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No.

How to do it: Cox & Kings (020 3918 4642; coxandkings.co.uk) sells an eight-day “Oman: Peak to Beach” holiday that pairs time on the sand with the scenery of the Al Hajar mountains. From £2,895 per person, with flights. Read more for a complete guide to the best hotels in Oman.

Cartagena, Colombia (30C+)

It is sometimes forgotten that the Caribbean Sea stretches along the north coast of South America, where it washes against one of the continent’s most fabled cities. Cartagena was founded as a Spanish settlement in 1533, and has been a jewel on the map ever since. Visitors can wander amid echoes of the 16th century, or use the city as a base for wider exploration of Colombia, heading to Barranquilla, Santa Marta or Tayrona National Park.

Any remaining Covid requirements? Tourists are required to fill out the ‘Check-Mig’ form on the Migración Colombia website in the 24 hours before they enter the country (no later than an hour before they arrive). Beyond this, there are no entry considerations for fully vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated tourists must pass a PCR test no more than 72 hours before boarding their plane – while cruise-ship passengers must be vaccinated, and pass the same test 72 hours prior to arrival.

How to do it: The 11-day “Signature Colombia: Culture and Coffee” tour offered by Journey Latin America (020 3131 2661; journeylatinamerica.co.uk) calls on Cartagena and Bogota, as well as the Rosario Islands in Colombia’s Caribbean waters. From £2,700 per person (flights extra). 

Cancun, Mexico (25-29C)

It is easy to look at the back-story of the Yucatan Peninsula – and the founding of Cancun as a purpose-built holiday zone in 1970 – and assume that it is all concrete hotels and a dearth of soul. In reality, Mexico’s Caribbean edge is blessed with some wonderful five-star properties, while the Mayan sites dotted onto the landscape – notably Chichen Itza and Uxmal – are a grand reminder that this region has long been a desirable location.

Any remaining Covid requirements? No.

How to do it: A seven-night getaway to the five-star Secrets Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, flying from Heathrow on December 11, costs from £2,675 per person, through Virgin Holidays (0344 472 9646; virginholidays.co.uk). For more inspiration on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Cancun.

Dominican Republic (30C+)

The Dominican Republic occupies a slightly strange position in terms of Caribbean geography. It takes up two thirds of the region’s second largest island, Hispaniola. The other, westernmost portion of the landmass belongs to perennially troubled Haiti – making for an awkward relationship between two close-pressed neighbours that dates back to 1697, the Treaty of Rijswijk, and the distant mists of the colonial battles between France and Spain.

Not that this has any effect on the holidaymakers who flock to the Dominican Republic’s shores. The country has sharpened its profile in the last decade, moving away from an image of bargain-basement beach breaks to one of higher-quality resorts on golden sands. Many of the latter are found around the island’s south-east tip, in Punta Cana and Bavaro. If you want to venture further afield, the nearby Cotubanama National Park is a rainforested joy, but if all you want is a lounger and a cocktail, no-one will begrudge you your indolence.

Any remaining Covid requirements? A digital health "affidavit", confirming a lack of symptoms. 

How to do it: A seven-night all-inclusive break to the five-star Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana costs from £1,999 per person, including flights, via Tropical Sky (01342 395 315; tropicalsky.co.uk). For more inspiration on where to stay, read Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in the Dominican Republic.

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