Obviously “cheap” is a relative
term, but these are the cheapest holiday resort areas around the world that
also have warm and sunny weather in late December and early January.
Hotel rates listed are current as of August, 2017. Rates
listed are including all taxes.
1. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
·
December average high: 86°F/30°C
·
December average low: 64°F/18°C
On Mexico's Pacific coast,
Puerto Vallarta remains as one of the country's tourism jewels. Not only has it
avoided the safety problems that a few other resort areas have struggled with
in recent years, but it's also regarded as the most interesting and authentic
of Mexico's resort areas.
The weather during Christmas
time is pretty much perfect for anyone wanting to escape the cold, and the
large international airport also has good deals on flights from many North
American cities as well. Hotels for well under US$100 per night per couple are
easy to find, although if you want a well-located chain hotel you'll be paying
at least a bit more.
·
3-star hotels from: US$75 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$150 per
night for two people
2. Cancún/Cozumel/Riviera Maya, Mexico
·
December average high: 84°F/29°C
·
December average low: 69°F/21°C
In case you aren't aware of all
of these, Cancún is the purpose-built resort city on the Yucatán Peninsula
facing the Caribbean, and the area just to its south is known as the Riviera
Maya, which includes the nearby island of Cozumel. In other words, they are all
basically the same travel market, with nearly 1,000 hotels in total, and all
served by the huge Cancún Airport with cheap flights from all over.
The weather in late December is
predictably perfect with barely a chance of a quick thunderstorm, much less
anything worse. With so many hundreds of hotels competing for business, holiday
room rates for well under US$100 per night are easy to find. Package deals to
Cancún are very popular, and probably the best deal for those who book early.
As you can see by the room rates below, there is a huge difference between
3-star and 4-star properties in this area. A 3-star can be just a normal hotel
room in the city, while the 4-stars are all wonderful resorts with pools,
usually on the beach.
·
3-star hotels from: US$42 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$177 per
night for two people
3. Punta Cana/Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic
·
December average high: 83°F/28°C
·
December average low: 72°F/22°C
The Dominican Republic has a reputation
for its large all-inclusive hotels at great prices, and its two most popular
resort areas are Punta Cana (on the eastern tip) and Puerto Plata (on the
northern shore). Each has about 200 hotels to choose from, including dozens of
all-inclusive resorts designed to keep you there for your entire stay.
The weather and resort prices
are similar in both places in late December, so either one would be a fine
choice for someone looking for a cheap and warm place to spend a week. You'll
find that flight+hotel package prices are especially appealing to the DR, and
those who book early will usually get the best deals.
·
3-star hotels from: US$94 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$175 per
night for two people
4. Montego Bay/Ocho Rios/Negril,
Jamaica
·
December average high: 86°F/30°C
·
December average low: 70°F/21°C
Similar to the greater Cancun
area mentioned above, Jamaica has 3 busy resort towns that are all served by
the same large airport so they are somewhat interchangeable. Montego Bay has
the airport so it's the easiest to reach, but it has fewer affordable 4-star
hotels so Ocho Rios and Negril might be better options if you are interested in
that category.
All three towns have a different
vibe, so it's really only the weather and most prices that are similar. Along
with the Cancun area and the Dominican Republic, these Jamaican resorts are
also known for all-inclusive resorts and appealing package deals. Even during
the peak holiday months, it's possible to lock in an appealing deal if you book
early enough.
·
3-star hotels from: US$62 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$175 per
night for two people
5. San Juan, Puerto Rico
·
December average high: 83°F/28°C
·
December average low: 72°F/22°C
While San Juan isn't among the
cheapest places on this list for Christmas, it's still very good value and it's
a great place for a longer stay during this period. The wide and sandy beaches
just next to the historic center are some of the best beaches in the Caribbean,
and since it's part of the US, things like shopping and sightseeing are much
easier here than in most of the cheaper islands.
Especially if you are going to
stay for more than a week, it pays to look into an apartment rental instead of
a hotel. There is an abundance of nice apartments in the tourist area that are
rented out most of the year. If you are staying for a month, you can get an
amazing deal compared to a hotel.
·
3-star hotels from: US$103 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$248 per
night for two people
6. Ambergris Caye/Caye Caulker, Belize
·
December average high: 81°F/27°C
·
December average low: 68°F/20°C
Those looking for more of a
low-key holiday with no huge chain hotels in sight might prefer the islands of
Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, both just off the coast of Belize City. These
are both long, thin islands where golf carts serve as taxis and there is little
or no pavement in sight. The diving and snorkeling here are some of the best in
the world, even if these islands are short on long sandy beaches.
Belize is (more or less) an
English-speaking country, and these islands both have a bit of a Rastafarian feel
in places, so it's an interesting mix of culture and convenience. Nearly all
4-star hotels here start over US$200 per night for the holiday weeks, but there
are 3-star bargains nearby in addition to holiday villas for rent for those
with higher budgets.
·
3-star hotels from: US$180 per
night for two people
7. Roatán Island, Honduras
·
December average high: 84°F/29°C
·
December average low: 75°F/24°C
Similar in most ways to the islands
of Belize mentioned just above, Roatán Island is actually just to their south,
so it also sits off the world's second largest barrier reef. This means there
is excellent diving and snorkeling, plus more sandy beaches than you'd get in
the Belize islands.
Honduras is a Spanish-speaking
country, though especially with the recent influx of cruise-ship crowds here,
it's very easy to get by in English only. There are only about 60 hotels on the
island at this point, and holiday rates are still surprisingly reasonable
considering what is on offer. Still, booking early is probably wise.
·
3-star hotels from: US$79 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$208 per
night for two people
8. Tamarindo/Guanacaste,
Costa Rica
·
December average high: 90°F/32°C
·
December average low: 70°F/21°C
Costa Rica has a wide variety of
resort towns along both its Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and all of them will
be warm and sunny in late December. There are also national parks and volcanos
(not always sunny) in the interior, but if your main goal is to relax and be a
tourist, the best area is around Tamarindo in the Guanacaste province. There's
even a newer international airport nearby in the main city of Liberia, so
finding cheap direct flights is fairly easy.
Most of this northwestern area
is new and quite luxurious, so 4-star resorts and rental properties aren't much
cheaper than in Hawaii, but there are still some really good 3-star bargains.
Nosara is another small town in the area that doesn't feel quite so mass-market
compared to Tamarindo.
·
3-star hotels from: US$113 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$450 per
night for two people
9. Panama City, Panama
·
December average high: 90°F/32°C
·
December average low: 70°F/21°C
Panama has some very nice beach
resort areas with reasonable prices during Christmas, but it also has this
large and mostly modern city at its heart, which appeals to a different type of
traveler. You might even consider spending some of your stay at a beach and
another part of your stay in the city, as both are very good value this time of
year and any other.
It helps if you know at least a
bit of Spanish, but even those who don't can find plenty to do here to keep
them busy. The city has a few large shopping malls in the tourist area, so it
could be a good place to do some Christmas shopping or just hanging around. The
restaurant scene here is notoriously good as well.
·
3-star hotels from: US$33 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$54 per
night for two people
10. Cartagena, Colombia
·
December average high: 86°F/30°C
·
December average low: 76°F/24°C
The entire country of Colombia
has been rediscovered by the tourism world in recent years, but the historic
beach city of Cartagena has been popular for much longer. Along the country's
Caribbean coast (about the same latitude as northern Costa Rica, by the way),
Cartagena is an interesting mix of beach hotels and a gorgeous walled colonial
city with plenty to see.
Not only is Cartagena popular
with international tourists in the winter months, but domestic Colombian
tourists taking their holidays as well. So you won't be avoiding the crowds
here, but at least it's one of the more affordable sunshine destinations in the
region. The 4-star hotels along the beach just west of the historic center are
some of the best Christmas season bargains going. Speaking at least a bit of
Spanish is helpful.
·
3-star hotels from: US$52 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$124 per
night for two people
11. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
·
December average high: 71°F/22°C
·
December average low: 61°F/16°C
Tenerife is the most
English-language-friendly of Spain's Canary Islands, which are just west of
Morocco (and about the same latitude as central Florida). As you can see above,
it's not nearly as hot as most others on this list during December, but it's
still damn nice so it's very popular among Europeans looking for something
warmer.
Partly because it's not really a
great beach season, hotels in Tenerife are still quite cheap during the
Christmas holiday period. Most everything else is quite affordable as well, at
least compared to where you live now. Especially if you are looking for a place
with reasonable airfares from elsewhere in Europe, this could be a good choice.
The area around Los Cristianos and Playa de la Americas is the easiest for
English speakers, and it has the most consistent warm weather as well.
·
3-star hotels from: US$69 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$109 per
night for two people
12. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
·
December average high: 74°F/23°C
·
December average low: 59°F/15°C
At the southern tip of the Sinai
Peninsula in Egypt, Sharm el-Sheikh is more or less the Cancun of the region,
although not quite as warm in December. This is a purpose-built resort area
that has been popular with Europeans and others for some time now. While it's
remote and has generally been safe from the turmoil nearby, most of its fans are
choosing to go elsewhere at the moment.
We all hope that one day soon,
travelers can head to Egypt without checking all the security warnings every
few days. Until then, this one isn't for everybody, although those who do visit
are greeted with some amazing hotel rates, including for the popular Christmas
holiday period.
·
3-star hotels from: US$20 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$26 per
night for two people
13. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
·
December average high: 79°F/26°C
·
December average low: 61°F/16°C
One of the most unusual
destinations anywhere, Dubai is a huge and booming city with a few nice beaches
and an extremely busy airport. The period in late December is one of the nicer
times of the year, so it can get pretty crowded during the holidays. The main
activity here is shopping at enormous malls filled with all ranges of goods at
reasonable prices.
It's worth noting, however, that
the nicer and better located hotels in Dubai will cost at least two or three
times the minimums mentioned below. Those on lower budgets can get by pretty
well here, but that's not to be confused with the luxury market and beach
hotels that rival top room rates anywhere on earth.
·
3-star hotels from: US$65 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$84 per
night for two people
14. Goa, India
·
December average high: 91°F/33°C
·
December average low: 69°F/21°C
Goa has been a famous hippie
hangout for Europeans and some others for decades now, but it's also popular
with families this time of the year, including many from elsewhere in India.
Goa is actually a small state in southern India with more than a dozen different
low-key beach towns, each catering to its own groups of fans.
In other words, it pays to do
some research before choosing a beach hotel here because most of them won't be
suited to you. Room rates are quite reasonable even during this busiest time of
year, although it's important to note that the cheapest hotels in Goa (and all
over India) tend to be disappointing and rarely worth the savings. Still, the
4-star hotels in Goa are mostly quite good, and excellent value at Christmas
time.
·
3-star hotels from: US$54 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$110 per
night for two people
15. Georgetown,
Penang, Malaysia
·
December average high: 88°F/31°C
·
December average low: 74°F/23°C
Perhaps not as well known as most
of the others on this list, Penang Island and its main city of Georgetown are
certainly worth a look for some people. The area is quite popular with Asian
visitors and adventurous Westerners as an alternative to Phuket and other Thai
islands.
The cheaper hotels in the area
are those in the historic center of Georgetown, while the beachfront resorts
are going to cost quite a bit more. Avoid the cheapest hotels here and pay
close attention because most of the cheapest rooms have no windows at all. Still,
there is great value here, particularly in the food scene. Penang is known as
the culinary capital of Malaysia, with an abundance of cheap and cheerful food
courts in addition to some notable fine dining.
·
3-star hotels from: US$32 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$58 per
night for two people
16. Phuket, Thailand
·
December average high: 88°F/31°C
·
December average low: 75°F/24°C
Phuket is Asia's most popular
beach destination, featuring well over 1,000 hotels and resorts. It's actually
an island with about 12 different beach areas that are quite different from one
another, so this is another destination where hotel research is critical.
Patong Beach is by far the biggest and most crowded of the beach areas, to the
degree that many people absolutely loathe it.
Karon and Kata are nearby beach
areas that are at least a little more serene, and there are several other
enclaves of upmarket luxury hotels and resorts. This has been a very popular
Christmas destination for northern Europeans for decades, and yet it's still
quite affordable even during its peak season. Hotels on or near the beach are
going to cost quite a bit more than the prices listed below, but those who
don't mind walking a bit can get great value even at Christmas here.
·
3-star hotels from: US$19 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$45 per
night for two people
17. Hoi An/Da Nang, Vietnam
·
December average high: 77°F/25°C
·
December average low: 67°F/19°C
Da Nang is a bit of a wildcard
on this list because it's not really suited to mass-market visitors, at least those
from the West. This beach city along Vietnam's central coast is a short drive
from the ultra-charming Hoi An, and both are quite popular for different
reasons, especially for cheap hotels.
Hoi An has been a favorite among
visitors to Vietnam for decades, while Da Nang is more of a newcomer after it's
built a string of large beachfront hotels meant for foreign guests. Vietnamese
food has a large cult following around the world, and both of these towns have
an abundance of great and affordable restaurants serving several varieties.
This is one to think about if it feels like you've been everywhere else.
·
3-star hotels from: US$11 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$30 per
night for two people
18. Bali, Indonesia
·
December average high: 86°F/30°C
·
December average low: 76°F/26°C
Unlike the others on this list,
Bali is (slightly) in the Southern Hemisphere, and December is actually one of
the rainy months so Christmas visitors can expect at least a few downpours per
week. But the rain usually doesn't last long so it's still very popular here on
the Christmas holidays, particularly with Australians. The cheapest hotels here
are of low standards and often without A/C, which you'll really need in
December.
The most crowded and popular
area is the famous surf beach along Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak on the west
coast, but there are many lower-key beach areas in addition to Ubud a bit up in
the central hills. Well-heeled visitors might also consider the tourist zone of
Nusa Dua in the south, which is filled with large chain hotels that are often
loaded with honeymoon couples.
·
3-star hotels from: US$13 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$25 per
night for two people
19. Boracay Island, Philippines
·
December average high: 82°F/28°C
·
December average low: 75°F/24°C
December marks the tail end of
the rainy season in Boracay Island, but those tropical storms rarely last long
so the place is very popular over the Christmas holidays anyway. This gorgeous
strip of sand is lined with hotels, as well as a sand pathway along the beach,
making it possible to spend days at a time in bare feet.
There are no super-cheap hotels
on Boracay Island, but that's mainly because every hotel is within 100 meters
or less of the sandy beach. There are many choices of international cuisine
here, including many chain restaurants. The most obvious choices are the great
number of affordable all-you-can-eat buffets that set up every evening right on
the beach. There's also plenty of live music, as you'd expect in the
Philippines.
·
3-star hotels from: US$30 per
night for two people
·
4-star hotels from: US$72 per
night for two people
Source: priceoftravel