6 affordable long-haul destinations for December

If a few festive lights do little to brighten up the gloomy, dark days of December for you, a tropical escape could be the way to go.   

Getting reliable sunshine in the last month of the year often means travelling far and wide, but that doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. These affordable long-haul destinations for December have been carefully chosen to offer excellent value once you arrive.   

So while the flight might cost more than hopping over to Spain, you'll find destinations where good hotels, meals, drinks and days out cost considerably less than in Europe.   

Others offer competitive All Inclusive packages that wrap most of your spending into one simple price.  

So where’s hot in December without requiring a massive holiday budget?   

We've picked six destinations that combine proper winter warmth with good overall value, from the beaches of Goa and Thailand to the All Inclusive resorts of the Caribbean. 

1. The Gambia: Hot, dry and sunny, low package and local costs, cheapest overall 

2. Goa: Around 27°C and largely dry, cheap food, drink and hotels, best for beach and local life 

3. Thailand: Hot, drier season in many resorts, very low costs once there, best all-rounder 

4. Sri Lanka: Tropical, best weather in the south/west, low-cost food, hotels and experiences, best for adventure  

5. Dominican Republic: 25–29°C Caribbean weather, top All Inclusive value, best for resort holidays 

6. Mexico: Mid-20s around Caribbean coast, strong package competition, best for beach and sightseeing   

Best for: Affordable beach holidays, couples and something a little different.   

The Gambia might sound really far away, but in reality, it’s only about a six-hour flight from the UK. You’ll land on a stretch of the West African coastline edged by sandy beaches and laidback resorts.   

Popular holiday areas include Kololi, where restaurants, markets and nightlife give you plenty to do away from the beach, and Kotu, which has a quieter feel with palm-backed sands and relaxed beach bars.  

A package holiday here regularly comes in at less than four figures, making it one of the most affordable winter sunshine spots – especially in December when school holidays can drive up prices in more well-known destinations.   

There's also wildlife, colourful markets, fishing villages and boat trips along the River Gambia if you fancy seeing more than your hotel pool. There are both All Inclusive and B&B packages, while local restaurants won’t have you blowing the spending-money budget.   

And there’s another bonus – The Gambia is in the same time zone as the UK in December, so you can clock straight into holiday mode.   

Put simply, The Gambia gives you that tropical holiday feeling without the exotic price tag.   

Best for: Couples, food, beaches and travellers who like getting out of the hotel.  

If big All Inclusive resorts aren’t your style, Goa could be your go-to December hotspot. Local restaurants and beach shacks are so cost-effective that going out feels free from bill-related anxiety.   

December is one of the best months to visit weather-wise, with average temperatures around 27°C and rainfall at a minimum. That means Goa’s standout beaches can be at the top of your agenda. In North Goa, resorts like Candolim and Calangute put restaurants, bars, markets and beach shacks within easy reach. If you'd prefer things quieter, South Goa has long stretches of sand and more relaxed resort areas.  

You'll find a good selection of package accommodation too, ranging from straightforward Bed and Breakfast stays to sprawling beach resorts.  

The one thing to remember is that December is popular, especially over Christmas and New Year. If you're flexible, early December can be a better-value window than the festive fortnight. 

Few affordable winter sun destinations do more for your money than Thailand. You’ve got world-class street food for pocket change and luxury beach hotels that would cost the same as a three-star B&B in the UK. You could spend your week on a beach, combine Bangkok with an island, head into the jungle, eat your way through night markets, or do a bit of all of them.  

For a straightforward package holiday in December, the Andaman Coast is particularly popular. Think Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi. Phuket gives you the biggest variety. Patong is lively, while Kata, Karon and the island's northern resorts offer quieter alternatives. Khao Lak is a great choice if you mainly want attractive beaches and a relaxed resort, while Krabi is perfect if limestone cliffs, boat trips and island hopping are part of the plan.  

December is the middle of the country’s ‘cooler’ season, but don’t let the word cool bother you too much. This is Thai winter, not UK winter, so temps are usually topping a balmy 28°C.   

The biggest expense with Thailand is getting there. Once you’ve arrived, affordable hotels, restaurant, markets, taxis and excursions fill out your itinerary without maxing out your budget. 

Best for: Couples, adventurous travellers and people who want beaches and sightseeing.    

Affordable winter sun in December doesn’t get much more exciting than Sri Lanka. This is a holiday that can include everything from elephants, beaches and tea plantations to ancient temples and iconic train rides, all within a two-week getaway. It’s one of the best alternative winter sun destinations for those who want more than just a suntan.   

Weather varies depending on which part of the island you visit, but December marks the start of the prime period for the south-west coast. Beach areas such as Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Mirissa work particularly well at this time of year.  

Getting more bang for your buck is easy in Sri Lanka because you can easily combine the coast with something more unusual, like a wildlife safari. That means you’re getting far more than you would with a typical fly-and-flop holiday.   

Food, transport and experiences are good value once you're there, which means your package can become the base for a much bigger trip without every day trip adding hundreds to the cost. 

Best for: Caribbean beaches, All Inclusive resorts and couples or families who mainly want to relax.  

There's no need to rule out the Caribbean when you’re looking for low-cost winter sun. The Dominican Republic is all about All Inclusive resorts, particularly around Punta Cana, making it one of the more accessible Caribbean islands for a package holiday.  

December is a great time to visit weather wise, with daytime temperatures around 25–27°C. The beaches are exactly as they look in the brochures – white sand, turquoise water, and swaying palm trees that put the grey skies back home to shame.   

The All Inclusives here bundle your long-haul flight, hotel, meals, snacks, drinks, and entertainment all into one simple figure, so you don’t have to worry about budgeting while you’re sipping cocktails by the pool. They often come with multiple bars, restaurants, activities, and swimming spots, so you also won’t get bored – while staying fully in control of your overall holiday cost.   

Punta Cana and Bávaro are the obvious starting points. This is the country's biggest resort area, with miles of white-sand coastline and a huge selection of large hotels. Bayahibe is a great alternative if you'd prefer something smaller. It's the jumping-off point for trips to Saona Island and has beaches, snorkelling, diving and access to Cotubanamá National Park.

Best for: Families, couples, All Inclusive resorts and combining beach time with days out.  

Last but certainly not least is Mexico. For December sunshine, look towards the Caribbean coast around Cancun, Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen. Here you’ve got tropical temperatures around 25°C and 33°C, while you avoid the main rainy season that falls earlier in the year.   

You've also got a huge range of package hotels. Cancun is lively and packed with entertainment, while resorts further down the Riviera Maya give you easy access to beaches, natural sinkholes (cenotes), ancient Mayan sites and bigger towns such as Playa del Carmen.  

Mexico is another destination where the sheer scale of resorts really works in your favour. Everything from large family hotels to adults-only resorts and high-end five-star properties offer competitive prices for a full package with all the holiday bells and whistles.   

But if you want to get out and explore, there’s loads to do beyond the hotel, too. Visit Mayan ruins, swim in a cenote, spend the day on Isla Mujeres or explore the Yucatán Peninsula. This keeps everyone in the group happy no matter how chilled-out or adventurous they like to be on holiday.   

It depends on what value means to you. If keeping the overall budget as low as possible matters most, start with The Gambia or Goa. If cheap food and eating out are part of the appeal, look at Thailand or Goa.  

If you want beach time but also want to see a lot, Sri Lanka and Thailand are difficult to beat. And if your dream holiday is mainly resort, beach and cocktails, compare Dominican Republic and Mexico All Inclusive packages.  

Don’t forget that the cheapest package isn’t necessarily the best-value holiday. Always compare what you’ll actually spend from leaving home to coming back.   

It can be, but timing matters. Think of December as two very different holiday seasons.   

If you can travel during the first couple of weeks of December, you can often find really good value. A lot of tropical destinations are enjoying warmer, drier weather, but you've avoided the main Christmas and school holiday rush from the UK.

The second half of the month is a different story. Once schools finish and Christmas approaches, lots of people are keen to celebrate somewhere hot.   

Demand rises, popular hotels fill up, and flights become more expensive. In Thailand, for example, you’ll find the best deals by booking well in advance for the late-December to early-January peak. If Christmas in paradise is the dream, we recommend booking ahead rather than waiting for a last-minute bargain. 

Here are our top tips for securing the best-value break in December.   

• Compare different UK airports. Gatwick might be cheapest one week and Manchester the next.  

• Travel in early December if you can. The difference compared with Christmas week can be substantial.  

• Compare different trip lengths. Seven nights isn't automatically cheaper than ten or eleven.  

• Check exactly what's included. Luggage, transfers, meals and drinks all impact the final cost.   

• Choose the right board basis. B&B can be great value in Thailand or Goa, while All Inclusive often makes more sense in a Caribbean resort.  

• Compare nearby resorts. Staying slightly outside the best-known holiday area can sometimes get you much more hotel for your budget.  

• Look at the whole cost. A cheaper package isn't a bargain if everything costs a fortune once you arrive. 

Long haul doesn't have to mean blowing the holiday budget.   

Pick somewhere like Goa, Thailand or Sri Lanka, and your spending money can stretch considerably further once you've landed, while Dominican Republic holidays make it possible to wrap most of your costs into one All Inclusive package.  

And if you've got the flexibility, travelling in early December rather than Christmas week could be the real sweet spot, giving you tropical temperatures without paying peak festive prices. 

Ready for a festive getaway? Browse the latest winter sun deals here, or get more inspiration for affordable long-haul getaways on our blog.  

Author: Amabel Buck