Key takeaways
We asked MyEscapePlan where it's warm in December for two people flying from London. Five destinations stood out for different reasons: a festive Orlando, Cancún for beaches and Maya history, Punta Cana for a slower Caribbean break, Nassau for Bahamian celebrations, and Sharm el-Sheikh for Red Sea value. These are the places we'd shortlist, not a promise that one destination suits every traveller.
| Destination | Dec daytime high | Sample trip | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 23°C | about £640 pp | Festive family escape |
| Cancún | 28°C | about £805 pp | Beaches and culture |
| Punta Cana | 29°C | about £920 pp | Slow Caribbean escape |
| Nassau | 27°C | about £4,370 pp | Caribbean celebrations |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 25°C | about £455 pp | Affordable Red Sea sunshine |
1. Orlando: Christmas without the winter coats
Orlando is the December pick if the Christmas atmosphere matters more than a guaranteed beach day. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs on selected nights to 22 December, and EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays runs from 27 November to 30 December. Universal adds Grinchmas from 14 November into early January. We'd choose dates that allow a relaxed day between the big parks; December queues and ticket costs can make a nonstop theme-park itinerary exhausting. The small reality check is the weather: a 23°C daytime average sounds inviting, but Orlando can have properly cool evenings. A hoodie belongs in the suitcase.
Our search note: 13–23 December was the sample searched. The observed stay was a budget hotel on International Drive, not on Disney property. Park admission is extra. The sampled dates were 2026-12-13 to 2026-12-23 (10 nights), for two adults sharing; the rough per-person comparison price is in the table above.
Worth planning: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, Grinchmas. Disney's party requires a separate ticket; check individual event dates.
2. Cancún: beaches, cenotes and a proper day away from the resort
Cancún works best when you leave some room between the beach days for the Yucatán Peninsula. Playa Delfines is the picture-postcard stretch of sand; inland, cenotes turn a swim into something altogether different. Chichén Itzá is a longer day out than it looks on a map, but it is a worthwhile one if you're interested in Maya history. December also brings Mexico's Las Posadas tradition from 16 to 24 December, although you should check for public events locally rather than assume every gathering is open to visitors. Our preference would be to split the trip between time by the sea and one or two planned excursions, not book a different tour every day.
Our search note: 9–19 December was the sample searched. The displayed stay was a Cancún coliving property, not a Hotel Zone all-inclusive resort. The sampled dates were 2026-12-09 to 2026-12-19 (10 nights), for two adults sharing; the rough per-person comparison price is in the table above.
Worth planning: Playa Delfines, cenotes, Chichén Itzá, local December celebrations. Las Posadas is a seasonal tradition; no particular Cancún public event date has been confirmed.
3. Punta Cana: a long lunch, a beach and very little agenda
Punta Cana is the option for anyone who wants December to feel like a different season altogether. Book time for the beach, but we'd save one day for the Ojos Indígenas Ecological Reserve: its forest trails connect twelve freshwater lagoons, and swimming is allowed in designated spots. Macao Beach is worth considering if the all-inclusive resort strip feels too enclosed. A Saona Island excursion is another option, though it's a long outing rather than a quick hop. A specific December extra is the Nickelodeon Holiday Extravaganza advertised for its Punta Cana resort, starting in December 2026; that is a separate hotel product, not part of our example price. The important choice here isn't which attraction to tick off: it's whether you want a full-service beachfront resort or a much cheaper guesthouse with separate meals and transfers. The two experiences price very differently.
Our search note: 1–15 December was the sample searched. Its observed stay was a Macao-area guesthouse, not an all-inclusive resort. The sampled dates were 2026-12-01 to 2026-12-15 (14 nights), for two adults sharing; the rough per-person comparison price is in the table above.
Worth planning: Ojos Indígenas Ecological Reserve, Macao Beach, optional Saona Island excursion, resort holiday programming. The Nickelodeon event is resort-specific; consult Karisma for eligible travel dates and admission.
Check current Punta Cana escapes
4. Nassau: the Bahamas when Junkanoo takes over
The strongest reason to pick Nassau over another Caribbean beach is Junkanoo. On Boxing Day, 26 December, downtown Nassau becomes a procession of elaborate handmade costumes, drums, brass and dancing. It's a major Bahamian cultural celebration, not just another resort activity. Atlantis also has its Pomp, Snow & CIRQUEumstance holiday show scheduled from 29 November 2026 to 8 January 2027. We'd choose 23 December-2 January for time to settle in before the Boxing Day celebrations, then leave the rest of the break for the city and beaches.
Our 23 December-2 January search found return flights between Heathrow and Nassau at £2,799 for two adults, plus ten nights at Sandyport Beach Resort for £5,940. The illustrative subtotal is £8,739 for two, about £4,370 per person, checked on 11 October 2026.
Worth planning: Boxing Day Junkanoo on 26 December and the Atlantis holiday circus show. Our 23 December-2 January window includes Boxing Day.
Find a Nassau trip: 23 December-2 January
5. Sharm el-Sheikh: coral reefs instead of Caribbean airfares
Sharm is the practical choice if you want sunny days but don't particularly want a transatlantic flight. The attraction is mostly underwater: Ras Mohammed National Park and the reefs around Tiran offer extraordinary snorkelling and diving opportunities when conditions allow. On land, the Old Market is a useful change of pace after beach days, while a guided Sinai desert outing adds a very different landscape. December is pleasant for daytime exploring, but it isn't high summer: evenings can be cool and exposed boat trips windy. We'd prioritise a hotel with a heated pool and independently check how easy it is to reach the beach before booking. There is also a scheduled GAIA International Dance Festival from 3 to 7 December 2026, but it does not overlap our sampled 13–23 December dates, so you would need to move the trip.
Our search note: 13–23 December was the sample searched. This is a historical flight-and-stay observation, not a guaranteed resort deal; check heated pools and beach access. The sampled dates were 2026-12-13 to 2026-12-23 (10 nights), for two adults sharing; the rough per-person comparison price is in the table above.
Worth planning: Ras Mohammed snorkelling, Straits of Tiran, Old Market, GAIA Dance Festival (3 to 7 December). GAIA is scheduled for 3 to 7 December, outside the sampled 13–23 December window. Water excursions depend on local conditions.
Check current Sharm el-Sheikh escapes
Which December escape would we choose?
For the closest thing to tropical beach weather, we'd start with Punta Cana or Cancún. Orlando is the obvious festive family choice, but less reliable for pool weather. Nassau has the most distinctive late-December event, provided you travel over 26 December. If flight time and budget matter more than tropical heat, Sharm el-Sheikh is the one to compare first.
Before you book
This is an editorial shortlist based on a London-origin MyEscapePlan search checked on 11 October 2026 and separate checks of official event and attraction information. Search prices are dated observations, not guaranteed bookable packages; return flight times were not available in the supplied evidence. Event organisers can change programmes, and temperatures are historical guides. The December 2026 examples will become historical after the season, so use the search links to re-check current options.