Here are the best places to visit in December in the U.S. and around the world.
Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/Getty Images
If youre like us, youre probably thinking, December already?
Where has the year gone?
Snowy landscape of South Tyrol in the Dolomites.Credit:Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/Getty Images
Here are 15 of the best places to travel this December.
I just traveled to Miami and stayed in the downtown Brickell area for the first time.
You might even spot a gray whale when their annual migration begins mid-month.
Miami Beach in Miami, Florida.Don Eim/Travel + Leisure
Where to Stay:Weve rounded up a list of the 12best hotels in San Diegofor your next trip.
Theres also ice skating at Frog Pond in Boston Common, a popular spot for locals and visitors.
A short walk away,Faneuil Halloffers shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Architecture in San Diego, California.Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure
Where to Stay:Several excellent properties were featured in theBostonrankings for 2024sWorlds Best Awards, includingRaffles BostonandHotel Commonwealth.
Where to Stay:The islands offer boutique hotels, resorts, andall-inclusive properties.
Where to Stay:The Point Resortin Saranac Lake includes 11 luxurious rooms within four rustic log cabins.
Ice skating on the Boston Commons.Taylor Neeland/Travel + Leisure
Many museums feature exhibits and hands-on activities for young visitors, making Washington, D.C. aperfect family destination.
For evening entertainment, theres the honky-tonkBilly Bobs Texasand the lively downtown district ofSundance Square.
He continues: There are some of the worlds best beaches, boutique hotels, and villa-style properties.
Coastline of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure
Activities range from spotting elephants in Udawalawe National Park to potentially seeing leopards and sloth bears in Yala.
Also, he says, Allow plenty of time.
Where to Stay:Camp Weligama, Relais & Chateaux, offers villas and residences overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Snowy landscape in the Adirondacks.Rebecca Lambertsen/Getty Images
Where to Stay:The five-starJW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeirooverlooks the beach.
There are stunning coastal walks and great hiking routes with unique discoveries to be made.
Where to Stay:The boutiqueArev Saint Tropez, opened in 2024, features a spa and Mediterranean restaurant.
Capitol building in Washington D.C.BackyardProduction/Getty Images
Five-starHotel La Poncheoffers a spa and bay views.
And the Christmas markets, she says.
It may not be the most peaceful time to visit, but it is the most fun!
Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas.Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Where to Stay:T+L has a list of the bestall-inclusive resorts in the Maldives.
Even if youre a non-skier, though, youll find much to enjoy in Italys mountains.
Where to Stay:Theres year-round comfort atForestis, and winter is especially beautiful.The Adler Spa Resortis another option.
An elephant spotted on a safari in Sri Lanka.Faye Strassle/Travel + Leisure
Diving and snorkeling are especially popular, with abundant marine life and miles of barrier reef.
Visitors from the U.S. will find convenient flights into Providenciales, and the currency is the U.S. dollar.
Where to Stay:The Shore Clubis ideal for groups, with four-, five-, and six-bedroom villas.
Vermelha beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Atlantide Phototravel/Getty Images
Christmas trees are displayed throughout the city, and musicians and folk groups perform at the Old Town Square.
Many visitors enjoy the city with a cruise along the Vltava River, a beautiful sightseeing experience.
Pragues museums offer history and cultural background along with a warm escape from the cold.
Cityscape of Saint-Tropez, France.Giacomo Augugliaro/Getty Images
For more, check out T+Ls list ofthe best hotels in Prague.
Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Austria.Ambika Verma/Travel + Leisure
A sunny beach in The Maldives.Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure
Coastline of Turks & Caicos.Heather Durham/Travel + Leisure
Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic.Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
