10 Best Places To Travel In December On a Budget

Jin - October 28, 2021

Hey! If you’re looking to travel somewhere in December and are working with a tight budget, you’ve come to the right article. I’ll break down the locations listed here by a few characteristics:

  • Approximate cost of lodging
  • Approximate cost of food
  • Approximate travel costs at the location
  • Awesome things to do

What this article won’t cover is the travel costs to get to the respective destinations since not everyone travels from the same places. Also, all the locations listed here are warm, temperate climates in the winter with relatively high humidity. The water temperatures are usually in the 70-80 degrees F range (21-27 C). Along with reliable travel blogs, sources for this information were found on:

Also keep in mind, all numbers presented are approximates, in USD, and are subject to change. The locations are listed in order starting from the cheapest. It’s important to understand what the Covid policies are with respect to each location prior to making travel plans. With that said let’s get right into it! 

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $8
  • Median lodging rate per night: $25
  • Price per meal: Starting at $2
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2.4
  • Average temperatures in December: 84 F/28 C High, 59 F/15 C Low
  • Getting around: Taxi, tuk tuk, songthaew, rental car
  • Travel costs: Car rental starts at $21/day

All Thai cities are known for being inexpensive to visit but Chiang Mai tops this list. Some awesome things to do include visiting temples like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Doi Suthep mountain. Chiang Mai is also home to Doi Inthanon National Park which is home to the highest mountain in Thailand. There are plenty of night markets to go to, foods to experience, and nightlife to enjoy.

Note that Thailand currently has a quarantine policy upon arrival due to Covid.

2. Phuket, Thailand

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $15
  • Median lodging rate per night: $45
  • Price per meal: Starting at $2
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $1
  • Average temperatures in December: 89 F/32 C High, 76 F/24 C Low
  • Getting around: Tuk tuk, taxi,/rideshare, bus
  • Travel costs: Typical cost for a tuk tuk ride is $2-$4, bus fares starting at $2, rideshare starting at $5

Phuket comes in at number 2 on this list of affordable places to travel in December. Some awesome things to do in Phuket include a trip to Kata Noi Beach, visiting the Big Buddha, and experiencing the Wat Chalong temple. Like Chiang Mai, there are lots of opportunities to check out night markets here too. Unlike Chiang Mai, however, Phuket has easy access to beaches since it is located near the coast.

_______________________

Google Sheets, meet Google Maps

Spreadsheet showing a trip itinerary with details like date, time, activity, and cost. Adjacent map highlights New York attractions. Blue text reads "Auto add activities to map and itinerary."
7-day free trial, learn more here!

_______________________

3. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $15
  • Median lodging rate per night: $40
  • Price per meal: Starting at $5
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2
  • Average temperatures in December: 85 F/29 C High, 74 F/23 C Low
  • Getting around: Bus, subway, Uber
  • Travel costs: Typical metro/subway ticket is less than $1. A~17 km Uber ride is about $5

Rio takes the 3rd spot. Besides its beautiful beaches, Rio also offers a lot of sight seeing potential with the Christ, the Redeemer statue at the peak of Corcovado Mountain and the historical district. Rio is also a place known for nightlife, the Lapa Stairs, Sugar Loaf Mountain.

4. Cartagena, Colombia

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $15
  • Median lodging rate per night: $65
  • Price per meal: Starting at $3
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $1
  • Average temperatures in December: 88 F/31 C High, 76 F/24 C Low
  • Getting around: Bus, taxi, walk, Uber
  • Travel costs: Bus fares start at ~$1

Cartagena is a port city in Colombia and is lesser known as a popular travel destination. Some awesome things to do include exploring the Walled City, wandering the streets and plazas of Getsemani, exploring the cathedrals, and navigating the Tunnels of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. The one thing that’s more unique here is the Magic Mud Volcano or El Totumo where travelers can take a dip in the warm mud in an unassuming little mound.

5. Costa Rica

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $15
  • Median lodging rate per night: $95
  • Price per meal: Starting at $5-$7
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $1.25
  • Average temperatures in December: 77 F/25 C High, 64 F/18 C Low
  • Getting around: Bus, taxi, Uber
  • Travel costs: Bus fares starting at $1, taxis starting at $2 base fare. A~8 km Uber ride is about $6.5

At spot number 5 is Costa Rica. Known for its volcanic activity, the main attractions in Costa Rica are hiking and exploring the volcanoes around this beautiful country. Places like the Arenal Volcano and Poas Volcano make this place special. Costa Rica also has many beaches like Guanacaste and Jaco. Not only that, you can see waterfalls and experience hot springs as well. It’s safe to say that there are limitless activities that you can do outdoors.

6. Boracay Island, Philippines

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $18
  • Median lodging rate per night: $85
  • Price per meal: Starting at $5
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2
  • Average temperatures in December: 82 F/28 C High, 75 F/24 C Low
  • Getting around: Walking, tuk tuk, bicycle
  • Travel costs: Typical price for a tuk tuk ride is $2-$5

Boracay Island is famous for tropical beaches, partying, and island hopping. The location is tourist friendly and cheap to boot. You can learn to free dive and scuba dive there. Besides that, there are lots of beautiful island landmarks and natural landscapes to see.

7. Panama

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $20
  • Median lodging rate per night: $80
  • Price per meal: Starting at $7
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2
  • Average temperatures in December: 87 F/30.5 C High, 76 F/24 C Low
  • Getting around: Bus, car, taxi
  • Travel costs: Bus fares start at  less than $1. Car rentals start at $5/day

At number 7 is the country of Panama in Central America. This is the nation in which the Panama Canal was built and you can visit this engineering marvel while you’re there. There are also lots of beaches to go to like Bocas del Toro and Punta Duarte. Panama is also home to an active volcano named Volcan Baru. Hikes and nature exploration are also awesome activities that you can do in Panama.

8. Belize

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $20
  • Median lodging rate per night: Low $100s
  • Price per meal: Starting at $5
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2
  • Average temperatures in December: 82 F/28 C High, 71 F/22 C Low
  • Getting around: Car, water taxi, bus
  • Travel costs: Water taxis start at $15 one way. Taxis range from $3-$7 typically. Car rentals start at $53/day

At spot 8 is the country of Belize. There’s a pattern here. A lot of places on this list are in Central and South America. Typically, Southeast Asia has been a budget friendly tourist destination but now, places in Central and South America are also becoming more popular just like Belize. In Belize, there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Great Blue Hole that travelers can explore. Being bordered by the ocean, there are lots of water activities to do like going to the beach, diving, and fishing. There are also a lot of ancient Mayan ruins to explore.

9. Tulum, Mexico

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $25
  • Median lodging rate per night: $85
  • Price per meal: Starting at $5
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $2
  • Average temperatures in December: 81 F/27 C High, 70 F/21 C Low
  • Getting around: Car, taxi, walk
  • Travel costs: Car rentals start at $8/day. $5 for a typical taxi ride

Another tropical, budget friendly spot is Tulum. Travelers visiting this Mexican city can experience cenotes which are underground caves with water, archaeological sites, beaches, and also Mayan ruins. The best way to get around Tulum is to rent a car since it is pretty cheap to do so.

10. Curacao

  • Cheapest lodging rate per night: $30
  • Median lodging rate per night: Low $100s
  • Price per meal: Starting at $14
  • Average price of beer per bottle: Starting at $3
  • Average temperatures in December: 87 F/30.5 C High, 76 F/24 C Low
  • Getting around: Car, bus, taxi
  • Travel costs: Bus fares start at ~$1. Car rental starts at ~$30/day.

Curacao is a Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. Here you can scuba dive, visit Dutch inspired colorful neighbors like Handelskade, go to the many beaches and experience Christoffel National park. There’s also a largely uninhabited island about 15 miles off the southeast coast of Curacao that’s an ideal day trip for snorkelers and scuba divers. There’s a lighthouse, coral reefs, and lots of marine life.

The other locations that I researched were Los Cabos, Mexico, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Dubai, Hawaii, and the Turks and Caicaos. Here is a screenshot of my research in table form. I know it's a bit difficult to read on desktop but you can right click and open the image in a new tab to zoom in: