1
$$$$ · Ultra-luxury
Maldives
MaldivesOverwater villas on glass-clear lagoons.
- Best:
- November–April
- Flight:
- 20–24 hrs
Honeymoon by month
Best honeymoon destinations in December
December splits the world in two: the Maldives, Caribbean and Thailand enter their driest, sunniest weeks, while Banff, Iceland and Queenstown offer snow, auroras and southern summer. Here are the 12 we'd book, with December weather and real costs.
Quick answer
The best honeymoon destinations in December are the Maldives, St. Lucia, Tulum, Costa Rica, Phuket, and Aruba for guaranteed sun in their dry season, and Banff, Queenstown, Iceland, and Kyoto if you'd rather have snow, auroras, or southern summer. Travel December 5–15 for peak-season weather at shoulder-season prices.
12 best places to honeymoon in December
2
$$$ · Luxury
St. Lucia
St. LuciaTwin Pitons rising straight out of the Caribbean.
- Best:
- December–April
- Flight:
- 5–8 hrs
3
$$ · Mid-range
Tulum
MexicoCenotes, Mayan ruins, and a barefoot beach scene.
- Best:
- November–April
- Flight:
- 3–5 hrs
4
$$ · Mid-range
Costa Rica
Costa RicaCloud forests, volcanoes, and Pacific surf towns.
- Best:
- December–April
- Flight:
- 4–7 hrs
5
$$ · Mid-range
Phuket & Phang Nga
ThailandLimestone islands, longtail boats, and great food.
- Best:
- November–April
- Flight:
- 20+ hrs
6
$$ · Mid-range
Aruba
ArubaOutside the hurricane belt — sun nearly every day.
- Best:
- Year-round (April–August driest)
- Flight:
- 4–6 hrs
7
$$$ · Luxury
Banff & Lake Louise
CanadaGlacial lakes ringed by the Canadian Rockies.
- Best:
- June–September, December–March
- Flight:
- 5–8 hrs
8
$$$ · Luxury
Queenstown
New ZealandAdventure capital of the South Island.
- Best:
- December–March, June–August for ski
- Flight:
- 16–20 hrs
9
$$$$ · Ultra-luxury
Bora Bora
French PolynesiaMount Otemanu rising from a turquoise lagoon.
- Best:
- May–October
- Flight:
- 12–16 hrs
10
$$$ · Luxury
Iceland
IcelandWaterfalls, lava fields, and the northern lights.
- Best:
- June–August, or September–March for auroras
- Flight:
- 5–7 hrs
11
$$ · Mid-range
Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains
MoroccoRiads in the medina, palm groves, mountain hideaways.
- Best:
- March–May, September–November
- Flight:
- 10–13 hrs
12
$$$ · Luxury
Kyoto
JapanTemples, tea ceremonies, and the bamboo grove at dawn.
- Best:
- March–May, October–November
- Flight:
- 12–16 hrs
Planning later?
Best honeymoon destinations in December — 12 picks with December weather, crowds and costs. #honeymoon
December weather, crowds and cost at a glance
Average December daytime highs, rainfall pattern, and how busy each place gets. Cost tier is for 7 nights for two including flights from the US: $ under $4k, $$ $4–7k, $$$ $7–11k, $$$$ $11k+.
| Destination | Dec high | Rainfall | Crowds | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives | 84°F / 29°C | Dry season starts | Busy from Dec 20 | $$$$ |
| St. Lucia | 84°F / 29°C | Dry season | Peak after Dec 18 | $$$ |
| Tulum | 82°F / 28°C | Dry, low humidity | Busy holidays | $$ |
| Costa Rica | 85°F / 29°C | Dry season begins | Moderate | $$ |
| Phuket & Phang Nga | 88°F / 31°C | Driest month | High season | $$ |
| Aruba | 85°F / 29°C | Outside hurricane belt | Peak from Dec 20 | $$$ |
| Banff & Lake Louise | 18°F / -8°C | Snow, ski season | Moderate | $$ |
| Queenstown | 72°F / 22°C | Southern summer | Busy | $$$ |
| Bora Bora | 86°F / 30°C | Humid, short showers | Quieter, cheaper | $$$$ |
| Iceland | 34°F / 1°C | Dark, aurora season | Low outside NYE | $$ |
How to time a December honeymoon
Early December (Dec 1–17) is the value window. Tropical resorts are already in dry season but still priced for low season. Expect 25–40% less than the same villa on December 27, with thinner beaches and no minimum-stay rules.
Holiday weeks (Dec 18–Jan 3) are peak everything. The Maldives, St. Lucia, and Aruba hit their highest rates of the year, often with 7–10 night minimums and compulsory gala dinners. Book 8–10 months ahead or move your dates.
Go south for summer. December is high summer in New Zealand — Queenstown gives you long alpine evenings, lake swims, and wine country while the northern hemisphere freezes.
Or lean into winter. Banff for snowy Lake Louise and hot springs, Iceland for auroras over black-sand coast, Kyoto for frost on temple gardens and the year's lowest hotel rates.
Working out the numbers? Start with our honeymoon cost guide, then pack with the honeymoon packing list. Staying stateside? See romantic getaways in the US and our 70 best US honeymoon destinations. Prefer shoulder-season Europe? Try September honeymoon destinations.
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December honeymoon questions
+What is the best honeymoon destination in December?
The Maldives is the standout December honeymoon — the northeast monsoon ends and the dry season begins, giving glassy lagoons and 84°F days. St. Lucia, Tulum, Phuket and Aruba are the best-value December picks, and Banff or Iceland win if you want snow instead of sand.
+Where is it warm in December for a honeymoon?
The Maldives, Caribbean (St. Lucia, Aruba, Barbados), Mexico's Riviera Maya, Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Thailand, and French Polynesia all sit at 82–88°F in December, with the Caribbean and Thailand at their driest.
+Is December expensive for a honeymoon?
The first two to three weeks of December are among the cheapest of the whole winter — resorts discount before the holidays. From roughly December 18 to January 3, rates in the Maldives and Caribbean jump 40–80% and minimum-stay rules kick in. Marrying in December? Fly out December 5–15 and you'll pay shoulder-season prices in peak-season weather.
+Should we avoid anywhere in December?
Skip Bali, Fiji, and northern Australia (wet season), the Seychelles (rainiest stretch), and most of the Mediterranean — Santorini and the Amalfi Coast largely shut down for winter. Bora Bora is warm but humid with afternoon showers, though prices drop accordingly.
+How far in advance should we book a December honeymoon?
Book 8–10 months out for December 18–January 3 travel; overwater villas and adults-only Caribbean resorts sell out first. For early December, 4–5 months is usually enough and you'll still find flexible rates.
+How much does a December honeymoon cost?
Early December: about $4,000–6,000 for 7 nights in Tulum or Thailand, $6,500–9,000 in the Caribbean, and $12,000+ in the Maldives or Bora Bora for two including flights. Holiday-week travel adds 40–80%. Our honeymoon cost guide has the full line-by-line breakdown.