20 best places to travel in December on a budget in the US and internationally

Where is the cheapest place to travel in December?

For the cheapest December travels, look to Southeast Asia. Vietnam can run about US$26 per day in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, and Cambodia often averages around US$74 per day. Thailand and Sri Lanka also offer a break from winter weather with temperate climates, cheap bowls of curry, long stretches of sand, and guesthouses that don’t punish an American wallet.

But if crossing an ocean during the winter season isn’t on the cards, the U.S. has its own bargains. San Antonio shines with holiday lights and Tex-Mex for pocket change, while Breckenridge offers mountain air and slopes that don’t always come with Aspen prices. December doesn’t have to be the month that empties your bank account — it all depends on which gate you walk through!

Best cheap places to travel in December in the USA 

December scatters travelers across America in search of two very different things. Some head south, chasing sunlight and low-season hotel deals. Others drive into the mountains, looking for small towns that glow under strings of holiday lights. Either way, you don’t need to bankrupt yourself on your winter getaway. The trick is to choose cities which are vibrant and full of character even in December, outside of their peak season.

Which state is best for travel in December? Well, the answer depends on your mood. Texas rolls out mild weather and riverfront fiestas. Tennessee and North Carolina keep costs low thanks to their mountain cabins, where a fireplace costs less than a week of heating back home. California and Arizona put you within reach of the outdoors without resort prices, while Louisiana turns winter into another excuse for music and food. The destinations below are proof that an American December can be affordable without being dull.

When it comes to daily budgets, the “per person, per day” number for each destination assumes you’re on a mid-range winter getaway with two solid meals (one sit-down, one quick street food or grocery store snack), local transportation, one paid attraction or museum, coffee, and taxes. It excludes flights, big nights out, guided tours, rental cars, and lift tickets at nearby ski resorts. Prices reflect recent averages and tend to dip on weekdays and rise on holidays. Use these figures as a baseline, then nudge up or down based on your pace and how often you treat yourself!

1. San Antonio, Texas

Average daily budget: US$65–75 per person

San Antonio feels made for December — the River Walk strings itself in lights that flicker against the water, and the evenings stay cool enough for jackets but never so cold you regret leaving home. Hotel rates drop to the levels that make a weekend getaway possible on a modest budget, and tacos can still be found for less than five bucks a plate.

This isn’t just a budget pick — it’s a city where culture comes cheap. The Alamo charges nothing at the door, and the city’s markets serve food that feels like it belongs on a much pricier menu. Holiday festivals also roll through town, giving you music and color without asking for a ticket. Spend your day tracing missions that reach back centuries, then end it with brisket at a riverside table while boats slip past under Christmas lights. Few American cities give you this much warmth, history, and affordability in the final month of the year.

2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

Average daily budget: US$70 per person

December strips Myrtle Beach of its summer chaos, and what’s left is surprisingly appealing. Oceanfront rooms that usually drain your wallet are suddenly within reach, and you can hear gulls over the waves instead of jet skis. The boardwalk still glows with lights, but it’s easier to find a quiet bench and eat fried shrimp without elbowing through a crowd. Golf courses tempt diehards with low green fees, while winter fishermen line the piers in heavy coats, pulling in catches you’d never see on a July afternoon. Myrtle Beach in December feels like a seaside town reclaiming itself, and travelers get to enjoy the calm for cheap.

3. Sedona, Arizona 

Average daily budget: US$70–90 per person

Red rock country doesn’t need a filter. Sedona’s dreamlike landscape — desert cliffs blushing in the late sun and cactus-lined trails that wind through pine and juniper — feels painterly. December brings crisp mornings and quiet trails, especially around Bell Rock or the Seven Sacred Pools, where the only company might be your echo. Even the ever-popular Devil’s Bridge hike becomes doable without elbowing past crowds, and hikers often form an informal photo chain: you snap theirs, they’ll snap yours.

A day trip to Jerome is almost non-negotiable. Half-ghost town, half-artist colony, it hangs above the Verde Valley like a mirage of old saloons and crystal shops. Take the 89A scenic route (windows down if the sun’s out), and pull over when the valley opens up beneath you. Grab a prickly pear margarita at the Haunted Hamburger and try not to fall in love with the view. And if you’re into bands like Tool or A Perfect Circle, Maynard James Keenan’s winery and merch shop is right there too.

4. New Orleans, Louisiana 

Average daily budget: US$85–110 per person

New Orleans doesn’t do winter so much as ignore it. Holiday lights drape from balconies where plastic skeletons were hanging a month ago, and City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks turns the whole place into a walking fever dream of live oaks and LED snowflakes. The Roosevelt Hotel lobby goes full maximalist with garlands and glitter, while ghost tours wind through the French Quarter like nothing’s changed. Weather in December flips without notice, though. You’ll start the morning in a jacket and by afternoon wish you’d packed shorts. The humidity exaggerates every shift, making 50°F feel colder and 75°F feel like a sauna.

December is a good month to actually enjoy the city. Tourist crowds drop, restaurants like Coop’s Place or Domilise’s have shorter lines, and you’ll still find live music spilling onto Frenchmen Street. Try Peche for seafood, pick up vinyl at Peaches Records, and budget extra for impulse beignets at Cafe du Monde. Weather aside, it’s one of the rare months where New Orleans gives you space to explore — without the chaos of Mardi Gras crowds or peak-season pricing.

5. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Average daily budget: US$70–85 per person

Gatlinburg leans into December with cabin fireplaces, mountain mist, and a skyline where the Smokies steal the show. You can ride the SkyLift up for wide valley views, walk the quiet trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park without the summer busloads, then come back to hot cider and the smell of woodsmoke drifting down from the chimneys. Winterfest lights run the length of town, and if you’re lucky, Ober Mountain’s ski slopes might even have snow. For under US$80 a day, you can live like a Hallmark character: stroll a light-strung downtown and warm up by the fire at the Southern Comfort whiskey bar — if that’s your thing.

6. San Diego, California 

Average daily budget: US$85–100 per person

Tony Hawk lives in San Diego, which should tell you everything about December here — it’s a place where the California dream still runs on morning surf, carne asada burritos that cost US$7, and afternoons that peak in the mid-60s Fahrenheit. Post-Thanksgiving hotel rates collapse like a bad kickflip, so staying near Ocean Beach or the Gaslamp stops feeling like financial self-sabotage. La Jolla’s tide pools at low tide look like someone set up tiny aquariums in the rocks filled with starfish and anemones, Coronado stretches out flat and clean with navy jets often screaming overhead, and the skate parks stay packed because this town still believes concrete, saltwater, and boardsports are all that you need in life. Grab fish tacos at a counter with plastic chairs and a line out the door — where everyone's in quiet agreement that this might be the best US$9 they’ve spent all week. If the California postcard ever delivered on its promises, it’s here in December, where the budget version and the dream version are basically the same thing.

7. Asheville, North Carolina

Average daily budget: US$75–90 per person

Asheville feels like a tasteful snow globe. The Biltmore Estate goes all in on Christmas decor, but the city’s charm lies somewhere else — in small, candlelit bookshops and on mountain trails that crunch underfoot. The Blue Ridge Parkway might close if snow hits, but downtown stays busy with warm lights spilling from old brick storefronts. It’s a good place to walk until your nose goes pink, then defrost with a pint or a biscuit the size of your hand. You can do a lot here on a budget, especially if you treat hiking as the main event.

Best cheap places to travel in December internationally 

Asia, Europe, and Africa dominate the value charts in December. In Asia, strong currencies and off-peak rates let you stretch each dollar. In Africa — particularly North Africa and the Indian Ocean islands — you’ll find warmth and value in equal measure. And if you ask, “What is the cheapest island to visit in December?,” islands in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Tanzania often come up. 

Europe joins the list for a different reason: winter shuts the door on peak season and prices start to ease. You won't always chase frozen waterfalls on a budget trip to Europe in December, but what you lose in spectacle you gain in space and serenity. Winter travel turns crowded summer favorites into potential destinations for a quiet winter getaway: southern coasts swap heat for pleasant sunshine breaks between spells of rain, while central cities drop their prices and lift their mood with lights and markets. If you want a seasonal cheat sheet for when to go — how fall compares to summer, and why some places shine in winter — take a look at our guide to the best time to visit Europe before you book a flight.

8. Bangkok or Chiang Mai, Thailand

Average daily budget: US$30–40 per person

Thailand’s two famous cities offer completely different Decembers — but both of them are cheap. Bangkok stays busy and bright, with lively night markets and golden temples breaking up the skyline. It’s warm (highs around 85°F) and full of budget guesthouses under US$20 a night. Chiang Mai moves slower, with its quiet hills, cafes in leafy courtyards, and cool evenings that call for a jacket. Whichever you choose, you'll still get incredible food for a few dollars and the kind of laid-back atmosphere that makes it hard to leave.

9. Hanoi, Vietnam

Average daily budget: US$20–30 per person

Hanoi in December is a slower burn than in summer — picture cool air, hot broths, and fog rolling off Hoan Kiem lake at dawn. It’s one of the cheapest capital cities to explore, but you wouldn’t guess it from the richness of the experience. Meals rarely pass the US$2 mark, hotel rooms can go for under US$15, and most attractions don’t even leave a dent in your coin purse. However, expect 60°F days and light layers, not beach weather. Nonetheless, for travelers who prefer bite-sized street food and bike horns over holiday beach crowds, Hanoi is a gift.

10. Yangon, Myanmar

Average daily budget: US$20–30 per person

Yangon is where Buddhist temples rise beside crumbling colonial mansions, and December is when the weather finally gives you a break from the usual heat. Expect dry days, 75°F temperatures, and sunsets that light up Shwedagon Pagoda like it’s made of fire. Street food is still dirt cheap — mohinga for breakfast, grilled skewers by night — and guesthouses rarely cross the US$15 mark. But travelers need to be aware that, as of late 2025, both U.S. and Australian governments advise against visiting Myanmar due to ongoing armed conflict, explosions in Yangon, arbitrary detentions, and the risk of wrongful imprisonment. Authorities may also restrict departures or enforce local laws unpredictably. If you’re still considering a trip to Myanmar, review current government advisories, carry evacuation insurance, avoid demonstrations, and have a plan to leave the country quickly should conditions deteriorate.

11. Jakarta, Indonesia

Average daily budget: US$25–35 per person

Jakarta doesn’t go on a charm offensive for tourists — it’s a sprawl of traffic, shopping malls, and buzz. But that’s exactly what makes it interesting for some. In December, the rains come and go fast, temperatures hover around 85°F, and the city doesn’t slow down. Budget travelers will find hearty street food, solid hostels, and cheap rides via Grab or Gojek. It’s best suited to urban explorers who don’t mind a bit of noise with their noodles.

12. Cebu or Palawan, Philippines

Average daily budget: US$30–50 per person

If your December dreams involve island hopping and turquoise water, this is the right part of the map. Cebu gives you a mix of beaches and cities, while Palawan is pure postcard: limestone cliffs and water so clear it looks photoshopped. Prices stay low — beach huts, boat rides, and grilled seafood for less than a lunch back home in the U.S. — and the weather is peak tropical dry season. Expect highs around 85°F and just enough breeze to keep things perfectly mild.

13. Lisbon, Portugal

Average daily budget: US$70–90 per person

If you’re going to chase the winter sun in Europe, at least make sure you can get some good wine at the end of the day. Lisbon delivers both: cafe terraces that don’t pack up in December, and cheap vinho verde that pairs with every meal like it was made for it. Tram 28 still clangs through Alfama’s tiled hills, and the prices of pastel de nata make you want to take two. It’s not tropical (you’ll want a light jacket), but it’s warm enough to make you forget the rest of the continent is freezing. Portugal also stays refreshingly affordable compared to its neighbors, especially if you skip the fancy brunch spots and stick to tasca counters and miradouros.

14. Budapest, Hungary

Average daily budget: US$55–75 per person

The trick to Budapest in winter is to get cold on purpose. Walk along the Danube until your fingers go numb, then sink into a 100°F thermal bath while steam rises around you and the skyline blurs behind glassy water. Apart from that, December in Budapest brings about some of the best Christmas markets in Europe where you can enjoy spicy mulled wine. You’ll find full meals for under US$10, and the kind of moody beauty that makes even public transit feel cinematic. Just don’t forget gloves — Hungary can get nippy when it’s windy.

15. Prague, Czech Republic

Average daily budget: US$65–85 per person

The beer is cheaper than bottled water. That’s the one stat everyone remembers about Prague, but in December the city feels like a set piece from a holiday film where the tourists haven’t arrived yet. Fairy lights spill across the bridges, and pubs serve up hearty food that keeps you fed on the cheap. It’s cold — expect temperatures around freezing — but the trams run often and the cafes stay open late. Prague is best when it’s frosty, quiet, and yours to wander!

16. Valencia, Spain

Average daily budget: US$70–90 per person

If you’ve seen Westworld or Andor, you’ve already glimpsed Valencia’s sci-fi side — the City of Arts and Sciences is as cinematic as architecture gets. December brings clear skies and cool 60°F days, perfect for long walks through Turia Park or around the plazas lined with orange trees. Paella here isn’t a tourist trap and it’s priced like a local secret. If you’ve been meaning to test that Wim Hof routine, now’s the moment. December’s sea is cold, clean, and allegedly life-extending.

17. Krakow, Poland

Average daily budget: US$45–65 per person

You’ll smell the Christmas market before you see it — the aromas of cinnamon, smoke, and grilled sausage drift through Krakow’s main square all month long. Snow often dusts the rooftops, giving the whole city a storybook vibe without the storybook price. Food is heavy in all the right ways: potato pancakes, bigos stew, and beetroot soup with a float of mushroom dumplings. And if you want to pretend you’re in a spy novel, duck into one of the subterranean jazz bars hidden beneath the Old Town!

18. Marrakech, Morocco

Average daily budget: US$60–80 per person

Trying to follow GPS inside the Marrakech medina is a fool’s game — you’ll end up in a spice stall or carpet shop either way, and that’s part of the joy. December here is warm by winter standards (around 70°F), dry, and golden with late-afternoon light. You can happily eat tagine with your hands, haggle for leather, and sip mint tea in courtyards. Riads offer calm behind the chaos, and if you decide to do nothing but watch the world blur past from a rooftop cafe, you can still be content knowing you’ve done Marrakech right.

19. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Average daily budget: US$50–70 per person

Zanzibar sounds like a dream and, in December, kind of is one. The rainy season wraps up by early month, leaving behind breezy beach days around 85°F and sunsets that turn the Indian Ocean orange. Stone Town mixes Swahili, Arab, and colonial architecture into a walkable maze of mango carts. If you’re picturing white-sand beaches, spice tours, and grilled octopus dinners — all without the sticker shock of other island escapes — you’re not far off. It’s one of the cheapest islands to visit in December, and it doesn’t skimp on that picturesque tropical atmosphere.

20. Cairo, Egypt

Average daily budget: US$40–60 per person

Cairo in December lets you see the city without sweating through your clothes. Daytime highs hover in the low 70s, ideal for sailing a felucca down the Nile or visiting the pyramids without the usual heat haze. You’ll find endless guides to Cairo’s ancient wonders — but if you’re after something equally essential and a little less expected, find the Sufi music and tanoura dance at Wekalet El Ghouri. Held behind Al-Azhar Mosque in a 16th-century caravanserai, the twice-weekly performances mix whirling dervish tradition with live percussion. Entrance is usually free, but arrive early if you want a seat. Street food is cheap and hearty, and most hostels or budget hotels sit within walking distance of metro lines and downtown markets.

Save money on December travel with Saily

A steady connection keeps a budget trip on track. Maps load and translations work, while you dodge roaming fees, which can quietly gut a “cheap winter destination.” If you want a simple, affordable setup, read up on the benefits of eSIM and this quick comparison of eSIM vs physical SIM.

Saily is an eSIM app that gives you prepaid mobile data in minutes. No store hunt. No plastic. Choose a plan for the country or region you’re visiting, install it, and go online the moment you land. If eSIMs are new to you, start with our plain-English guide to what an eSIM card is, then download the eSIM app and pick your plan.

You save because you only pay for data you’ll actually use, which matters on winter vacations where plans change with the weather. Having a stay-in-and-watch-Netflix day? Step up to Saily Ultra for bigger data buckets at a low per-GB rate. Light usage in cities with great Wi-Fi? Drop back to a small plan. Setup takes about two minutes, and you can upgrade on the fly if a storm rolls in and your day turns into cafe-hopping. If you prefer a quick refresher on avoiding roaming charges, here’s how to use your phone overseas without roaming charges.

Below are representative starting prices to show how affordable Saily can be across the regions featured in this guide.

The information on this table was accurate as of October 10, 2025. However, prices are subject to change.

If you plan to bounce between a European destination and North Africa, or string together several Asian islands, eSIM beats local SIM hunting every time. It's cheaper than roaming, easier than pocket Wi-Fi, and built for travelers who care more about experiences than their phone bill.