So you want a warm weather destination for the holidays – maybe a beach, or somewhere you can play golf because there’s no snow on the ground? While there are many places to choose from, here’s a list of 5 that we can plan for you. Keep in mind that the holidays are high season just about anywhere it is warm, but you can depend on our custom travel planning service to provide an amazing trip for you. We will make the most of your time and budget. Pick your favorite one and then click here to get us started on your personalized itinerary!
South Florida
(Lows: 60s and Highs: 70s or 80s F)
South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and even extending down to Key West, can be a great escape from Northern cold during the holiday season. Because it’s in the US, the airfare is reasonable, flights are short, and you will get the most out of your vacation time.
While it is warmer than many parts of the US, it’s not “tropical” warm at this time of year, and the ocean can be a little chilly for swimming (65-72 F). However, if sitting on the beach in the sun is your idea of a fabulous holiday and you don’t want to spend too long on a plane, this is the place for you!
Here are 10 things to do in South Florida during the holidays
Riviera Maya, Mexico
(Lows:70s and Highs:80s F)
Riviera Maya, stretching from Cancun and Isla Mujeres in the north all the way down to Tulum in the south, is a very popular destination for the holidays, and for good reason. The beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water deliver a true tropical getaway experience. The holidays are in the middle of the dryer season, and the seaweed is usually at a minimum (no guarantees though).
This is the high season, so hotel rates and airfare may be more than during quieter times, but there are so many options your custom travel plan will include something that will work for your budget and deliver on most of your must-haves!
Learn more about Holiday traditions in the Yucatan Peninsula
Kauai, Hawaii
(Lows:50s-60s and Highs: 70s-80s F)
Hawaii is an amazing destination any time of year, but it feels even more tropical when it’s cold at home. Several islands to choose from – and we can customize your travel plan to ensure an amazing experience for you on any of them – but our favorite is laid-back Kauai. With its rugged beaches, variation in climate from the desert southwest of the island, to Waimea Canyon AKA the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, to the lush landscape of the rain forest on the north side, Kauai has something to offer anyone. Even better, it offers a different experience every day. Your personal travel plan will be structured to maximize your time in each part of the island.
Hotels are at peak prices during the holidays, but there are lots of options, especially when you include available rentals and other forms of accommodation. We have access to many different types of accommodations and we’ll find the one that best fits your needs. You’ve been singing “Mele Kalikimaka” with Bing Crosby for many years – make this the year that you watch White Christmas in your condo with the beach view!
Learn more about Kauai in the Winter months
French Polynesia
(Lows:70s and Highs: 80s F)
If Hawaii isn’t far enough away, then by adding just 3 more hours to your flights you can experience another warm weather destination that truly feels like “getting away from it all.” Eight hours by air from San Francisco or Los Angeles, French Polynesia is made up of many islands, but the best ones for first-timers are Moorea and Bora Bora. December is technically part of the rainy season in FP, but the rain is usually intense and starts and ends quickly. You can’t have all the lush greenery with some rain, and if you’re snorkeling then you are already wet!
One of our clients describes the water as “jolly rancher blue” – and while that’s the best description I have ever heard, you really have to see it with your own eyes to understand. While the views above the water are breathtaking, your custom travel plan will include at least one snorkeling excursion to see the really incredible beauty under the water in the lagoons. Coral all around, black-tip reef sharks, sting rays, and spotted eagle rays are common. It’s some of the best and most convenient snorkeling you will find anywhere.
This is where the overwater bungalow was invented, and it’s on many travelers’ bucket lists. We recommend a stay that starts in a garden or beach bungalow and then ends the last several nights over the water, so you get to experience the best of both worlds. FP has some world-class hotels, but also some very reasonable short-term rentals, guest houses, and even tent camping. The food here is also part of the experience, and your personalized itinerary will make everyone at home jealous.
Here are some of the marine wildlife species you can encounter
Maldives
(Lows: mid 70s and Highs: mid 80s F)
This is one of those places that’s on everyone’s romantic bucket list, and there are many reasons why. First, the water here is even more beautiful than French Polynesia. Second, everything about it feels so foreign and special, from landing on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to the seaplane or speedboat transfer to your resort, it’s all new and exciting. Third, December is in the middle of the dry season, so it’s the perfect warm weather destination!
From the US is can be an excruciatingly long trip, but if you can swing business class (got some miles and points to burn? We can help – click here: Miles & Points) then it becomes an odyssey across the continents and oceans. Experience endless food, alcohol, a bed in the sky for some real sleep, and some excellent airport lounges (showers? Massages? More food? Yes!) in faraway Middle Eastern cities of gold. If you want to fly economy to focus your budget on amazing accommodations, then it’s an endurance trip with an amazing payoff at the end.
The overwater bungalow may have been invented in French Polynesia, but it has been perfected in the Maldives. For your first trip, we absolutely recommend an overwater villa for the first few days of your stay, but then pay for the upgrade to a beach villa for the rest. Wait – did I really say upgrade to the beach? I did – because once you have been in a beach villa, well, if you know, you know! Your expert personal travel planners at Travel Like Brandie make sure you know what the seasoned travelers know – even on your first trip!
There are a ton of accommodation options from super luxury resorts properties from the standard US chains to all-inclusive resorts that allow you to eat and drink to your heart’s content without spending another penny. There are also half-board and full-board options if you don’t drink enough to put a dent in your budget. The food and activities can be breathtakingly expensive, but again, miles and points and hotel status can make a big difference here – ask us how we know! Using our expert travel planning service will pay off by ensuring you get the most value for your travel budget in this amazing warm weather destination.
13 Things to know about the Maldives
Now that you have read through 5 of our favorite warm weather destination ideas, think about your return to work after the holidays. What do you want your answer to be when your co-workers ask what you did over the holidays? Any one of these will turn them green with envy, and cement your reputation as a “traveler to cool places!”
The expert, personal travel planners at Travel Like Brandie are ready to get started on your custom itinerary – just click here and we will get to work!