Where to Go in December With Kids: 10 Warm Picks
For a warm December trip with kids, my top picks are Maui, Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Aruba, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Hawaii and Puerto Rico need no passport for US citizens. The Caribbean picks are past hurricane season, which NOAA says runs from June 1 to November 30. Each place below comes with its December catch, because every warm destination has one. The biggest catch is the same everywhere: Christmas week is the most crowded and most expensive week of the winter. The first half of December is the quiet, better-value window.
Early December or Christmas week?
These are two different trips.
The first two or three weeks of December fall before most school breaks start. Resorts are quieter, pools are calmer, and rates are often lower than they will be later in the month. If your children are not yet in school, this is the best-value warm week of the winter.
Christmas and New Year week is peak season almost everywhere warm. Book it early. Expect busy pools and full restaurants, and pick a place where Christmas itself is part of the fun, so the crowds feel like a festival rather than a queue.
The 10 picks
1. Maui, Hawaii
Calm leeward beaches, no passport, and the start of whale season. NOAA says humpbacks are generally seen in Hawaii from November through April, with the peak from January through March, so December is early in the season. You may see whales from shore, but not as many as in February. The Ka’anapali strip is the easy base with kids: the Hyatt Regency Maui has a big pool with a lava-tube slide and the beach path out front. My Maui with kids guide covers which beaches suit which ages.
The December catch: the time difference from the mainland is large, and the flight is long. It is worth it for a week or more, not a long weekend.
2. Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico
December is the start of the dry, busy season on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and all-inclusive resorts take nearly every decision off your hands. With small children that is the point. Moon Palace Cancun has a water park, kids’ and teen clubs and a short airport transfer. My best family resorts in Mexico roundup compares a dozen more.
The December catch: Christmas-week prices at the big family resorts climb steeply. Early December is the sweet spot.
3. Aruba
Aruba’s tourism board says the island sits well south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, and its calm west-coast water is close to ideal for toddlers. Amsterdam Manor sits opposite Eagle Beach with kitchen studios and a separate children’s pool.
The December catch: the same page says Aruba’s modest rainy season runs from October to December, with short, intermittent showers. Expect the odd passing shower, not a washed-out week.
4. Puerto Rico
No passport for US citizens, direct flights from many US cities, and a beach-plus-rainforest trip in one. A resort east of San Juan, like the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, puts El Yunque and Luquillo Beach within a short drive.
The December catch: the ocean on that stretch is often better for looking at than swimming in. Plan on pool days with toddlers.
5. Costa Rica’s Pacific coast
Visit Costa Rica says the dry season on the Pacific side lasts from December to March. Guanacaste, near Liberia airport, has the country’s biggest family resorts and calm beaches for small children.
The December catch: that is the Pacific side only. The same page says December is the rainiest month on the Caribbean coast. Pick Guanacaste, not Limón, for a December beach week.
6. Nassau, the Bahamas
A short flight from Florida, and the best Christmas-week pick on this list. The Bahamas tourism board says Junkanoo, its street festival of music and costumes, happens on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. For a quieter base west of downtown and its cruise-port crowds, Sandyport Beach Resort has a private beach and three lagoon-style pools.
The December catch: Christmas week in Nassau is busy and priced to match. Book early, and plan a quiet afternoon before any late night out with small children.
7. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Long, wide beaches, big all-inclusive resorts and plenty of direct flights from US cities. It is one of the easiest winter-sun trips to book with a baby. My Caribbean family resorts by island roundup has the Punta Cana picks next to the other islands.
The December catch: passports for everyone, including the baby. Check expiry dates in October, not the week before.
8. Orlando, Florida
Not a beach-warm pick, but usually mild enough for outdoor pools on sunny afternoons. The theme parks put on their holiday decorations and events, which is magic at ages three to eight.
The December catch: the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest of the year in the parks. Early December is much calmer.
9. The Florida Keys
The warmest drive-to winter trip on the US mainland. Shallow, calm water on the bay side, and a slower pace than Miami. With toddlers, pick one base for the whole stay rather than driving the length of the Keys.
The December catch: a cold front can bring a cooler, windier day or two. Pack one warm layer each.
10. The Canary Islands, Spain
Europe’s classic winter-sun islands, for families flying from Europe or adding a stop to a Spain trip. Tenerife and Gran Canaria have big family resorts and promenades made for strollers.
The December catch: it is spring-warm, not tropical. The sea is cool, so the heated pool will see more use than the ocean.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Passport for US citizens? | Best for | December note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maui | No | All ages, week+ | Early whale season |
| Cancun / Riviera Maya | Yes | Babies and toddlers | Dry season starts |
| Aruba | Yes | Toddlers | Short showers possible |
| Puerto Rico | No | Beach plus rainforest | Pool days on the east coast |
| Costa Rica (Pacific) | Yes | Ages 4+ | Dry season starts |
| Nassau | Yes | Christmas week | Junkanoo Dec 26 and Jan 1 |
| Punta Cana | Yes | Babies and toddlers | Easy direct flights |
| Orlando | No | Ages 3-8 | Christmas week is very busy |
| Florida Keys | No | Drive-to families | Pack a warm layer |
| Canary Islands | Yes | Europe-based families | Spring-warm, cool sea |
For the rest of the year, my best places to travel with kids list is sorted by age.
FAQ
Where is warm in December for a family vacation?
Hawaii, Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Aruba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and the Bahamas are all reliably warm. Florida is milder and less predictable. The Canary Islands are the warmest easy option in Europe.
Is December hurricane season in the Caribbean?
No. NOAA dates the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1 to November 30, so December trips fall after it ends.
Where can we go in December without a passport?
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Florida. Puerto Rico is a US territory, so US citizens fly there as they would within the country.
Is it cheaper to travel in early December?
Usually, yes. Before school breaks start, warm destinations are quieter and often cheaper than over Christmas and New Year, which is peak season almost everywhere.
Where should we go for Christmas with kids somewhere warm?
Nassau is the strongest pick for Christmas itself, because Junkanoo falls on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Big all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean also run holiday programs, so check what a resort plans for Christmas week before you book.
