Where To Honeymoon In December  (+ Where Not To Go!)

December is one of our favourite months for a honeymoon as summer kicks off in the Southern Hemisphere and many top honeymoon destinations start their dry season – meaning plenty of exotic and tropical honeymoon destinations in December to choose from.

One word of warning: The last two weeks of December and the first week of January make up the busiest time period for travel because of the Christmas / New Year holiday season, so although you’re wondering where to honeymoon in December, also think about when.

We recommend booking early to get the best deals and availability – ideally book your honeymoon in the first couple of months of the year.

You can usually get great travel deals if your honeymoon travel dates fall in late November / early December (before the busy period for travel!)

Let’s take you around the world to the best honeymoon destinations in December!

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We endeavour to provide accurate climate information about the best honeymoon destinations in December. However, as the weather around the world becomes more erratic and unpredictable because of the climate catastrophe, The Honeymoon Guide is not responsible for disappointment regarding your trip because of adverse weather.

It’s one of the best places to visit on the planet and it’s considered one of the best months for travel to the south of the country, including South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales. However, in the Red Centre temperatures get extremely hot.

The rainy season has started in Queensland and the Northern Territory around Darwin, although you can just expect some showers rather than extreme weather in Queensland, so keep this area on the wish list!

You can explore the lush rainforests, go snorkelling or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and the see pristine beaches of the Whitsunday Islands.

From Cairns to Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne to Adelaide to Perth to Darwin and the vast expanses in between, we can’t think of a more fun place to go on a December honeymoon!

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If you were thinking of a honeymoon in French Polynesia in the South Pacific is the rainy season there and in nearby Fiji and the Cook Islands.

While you will see some sunshine, you can get some rain.

French Polynesia is the original home of overwater bungalows (the concept originated here) and there are some luxurious resorts to choose from on heavenly honeymoon island, Bora Bora.

You could consider the Maldives as an alternative instead as it’s the dry season there.

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December is the perfect month to visit New Zealand. Grab a car or motorhome/RV and traverse these magnificent islands on a romantic honeymoon road trip.

Marvel at the incredible scenery and enjoy Kiwi hospitality. Explore highlights like Milford Sound and the Franz Josef glacier, the Hobbiton Movie Set and the Bay of Islands.

Get your adventure on in Queenstown. New Zealand is one of the best December honeymoon destinations for an epic adventure.

Exploring cosmopolitan cities like Cape Town. Wine tasting in the vineyards of Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands. The marvellous wildlife in the Eastern Cape with magical scenery.

Along with innovative cuisine and friendly faces, it’s easy to see why this is a popular destination.

One thing to note is that it is the rainy season in Kruger National Park, making animals a little more difficult to spot, so stick with a magical safari honeymoon in the Eastern Cape area – plus this area is malaria free.

A dreamy honeymoon in South Africa is perfect for a December honeymoon road trip.

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It is the rainy season in other parts of Africa.

In East Africa, it’s the ‘short rain’ season in safari honeymoon hotspots like Tanzania and Kenya, so you can expect short but heavy bouts of rain.

Later in the month, you might even see some newborn animals if calving season starts early. If you want to compare Tanzania and Kenya – we’ve got the lowdown.

For couples thinking about where to honeymoon in December, we don’t recommend Botswana or Namibia as it’s hot and rainy.

Although Victoria Falls is one of our bucket list travel experiences, the flow of the waterfalls is its lowest at this time of year.

It’s also a rainy month for off-the-beaten-track destinations like Madagascar and Mozambique.

For couples who have gorilla trekking on the bucket list, the second dry season begins in Rwanda & Uganda, so it’s the second best time of year to this (after June to September, which are the best time to do this bucket list adventure).

North Africa can be pretty mild, so if you’re planning a honeymoon in December and looking for cultural wonders with cooler temperatures, then Egypt and Morocco might be worth exploring.

December is the start of the dry season in the ultimate tropical honeymoon paradise, the Maldives. This means it’s the perfect time to visit some of the worlds beautiful beaches, and best all-inclusive December honeymoon destinations in the world.

Do something unique like stay in a bubble dome room under the stars or book an overwater villa with your own personal water slide.

Whether you’re seeking a lavish private honeymoon villa or more affordable overwater villas in the Maldives with hot tubs, an adults-only Maldives honeymoon retreat or something convenient with a speedboat ride, the Maldives has many honeymoon resorts.

We’ll always be in love with the Maldives!

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Although it is the start of the rainy season in the Indian Ocean honeymoon gem, Mauritius, it’s unlikely you’ll experience adverse weather. Expect some occasional tropical rain showers at this time of year.

You’ll find heavenly honeymoon resorts in Mauritius on the best beaches and you can go snorkelling, diving and hiking.

While tourists still visit over the busy Christmas holiday / vacation period, it is the rainy season in Seychelles. If Seychelles is on your honeymoon bucket list, we’d recommend choosing a different time of year.

While these destinations might look the same, there are many differences between Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives!

Summer has arrived and if you’ve been thinking about Argentina for honeymoon, you can travel the length and breath of majestic . You’ll find diverse landscapes with lots of adventure, history and culture.

Fall in love with Buenos Aires, marvel at glaciers in Patagonia, discover epic hiking trails around Bariloche and the Lake District.

Pop over to Chile after spending a few days of exploring the vineyards of Mendoza or travel from canyon country near Salta to the Uyuni Salt flats and up to Bolivia and Peru.

Got time and money? Adventure seekers could tick of their bucket list on an Antarctic Cruise from Ushuaia in southern Argentina.

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Maybe the sights and sounds of Brazil are more up your street? You can pop from Argentina via the striking Iguazu Falls to Brazil for another multi-destination adventure.

Visit the Amazon, the Pantanal, explore the afro vibes of Salvador and dance the night away in Lapa in Rio de Janeiro.

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Ecuador is also a great destination for an adventure honeymoon and can be visited all year round. In fact, it’s drier in December, so it’s one of the best months to visit.

Explore the Galapagos Islands – witness some of the magnificent displays of wildlife and marine life in the world on a tour around these unique islands.

We love Colombia for a honeymoon. While it is rainy in the Colombian Amazon in December, the rest of the country, such as the Andes and the Caribbean coast, welcome dry season, making it one of the best months to travel.

As it can get muddy and wet at Machu Picchu / on the Inca Trail in December, as it’s the rainy season, we would recommend planning a honeymoon in Peru another time. 

Vancouver is a little milder though, so you could use it as a jump off to a winter sports honeymoon in British Columbia. Whistler is a haven for skiing. Or go see the Northern Lights in a winter wonderland hotel.

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It’s also cold in the northern United States. Couples will visit New York and other northern cities like Boston and Washington all year round, however.

These North American cities will have a decidedly festive feel at this time of year! Perfect for a cozy winter minimoon!

As long as you don’t mind packing a warm coat, you can enjoy luxury hotels, Christmas trees, twinkling lights, go ice skating and maybe do some festive shopping.

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It gets much milder as you travel south, so if you were wondering where to honeymoon in December in the USA, think southern California and around Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico and Texas or a Deep South itinerary around Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

While they are a little cooler and experience some rainfall, you should not experience adverse weather and conditions are usually mild in most places.

Despite the cooler weather, many couples will tag on a few days in an iconic city. Think a honeymoon in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco added to a Mexico or Caribbean beach honeymoon, too.

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You can visit one of our favourite honeymoon destinations, Hawaii, all year round too (although you can get more rain at this time of year, compared to summer).

Deciding between “the Valley Isle”, Maui, “the Garden isle”, Kauai, “the Gathering Place”, Oahu or The Big Island is the hardest part of planning a Hawaii honeymoon itinerary.

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It’s a great time to visit Florida and there is so much to see and do in the Sunshine State.

For couples who are big kids at heart, then the theme parks in Orlando have to be at the top of your list.

From Disney World to Universal to Busch Gardens and all the fun in between, December is a lovely time to visit, although beware of the crowds of families during the holiday season!

Party the days and nights away in Miami. Stay in a cool hotel in South Beach.

Hire a car and drive the Florida Keys to Key West. The Gulf of Mexico coastline has some wonderful beaches too

You can take a Caribbean cruise from the port of Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Sail the high seas in luxury. Some of the best cruise ships for honeymoon by Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and Celebrity Cruises are based in Florida sailing in the Caribbean in the month of December!

The hurricane season is over and the hardest part is choosing which tropical island to visit on your December honeymoon!

Consider Jamaica – the beaches are incredible plus the vibrant culture, music and food! You can stay in an overwater villa in Jamaica, too.

The Dominican Republic is the perfect place for couples who want a slice of adventure along with divine beaches and all inclusive resorts.

You could choose between the white sand beaches of the Bahamas, Antigua, and Turks & Caicos. Party the night away in Barbados.

Dive deep into the history and culture of the Caribbean’s largest and most unique island, Cuba.

Hiking, beaches and culture await on a honeymoon in Saint Lucia. The lush greenery, natural hot springs, heavenly beaches are just some of the fun things to enjoy on the island.

Opt for a heavenly St. Lucia honeymoon resort with views of the Pitons.

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It’s also a wonderful time to visit Central America destinations like Costa Rica, Guatemala and Belize.

Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef and ideal for couples who want to snorkel and scuba dive.

Consider a dream adventure honeymoon in Costa Rica.

It’s ideal for couples who want to make their honeymoon sustainable with some truly wonderful honeymoon resorts in Costa Rica and an endless array of things to do for adventure lovers.

National Parks, endless beaches, wildlife – you name it, Costa Rica probably has it.

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Like many couples planning a honeymoon in December, we’re obsessed with the honeymoon destinations of Mexico.

Whether you choose an all inclusive honeymoon resort like Secrets on a honeymoon in Riviera Maya or honeymoon in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen or one of the cool boutique hotels in Tulum, you’re in for a total honeymoon treat.

Consider an island hop – we love Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres.

You could opt for the west coast too. Puerto Vallarta or Cabo will be a delight.

With stunning hotels and cool little towns like Todos Santos, it’s easy to see why Mexico is one of the popular honeymoon destinations in December.

Make time for Mexico City or consider Oaxaca if you can for a deep dive into Mexican culture.

If you’d both like somewhere warm, then continental Europe is probably out.

Winter weather is the name of the game, temperatures are colder and even damp in many of the Europe’s best honeymoon destinations in December.

If you were planning a Santorini honeymoon or Amalfi Coast honeymoon, these kind of destinations are in hibernation mode.

However, ski resorts are open and are a great option for couples seeking a winter sports honeymoon. Think skiing in the Swiss Alps or Italian Alps.

The cities are festive with Christmas markets, which are perfect for a magical winter mini moon.

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While most couples wondering where to honeymoon in December in Europe aren’t seeking beaches, for those who want some warm weather, consider Spain’s Canary Islands.

Tenerife is great for stargazing and hiking and foodies will love the dining scene.

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You could consider a unique December honeymoon destination like Lapland in Finland, Sweden or Norway.

Home to some of our favourite winter honeymoon hotels, this part of the world is pure winter romance.

Go stargazing, snowmobiling and take a husky ride. Of all the most romantic things to do in the world, seeing the Aurora Borealis aka the Northern Lights from your private log cabin or igloo is certainly up there!

You can also witness this celestial display in Iceland and visit the Blue Lagoon.

Some of the most fun and affordable honeymoon destinations are Southeast Asia!

Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are a worth addition to your December honeymoon shortlist.

Visit Luang Prabang and the Kuang Si waterfalls in Laos.

Explore Vietnam by train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and all the culture, food, history and beaches in between.

Discover Cambodia‘s picturesque islands and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient temples at Angkor Wat.

In fact, if you’ve time, you could visit two or more of these destinations in the one trip as they’re so accessible.

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We’re always obsessed with planning a honeymoon in Thailand, which is one of the best honeymoon destinations in December with very little rainfall.

Explore the sights and sounds of Bangkok, head north for the jungle highlights of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Go island hopping from Phuket and don’t miss the small island gems like Ko Yao Noi to Phi Phi to Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe! Stay in private villas or boutique hotels

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Been there, done that? Then consider island-hopping in The Philippines. The natural palm trees that line the beaches of El Nido with colourful coral reefs and powdery white sand make the perfect destination for beach lovers.

It’s also a great month to visit Sri Lanka and India. These lands of fascinating culture, intricate temples and the most delicious cuisine are perfect for a cultural adventure.

You can combine with the Maldives for an impressive multi-destination honeymoon that will make everyone go WOW.

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While it’s freezing in the north of around Beijing, it is milder in the southern parts of China. However, December is the low season for the country.

In ever fascinating Japan, you will get snow in many areas and the skies are considerably greyer.

December is also a rainy month for Bali and the rest of Indonesia. Despite the rain prices still swing upwards as tourists head for the Island of the Gods for the holidays. If you’re planning a honeymoon itinerary for Bali, we’d recommend choosing one of the drier months.

Malaysia can be rainy, too (all year round) but stick to Langkawi for less rain.

For couples who are pondering where to honeymoon in December with a difference, it is cooler in hiking destinations like Bhutan and Nepal, but they are certainly do-able.

If you were thinking about where to honeymoon in the Middle East, it’s an ideal time to travel if you’re not a fan of the extreme desert temperatures you’ll find during other times of the year.

There is so much to see and do on a honeymoon in Dubai, and some of the world’s most luxurious honeymoon hotels are located here. Stay by the beach but consider a romantic desert hotel, too.

Whether it’s a museum, a theme park, a shopping trip, a restaurant, Dubai is always evolving, making it one of the most exciting cities.

Go to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building. Splash in the world’s largest waterpark, Aquaventure. Dubai does everything big.

A honeymoon stop in Abu Dhabi is also well worth considering.

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It’s also a good time to visit Oman (although pack a cardigan for nights in the desert). Oman is one of our favourite destinations for couples who’ve been everywhere!

It is the low season in Jordan as winter has arrived and temperatures are cool (for a Middle East country!) so wait until spring to visit here.

• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Cambodia
• Caribbean
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• India
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• The Philippines
• Vietnam