Is anyone else already dreaming about warm places to visit in December? Don’t get us wrong: The magic of winter is truly unparalleled with its glittering snow, festive holidays, and cozy evenings by the fire. But with all its romantic perks, just thinking about the season can be pretty draining—let alone staring down the fifth week of daylight savings time fatigue.
Since even the greatest of winter enthusiasts can only stand chapped lips and diminished sunlight for so long, we consider the cold months one of the best times to travel—sunny beaches and tropical islands offer a much-needed seasonal escape, and hotel and flight prices tend to drop as the temperatures do.
So if you prefer white sands to a white Christmas, you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the globe for warm places to visit in December and the rest of the winter months, where the temperatures rarely (if ever) drop below 50 degrees—regardless of the local season.
Whether you’re looking to work on your tan while your friends are shivering back home or are willing to trek through dry—and we mean dry—deserts in Africa, there’s a balmy destination out there waiting for you. From San Diego to French Polynesia, here are 19 warm winter vacations to take this season.
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This article has been updated since its original publish date.
