Where Is Hot in December? Data from 18,000 Real Trips

Last reviewed: May 2026

There's a particular point every December when the whole of Britain collectively throws its hands up in the air at the weather. The daylight starts disappearing before we've even had dinner, our coats stay damp and soggy all day, and before you know it everyone you know is frantically searching for the same thing on their phone: "where's warm in December?"

But the thing is with most of the "best December holiday destinations" lists online - they're just a rehash of the same old suggestions every year. It's the same old generic ideas without actually considering what real people are booking, where people are actually travelling to, or where the winter sun is actually shining when Europe turns grey and miserable.

So instead of regurgitating the same tired old lists, we decided to take a different approach. We've looked at something much more interesting : real-world travel behaviour.

Using anonymised Simify activation data from over 18,000 UK customer trips during December travel periods, matched up against average daytime temperatures, we identified the places that real people are actually heading to for winter sun breaks - and whether they actually get the weather they want.

The result is a much clearer picture of where people really go for their December sun holidays.

This article is produced independently by Simify for people like you, so please bear in mind that we're not being sponsored by tourism boards or destinations in this guide. Simify isn't getting paid to say these places are good - we're just passing on what we've found.

What do people actually look for in December when they're planning a holiday?

Interestingly, we found that people weren't just after the hottest temperatures possible. The data showed that there were three distinct groups of travellers emerging:

• People who head for short-haul European winter sun trips to places that are a bit easier to get to.
• Those who are after affordable long-haul beach destinations that won't break the bank.
• And then there are those who want to have a "Christmas in the sun" type holiday - essentially a bit of luxury, a bit of glamour, and a decent wrap-around tan.

That explains why places like Dubai and Thailand are still going from strength to strength, while southern Europe still attracts people who want winter sunshine without having to fly for 12 hours.

And what's also interesting is that unlike summer travel, December trips tend to be emotionally driven. People aren't just booking a holiday, they're getting out of the British winter.

The hottest December destinations based on what people are actually booking

Below are the destinations that saw the strongest combination of real UK traveller demand and reliable warm weather during December.

Destination	Avg December Temp	Flight Time from UK	December Demand Trend
Dubai	26°C	7 hrs	Extremely high
Bangkok / Thailand	31°C	11–12 hrs	Extremely high
Canary Islands	22°C	4.5 hrs	Very high
Phuket	31°C	12 hrs	Very high
Marrakech	21°C	4 hrs	High
Mexico	28°C	11 hrs	Rising fast
Tenerife	22°C	4.5 hrs	Consistently strong
Bali	30°C	16 hrs	Growing
Cyprus	19°C	4.5 hrs	Moderate
Algarve	17°C	3 hrs	Stable

The really interesting thing that came out of our research wasn't just the temperatures. It was how people balance heat, price, and convenience. The Canary Islands, which include Tenerife and Lanzarote, are among the warmest places in Europe in December, typically around 21–24°C. This probably explains why they remain such popular hot holiday destinations. Lanzarote in particular averages around 21°C making it one of the more reliable hot destinations for December winter sun.

Dubai, on the other hand, massively out performed expectations because it combines guaranteed sunshine with relatively easy travel logistics during Christmas and New Year. Thailand dominated among people taking longer trips over the festive break, especially those staying for 10 days or more.

Southern Europe still did pretty well too - particularly among people looking for "winter sun Europe" rather than tropical heat.

Dubai - a December winner

Five years ago, Dubai still felt like a luxury-only destination for many UK travellers. But it's changed a lot since then and it's now one of the leading hot holiday destinations for December winter sun.

The city now sits in a sweet spot for December travel: reliably hot weather, direct flights from almost every major UK airport, great infrastructure, and virtually no chance of rain ruining a short trip.

Average daytime temperatures are around 26°C in December which makes Dubai one of the top hot destinations for travellers escaping British winter without feeling overwhelmed by extreme summer Gulf heat.

Another factor that's driving demand is convenience. Everything from mobile connectivity to transport apps to card payments to English-speaking tourism infrastructure makes Dubai feel really easy to get around from the moment you land.

For those heading there we've also got some advice to avoid expensive roaming costs in the UAE: check out our Dubai eSIM plans

We also found that activation spikes from UK travellers started around mid-December and stayed high right up to New Year's Eve, showing just how heavily Dubai now dominates Christmas sun escapes.

Thailand - the king of long-haul winter sun

If Dubai dominated short luxury escapes, Thailand absolutely owned the longer December trips.

Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai consistently appeared among the highest activation regions in our December travel data. The combination is hard to beat: tropical weather, affordable accommodation, great food, and enough variety to stretch into multi-week holidays or a beach holiday.December is also one of Thailand's best months to visit. In Phuket, this is the very peak of the dry season. Temperatures sit at around 30-31°C while humidity drops compared to the rainy season. And to be honest, that's a big part of why Thailand is in so many "best December holiday destinations" searches - it's just great value.

Even with higher flight prices during the festive seasons , many travellers still end up spending less overall than they would on a shorter European holiday.

For connectivity across Thailand: Thailand eSIM plans

Thailand eSIM plans are the way to go

One thing that really stood out to us with our data was: Thai holidaymakers use way more mobile data than their European counterparts. Longer trips, island-hopping, grabbing a taxi, and getting around on social media all contribute to much higher usage.

Southern Europe still has plenty to offer for a winter sun

Not everyone wants a long-haul flight in December.

The Canary Islands are still going strong with UK travellers looking for a "cheap hot countries in December" searches - with Tenerife being a top pick for winter sunshine within Europe. Cyprus and Malta are also still going strong, with Larnaca and Valletta offering mild winters and pleasant temperatures that make for great beach walks and outdoor exploring. And, of course, there's the added bonus of festive markets.

At around 22°C during the day, it's warm enough to head to the beach, enjoy some outdoor dining, and lounge by the pool without having to plan for the sun to go behind a cloud. And that's part of the reason why nearby islands and southern cities are still pretty competitive alternatives.

And let's not forget the other advantage: simplicity.

No jet lag. Short flights. Familiar infrastructure. Easier family travel. Lower overall costs.

For many travellers, especially families or couples taking a short 4-7 day trip before Christmas, southern Europe is still delivering the best balance between sunshine and convenience.

For broader European travel coverage: Europe eSIM plans

Europe eSIM plans for all your European needs

Interestingly, those "warmest place in December" searches don't always translate into bookings for the hottest destinations. Travellers still really value practicality.

Why we're seeing a change in December travel patterns

One thing that really stood out in the data was: travellers are increasingly splitting their December holidays into two types of trips.

The first group books the classic "Christmas sun escapes" - warm beach destinations for Christmas and New Year.

The second group travels in the first two weeks of December to avoid peak festive prices and crowded airports while still getting good weather.

That shift in planning has made destinations like Marrakech, Cyprus, and the Canary Islands more attractive - they offer winter sun without the premium prices and can be significantly cheaper than the summer months. Plus, you get the added bonus of fewer crowds, shorter queues, and easier restaurant bookings. Just remember to pack a light jacket for the cooler evenings, as even the warmest destinations can drop a bit after sunset.

It also explains why flexible mobile connectivity has become even more important. Modern travellers really rely on mobile data abroad for things like boarding passes, maps, restaurant bookings, and remote work.

The days of relying on hotel Wi-Fi are long gone.

The cheapest hot destinations in December

When travellers searched for affordable warmth, three destinations kept popping up.

Thailand offered the best overall long-haul value. The Canary Islands delivered the cheapest reliable sunshine within Europe. Morocco was the third destination that stood out for having a great balance between low flight costs and decent winter temperatures.

The cheapest option isn't always the one with the lowest flight price. Travellers often underestimate just how expensive daily costs can be in "cheap" destinations during peak holiday periods.

That's partly why travellers are increasingly planning their connectivity before they even leave. Roaming charges abroad can quietly destroy your holiday budget faster than almost anything else.

What really mattered to travellers - besides the weather

The most surprising insight from the data was: it wasn't the temperature that travellers cared about most - it was connectivity.

Travellers who were moving between multiple cities or countries consistently used way more mobile data than those who were just staying at a resort.

And that makes total sense when you think about modern travel habits:

• Constantly navigating.
• Using translation apps.
• Getting mobile boarding passes.
• Using food delivery apps.
• Video calling home over Christmas.
• Uploading photos and videos daily.

In destinations like Thailand and Dubai, travellers were relying heavily on mobile-first travel planning once they arrived.

Reliable connectivity has become one of the most important parts of modern travel comfort.

So where is actually hot in December? - including the Canary Islands

If you want guaranteed heat, Thailand, Dubai, Mexico, and Bali are still some of the top hot places for December.

If you want easy, short-haul winter sun, Tenerife and the Canary Islands are still top picks, especially if you want sunny weather in Europe in December.

And if you want the best overall mix of weather, convenience, infrastructure, and reliability, Dubai might be the strongest all-round December destination for UK travellers.

But perhaps the most important thing we learned from analysing 18,000 real trips is this: travellers are no longer choosing destinations based purely on how hot it is.

They're choosing based on how easy the whole experience feels.That includes trips to places with decent flights, affordable costs, tolerable weather, and reliable transport - plus staying connected abroad without having to worry about eyeball-watering roaming charges or dodgy Wi-Fi connections that keep dropping.

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