5 Waterfront Destinations to Warm Up This Christmas – Even If You’re on a Budget
Written by
Jake Safane
Edited by
Angela Corry
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While many people dream of a white Christmas with snow and hot chocolate, others want to use their holiday time off to escape the winter and celebrate in a fun destination.
Traveling during the holidays, especially flying, can be pricey due to high demand as people crisscross the globe to visit friends and family. Yet with proper planning, and some flexibility such as on airline and hotel choices, you can still find great holiday deals for waterfront destinations.
Cocoa Beach, Florida
If you’re willing to drive about an hour from the Orlando airport, you can reach this beachfront destination that often has daytime temperatures in the low 70s around Christmas — and it only gets down to around 60 at night. Since it’s not as heralded as some other Florida winter destinations like Palm Beach and Miami, you can often score great hotels for around $100-$200 over Christmas.
Plus, if it rains or you want a change of scenery, a nice family activity is to visit the nearby Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum.
Naples, Florida
One of the warmest parts of the U.S. in December is Naples, on the Gulf Coast in southwest Florida. You can typically enjoy highs in the mid-70s and lows in the high 50s/low 60s. Another perk is that you can often find direct flights to nearby Southwest Florida International Airport in the Fort Myers area, which is about 30-40 minutes from many parts of Naples.
While Naples can be on the ritzy side, there are still plenty of deals to be found if you’re not too picky. You can find some hotels or vacation rentals for under $200, which might then be a short drive or bike ride to beautiful public beaches. To keep costs down, you could check out places like Celebration Park, where you can enjoy food trucks along an inlet.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
California typically isn’t warm enough to swim at the beach in December, so if you’re looking for a Pacific destination to soak up the sun, consider going south to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Not only are the temperatures great — often in the low 80s during the day and mid-60s at night — but December is part of its dry season, so you can hopefully avoid a white or gray Christmas.
Prices vary significantly based on the level of luxury you want, but you can find nice accommodations for around $100 or less per night. In addition to great beaches, Puerto Vallarta has features like charming cobblestone streets in its downtown area.
Caye Caulker, Belize
For a more adventurous Christmas trip, consider flying to Belize City and then taking a ≈45-minute ferry to Caye Caulker (or you could fly to the island from the mainland if you have a bigger budget). There, you can enjoy activities such as snorkeling and diving, with relatively modest but very affordable accommodations — some well under $100 per night.
The weather is often great, with high temperatures typically in the mid-80s and lows of around 70. And while it may not have as many widespread sandy beaches as other destinations, its beautiful turquoise waters provide a welcome winter retreat.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
While you’re probably not going to get tropical weather here in December, the temperatures can still be quite mild and a welcome reprieve for those visiting from snowy locales. Think daytime temperatures in the 50s or 60s and nighttime temps in the 40s — so you’ll still probably want some layers, but it can be a more comfortable way to enjoy Christmas festivities for those coming from places like the Northeast or Midwest.
Normally, Myrtle Beach is a pricey tourist destination, but since this is the offseason, you can find great deals, such as hotels and vacation rentals for under $150 per night. Some places might be closed this time of year, but you can still find lots of great family-friendly activities, including beautiful lighting displays and holiday shows.
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