By the time December rolls around each year, most of us are already feeling the effects of the ‘Winter Blahs’. The wet, cool days of Fall have turned into the gloomy cold days of Winter, leaving us all wondering if we’ll ever see the sun again. A vacation sounds nice, doesn’t it? A nice tropical island where the sun is always shining and the chill of Winter is never felt.
No wonder December is prime time for travel among tourists. And you guessed it – beaches are the number one winter vacation destinations of choice. When it’s Winter on one side of the world, the other has plenty of sun, which means travelers are traversing the globe year round to find some warm sand to dig their toes into and some rays of sun to bask in. To make it easier for you to choose, we’re going to highlight some of the very best beaches in the world to visit in December.
Canary Islands of Spain

Canary Islands of Spain
Source – mark_bowman
These islands offer a beach for everyone – from families to nudists to swinging singles. They offer lots of nature to explore and plenty of water sports to partake in. The southernmost islands are generally the warmest.
Tobago Cays, Grenadines

Tobago Cays - Grenadines
Source – pixelsenvrac
This island paradise is so pristine, you can’t even camp on it. It is considered a tropical wonder with some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean and untouched beaches and coral reefs. Due to its protected status, you can’t stay there, but you can visit from islands nearby or sleep on your boat just offshore.
Vivonne Bay, Australia

Vivonne Bay, Australia
Source – wodjamiff
Vivonne Bay is popular with surfers because of its ample waves, but the bay also has calmer waters for those who aren’t so sporty. Aside from being a surfer’s paradise, Vivonne Bay offers an up-close and personal view of some of Australia’s most beautiful flora and fauna in their natural environments – even kangaroos.
Osprey Beach, Turks & Caicos – This beach offers something for a wide variety of tourists. Osprey Beach is most famous for its fabulous coral walls that drop some 7,000 feet into the sea, bathtub-like water temps and thriving sea life. On the other hand, it’s also popular with non-diving tourists because of its long promenade situated just off the beach, which is home to many shops, restaurants, clubs, cafes and other businesses.
The Caribbean

Caribbean
Source – whatleydude
Pick a beach… any beach in the Caribbean and December is the perfect time to go. It gets really busy during weeks before and after Christmas so plan accordingly and book ahead.
Emerald Bay at Pangkor Laut, Malaysia

Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Source – jasoncartwright
An all-inclusive resort on a secluded private island? Enough said.
Datai Beach, Langkawi Island, Malaysia

Datai Beach, Malaysia
Source – andylawson
Before you leave Malaysia, you should check out Datai Beach on Langkawi Island. It’s said to be one of the best secluded and unexplored beaches in all of Asia.
Maldives

Maldives
Source – ssanyal
Maldives is renowned for being an elegant, upscale tropical paradise. The area spares no expense in creating luxurious surroundings, which is evident in the many all-inclusive five star resorts in the region. Maldives is truly the place to seen and be seen, as far as tropical destinations go. Be prepared to pay… and pay dearly, for reservations at these resorts.
Baie Orientale, St. Martin

Baie Orientale - St. Martin
Source – jfrenaud
Baie Orientale is considered to be the best beach in all of St. Martin. Without question, it’s the most popular. One end of the island is very family oriented, where you’ll see lots of parents with their kids. The other end of the beach is known to get a little bit wild – maybe because it’s clothing optional.
Shoal Bay, Anguilla

Shoal Bay - Anguilla
Source – jfrenaud
Shoal Bay is one of those beaches you look at and just know it was created with tourists in mind. It’s covered with groves of coconut trees and silky sand. Rows of touristy restaurants and souvenir shops line the shore, where you can get everything from a tropical drink and massage to a pair of cheap sunglasses.
Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands
Source – justin_kern
The Cayman Islands offer something for every type of tourist. For the ecotourists, there are presentations, classes and tours with information about the local marine life and ecosystem. For shopping enthusiasts, there are many high end boutiques for your perusal. And for families, all-inclusive resorts offer everything from dining accommodations to programs created just for the kids.

Oman Coast
Source – octal
If you’re looking for a place all to yourself, Oman is your best bet. It boasts 1,000 miles of shoreline, which you won’t have to share with anyone because very few tourists ever visit its coast.
Jimbaran Bay, Indonesia (Bali)

Jimbaran Bay - Indonesia - Bali
Source – anniemole
Jimbaran Bay is known for its luxury, much like the entire country of Bali itself. It’s a resort town with everything you would expect from a resort town, in addition to some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Jimbaran Bay is said to have some of the friendliest locals of any beach in the world.

Jamaica
Source – sackerman519
Pick a beach… any beach in Jamaica and December is a good time to go. Jamaica is a popular tourist draw year round because of its rich history, charming people and lively culture. The beaches really are just gravy.
Hawaii

Hawaii
Source – pxlpshr
It doesn’t matter which island you visit or which time of the year you go, any time you are in Hawaii, you’re going to find yourself in the midst of a tropical paradise.
Before you go:
- The sun’s rays affect people differently at different latitudes and longitudes around the world so be sure and pack plenty of sunscreen.
- Some islands are prone to sea storms like hurricanes and tsunamis at certain times of the year so research that when choosing your final destination.
- Always be sure of the immigration and customs laws and requirements of any country you plan to visit so that you can prepare your documents accordingly. Some places will not let you enter the border without certain kinds of identification or government forms, which can ruin your trip.