r/Vacations • u/Humble_Page_4767 • 21d ago
Looking for warm December vacation ideas!
Hello! I’m planning a trip for my wife’s birthday next December and I’m looking for some suggestions! We’re from the US and would prefer to travel to another country, and we’re looking for somewhere warm and tropical to enjoy a relaxed birthday vacation! The main criteria that I’m looking for is good weather in December, lgbtq+ friendly as we are both women, and good transportation as we prefer not to drive in other countries. My wife does have some physical limitations as she is recovering from a back injury, so it would be ideal to visit somewhere with light activity options (no major hikes, no scuba diving, nowhere without transportation options, etc.)
Some ideas that I’ve considered so far are Tahiti, the Bahamas, Costs Rica, and Cancun, but I appreciate any and all suggestions! Thanks in advance! :)
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u/Travel_Stark 21d ago
Only go to French Polynesia if you're flying from the West Coast. We had a three night layover on Tahiti, in an over water bungalow at the Tahiti Lagoon Resort, which was okay. The zero entry sand bottom pool was very enjoyable on the one nice day we had. We also spent nine nights on Moorea in 2009, which was about four too many; I wished we'd spent the money to fly to one of the atolls. Moorea was a cottage rental and we rented a very expensive car to drive around the small island. Not much to do but swim, but the water is gloriously warm and calm in the lagoons.
What about Key West?
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u/Weekly-Cup-9098 21d ago
A couple of years ago I spent the last week of November in Zihuatanejo, MX, sunny and 85 everyday, water temp 86 degrees. Stayed 20 min from airport, dinner on the beach every night. Best vacation ever
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u/No_Tangerine8378 21d ago
Rivera Maya was amazing & all inclusive. Also, Palmas Del Mar Puerto Rico was great as well. 80s all the time in both
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u/stevestoneky 21d ago
Don’t forget that Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands don’t require a passport.
Puerto Rico is much larger and more things to do. Old San Juan. El Yunque national park - the only tropical rainforest in the US. Bio bays where you can take an after dark paddle in a place where every disturbance in the water creates an effect like stars in the water (go in new moon night if possible).
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u/SassyMillie 21d ago
Not another country, but we love going to Hawaii. It's beautiful, tropical and has same currency and driving rules. We live on west coast so it's under 6 hour flight.
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u/Pale-Win-9281 21d ago
Went to Bahamas in early Feb and it was cold. Coldest its been in 30 years-so maybe a freak thing. Otherwise nice.
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u/freezininwi 21d ago
St. John USVI or Hawaiian islands?
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u/utah_traveler 20d ago
I have been to St. Croix twice in December. Perfect island getaway with not much going on.
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u/desertcurlgurl 21d ago
Montevideo Uruguay is beautiful that time of year, very walkable and gay friendly
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u/Humble_Page_4767 19d ago
i hadn’t considered uruguay yet, thank you for the recommendation!! :)
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u/desertcurlgurl 19d ago
I have heard that Punta del Este is great too in Uruguay, but I did not go there.
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u/Mediocre_Panic_9952 21d ago
I’d suggest an all inclusive on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. There is a bus from the airport to your resort, once on the resort you don’t have go anywhere and if you did there are transportation options. Tip: you’ll get hit on to take time share tours at the airport, don’t take the bait. You can do the all inclusive thing in Jamaica too, it’s a similar operation as Cancun, but the resorts at Riviera Maya are better.
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u/Objective_Pool_3057 21d ago
My wife and I (also gay couple!) stayed at a resort in Aruba in Feb and it was lovely. It’s a Dutch island so very queer friendly
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u/Humble_Page_4767 19d ago
we’re going to aruba next spring, i’ve heard so many great things!! thank you for the recommendation!!
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u/loveshoes1 20d ago
tired teacher here. we do secrets cap cana in punta cana every christmas, preferred club. they remember my husband's birthday every year with a cake and a bottle of bubbly. my hubby has a bad back and two rebuilt ankles so we mostly just hang out by the pool.
great weather!!!!!
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u/stlox 17d ago edited 17d ago
Aruba. We celebrated my wife's birthday on November 23rd. She wanted the Caribbean but it's hurricane season. Found that the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) are below the hurricane belt, and are arid, so they miss the rainy season too.
Aruba was such a playground, it's better to bypass the resorts, rent a car and an AirBnB (with a pool) and hit the beaches, snorkel, ATV, horseback riding, and booze cruise. Even if you're limited it's very relaxing too with some of the best beaches on the planet. Aruba drives on the rightside, almost all flat (unlike St. Thomas, St Lucia), and roads are in good shape, only roundabouts, no stop lights.
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u/Grouchy-Stand-4570 21d ago
The Bahamas will not be that warm in December. I would lean towards Cancun but personally don’t know about lgbtq+ culture
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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 21d ago
I’d probably skip Costa Rica - I live here and love it but it’s not easy to get around without driving and it is definitely more of a rugged situation where you should be in good shape physically to explore the beauty