December Vacation Destinations and International Festival Ideas

Whether you plan on finding the best places to visit for the holidays or are looking to escape the cold, December can be a great month to travel! Yes, parts of the world will be covered in snow (and holiday destinations packed), but the journey is worth it. 

Whether you want to travel with your family, a partner, or solo, we have destinations that we think you’ll love! These include some of the most popular December vacation options in the world, so please read through each option below to learn which is most likely to appeal to you. With our support, you can start your next vacation in style and save yourself money along the way.

We’ve researched some exciting events and destinations and provided helpful travel tips.  Keep reading and get inspired to plan your next December vacation.

1. Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival 2024 — Annapolis, Maryland

On the first day of December, Annapolis hosts the Chocolate Binge Festival, which is exactly what it sounds like here: delicious and amazing chocolate! As you walk through the festival, you’ll get the chance to buy and try truffles, bars, fudge, cookies, cakes, martinis, macaroons, cupcakes, and more.

Costing just $5 (with free admission to anyone under 12), this festival is a great experience that brings attention to an often under-examined state. Even on the busiest days for winter travel, Annapolis should be easy to visit and a relaxing and enjoyable environment for your kids.

Tips for Visiting Maryland 

Maryland is a cold state in winter, so make sure you bundle up with many warm clothes, including boots, mittens, and thick hats. Also, you may want to consider buying travel insurance to keep yourself safe. Travel insurance is a great investment and very inexpensive to purchase temporarily. It will keep things like your belongings and even your family safe from travel issues.

2. Dwijing Festival of Chirang — Chirang, Assam, India

The Dwjing Festival of Chirang is a beautiful late-December celebration (typically starting on December 27) that takes place over 12 days. It’s a river festival celebrated on the banks of the River Aie near the Hagrama Bridge in Assam. It highlights many important Assamese traditions. 

During this celebration, you’ll experience music, dance, art, food, and handicrafts. If you’re into Indian culture or simply want to learn more about other parts of the world, this might be the best place for you to travel in December. It’s enjoyable and quite an immersive and exciting experience. 

Tips for Traveling to India

If you’re looking for the best places to visit for the holidays with warm weather, try out this festival. December is summer in India, and the temperatures should be quite warm. Note that it’s one of the best times to fly here due to people being interested in this festival and in warm weather. That said, you can still find great deals if you book ahead by a few months: start looking early!

3. Dickens Festival — Deventer, Netherlands

Taking place on December 14 and 15 in Deventer, the Dickens Festival is a celebration of Charles Dickens, one of the greatest authors of all time. Throughout this festival, people dress up (over 950 actors) like people from Dickens’ novels to recreate the unique atmosphere of the times. 

That makes this one of the best places to travel to in December for literature nerds or anyone who truly loves reading. It’s also absolutely free, though it takes about 1-2 hours to get into the festival and 2-3 hours to finish, so make sure you dress up warmly and enjoy this experience.

Tips for Traveling in the Netherlands 

Like in many parts of Europe, tipping is not considered an essential thing — many people don’t even bother at all! The waitstaff is very fairly paid in these countries, meaning they don’t need tipping to survive. That said, if you have very good service, a 5-10% tip is greatly appreciated; and no waitstaff is going to get angry if you give them money. They just might be a little confused.

4. Fête des Lumières — Lyon, France

Fête des Lumières or “Festival of Lights” takes place for four days starting in early December and is a great way to have fun in Europe this winter as one of the best places to travel to and focuses heavily on the Virgin Mary and celebrates her influence on France. 

Specifically, many in the nation believe that she helped the city of Lyon overcome the plague when it hit the region unexpectedly in the 1800s. Every house puts candles in its windows, while various massive light displays create unforgettable experiences that your family will never forget.

Tips for Traveling to France 

France's weather can be unpredictable, so depending on forecasts, make sure you pack for cold weather with some warmer clothes. It’s also important to remember that France’s amazing bakeries use far less sugar than is commonly utilized in American cakes and pies. That might be a hard shock for some people at first, but the taste is amazing once you get used to it, so buy some while you’re there.

5. Hogmanay — Edinburgh, Scotland

Hogmanay in Edinburgh (make sure you learn to say it properly before visiting) is one of the best places to visit for the holidays if you want to stay active while you’re on your trip. Taking place on December 31, it’s a massive whole-city celebration of the New Year that will blow your mind. 

Scotland knows how to party better than any other country, and if you’re into huge parties during which you’ll meet many amazing people, it’s worth inking in your calendar. With street parties, fireworks, and torchlight processions, it’s an experience that is worth your time. 

Tips for Visiting Scotland

Scottish accents can be very thick (and will vary based on where you visit), so it’s important to listen to some recordings of Scottish men and women chatting to get a feel for how they sound. Note: Scotland is known for hospitality and kindness, and most people here are pretty laid back and friendly. That should make it fairly easy to get around if you get lost in Edinburgh or elsewhere.

6. Krampusnacht Festival — Vienna, Austria

Krampusnacht Festival in Vienna is the largest Krampus Festival in the world and home to the largest Krampus Museum as well. Taking place on December 5-6, this celebration examines the deeper and darker elements of the Santa Claus story by appeasing Krampus, the demon who gives out coal (and punishment) to bad children. 

Though often relatively forgotten in America, the Krampus legend has gotten more traction in recent years due to horror movies and increased interest in Germanic culture. This celebration includes races, parades, and plenty of liquor. It’s not a traditional holiday experience, so you may want to leave the kids at home.

Tips for Visiting Austria 

Austria is cold and snowy (there’s no use packing warm clothes here), and the days start getting pretty short in late December. While they’re still reasonably long during Krampusnacht, the shortest day is just 8.5 hours. As a result, you should make sure you wake up early when visiting this festival and get the most out of your days with a very busy itinerary. 

Travel Tips from The Parking Spot for Your December Vacation

All the best places to travel to in December feature unique weather experiences, fascinating activities, and considerations you must take seriously. Even the best places to visit for the holidays have unique facets that can greatly impact your travel experience. If you’re still on the fence about where to go and aren’t sure what to expect, read on to learn some important travel tips for your vacation. Pay close attention to these suggestions to ensure you can protect yourself and your family.

Packing Suggestions 

When packing your suitcase (including choosing your accessories), it’s important to think ahead about the weather you’ll experience. Most places on this list are cold weather, meaning you need to bring along a lot of warm clothing that will keep you and your family safe. In some places (such as Vienna), the cold might be more than you're used to, so make sure that you bring items such as:

• Long socks with boots that keep your feet safe from slush, rain, and snow 
• Jackets and sweaters that you can layer up for even more protection 
• Mittens, hats, scarves, and other comfortable and enjoyable clothing 
• Emergency kits (in case you spend a lot of time driving to your destination)

Note that other areas have warmer or even mixed weather (i.e., it might get both warm and cold unexpectedly), meaning that it’s important to bring along some lighter clothes that will hang easier on the body without causing any discomfort. These clothes might even be useful if you plan on hanging out in your hotel room in colder areas when temperatures drop heavily. Just a few options you need to consider here include:

• Sandals that you can wear if you want to hit up the beach 
• Lighter shirts with shorter sleeves and cotton materials 
• Shorts that provide easier movement and more comfortable temperature control 
• Hot-weather items (sunscreen, sun hats, and other important protective gear)

December Travel Booking Tips

If you’re trying to ensure you get the best booking possible including tickets ahead of time and a comfortable place to stay, we’re here to help! The following simple suggestions can ensure that you get the unique experience you deserve at a price you can afford. They include how you can:

• Book your hotel room in advance (up to 730 days) to make sure you have one 
• Use points from various booking sites (they’re usually applicable overseas)
• Consider working with a booking agency (it costs more but streamlines things)
• Download useful apps that can help you find coupons and other deals

Navigation Support

Getting around a brand-new area is going to be a little scary. Even if it’s just another American city, if you’ve never been there before, knowing where to go will take a little preparation. Thankfully, the following tips can streamline this experience and ensure you get the support you need here:

• Sign up for ridesharing apps (use whatever is most popular at your destination)
• Download and use train schedules (particularly beneficial in Europe)
• Consider renting a bike or electric scooter (cheap and energy-efficient)
• Study public transportation options to ensure you know what to expect

Final Thoughts from The Parking Spot 

If you plan on flying, The Parking Spot includes reservation options, transportation to and from the airport, coupons and deals, and much more. With many locations around the nation, The Parking Spot can provide the help your car needs to stay protected while you’re on your amazing December vacation!