Cheapest places to travel in December

Idyllic Aussie islands, icy wonderlands and long-time favourite destinations.

With school holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all crammed into the month, December is not necessarily known as a cheap time to travel. But, if you know where to look (and when to look), there are deals out there.

3 of the cheapest places to travel in December 2023

The Whitsunday Islands

You can fly to this island paradise for less than $200 return from multiple cities in Australia. And, being the off-season along the Queensland coast, it’s also a great time to find a deal on accommodation.

Budget-friendly stays are widely available on the mainland town of Airlie Beach, where you can catch a multi-day islands sailing or day trips to the iconic Whitehaven Beach. Hamilton Island often has great deals where you get one night of accommodation free when you stay for four or more (excluding Christmas and New Years, usually, but not the rest of the month).

How cheap will it be once you get to the Whitsundays?*

• Hotels: Basic hotels in Airlie Beach can be booked for $125-$175 per night on Booking.com.
• Attractions: You can book sunset cruises from $69 and tours to Whitehaven Beach from $140.
• Food: Meals at basic restaurants or pubs will likely cost between $20-$30.

*Travel around Christmastime tends to be more expensive, but you can get a deal in early December, so that’s the time-range we used for the above.

Antarctica

Okay, hear us out with this one.

Antarctica isn’t every really a “cheap” place to go, but, if you book at the right time you can slash thousands of dollars off the cost of a trip to what feels like the edge of the earth.

Thanks to the extended G Adventures Black Friday sale, you can save thousands off of expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia in Argentina.

How cheap will it be once you get to Antarctica?

Everything is included in the price of your cruise. There aren’t any restaurants or local attractions you can pay for on arrival. The sailings may offer upgraded experiences or dining options, but the basics are included and any extras are completely optional.

Indonesia

Flights to holiday hotspots often skyrocket in December and January, but luckily, there’s still deals to be found if you head to Indonesia. And we’re not just talking about Bali here! You can book flights Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya or Labuan Baji (Komodo/Flores) all for less than $500 return from Australia in December.

Whether you’re a beach bum, culture culture, mountain climber, scuba diver or avid eater, there’s plenty to do in this paradise of about 18,000 islands. Surely, picking one to visit will be the hardest part.

Once you’re there, Indonesia is an incredible affordable place to travel (if you’re used to Australian prices, that is).

How cheap will it be once you get to Indonesia?

• Hotels: Expect mid-range hotels to cost $25-$50 per night, depending where in the country you’re visiting. If you’re okay with basic accommodation or homestays, you’ll probably be able to find stays for well under $20 per night. This is based on prices we’re seeing on Booking.com.
• Attractions: Guided tours of Borobudur temple in Yogyakarta will be about $50, a private driver in Bali will cost about $65 and a snorkelling tour in the Gili Islands will be about $25.
• Food: Expect to pay $1-$3 for street food meals, or $3-$5 in simple restaurants. Of course, there are many finer dining options available too that will cost more, but be much cheaper than a comparable experience in Australia.