World’s Best Christmas Beach Vacations for Families

The best Christmas beach vacations for families may be just a short flight from home, but if you are looking for something exotic, you can choose faraway locations where the weather is warm and sunny. A warm winter getaway is not just about the sun and fun, it also allows you to experience the holiday customs and traditions of different countries and cultures. If you are ready to take the family on a new adventure this year, here are 10 fantastic Xmas beach vacation destinations!

Florida

The warmest beaches in the US in December are in South Florida. The climate is perfect, with temperatures hovering at 70 degrees, the beaches are family-friendly with shallows that are perfect for little ones to play. We love Deerfield Beach in Broward that is great for families with older kids who like wakeboarding, water-skiing, and surfing.

After spending the morning having fun at the beach, you can head to one of the many theme parks found around. Don’t miss the dazzling light displays at the Magic Kingdom, the Harry Potter Villages, and the Miami Zoo that dazzles visitors with its exotic animals and brilliant holiday lights. No matter what type of activities you are looking for, Florida offers the best winter beach vacation in the US!

Bahamas

The Bahamas has something to offer for all types of beachgoers: there are hundreds of wonderful beaches, snorkeling opportunities, and underwater parks, so it is not a surprise that it is one of the best Christmas beach vacations for families! You can never fail if you book your stay at the Atlantis Resort that is often called the Caribbean’s equivalent to Disneyland and you’ll sure to have a fun, tropical vacation.

If you have small kids, Beach Resort in Nassau is a great choice that has tree-shaded pools, a kid’s club for kids 5 through 12, a pool for adults, and entertainment, including parties and theme nights. For families with teens, we recommend staying at the Breezes Resorts that might be a bit dated but the activity team is very engaging.

Hawaii

With pleasant weather, breath-taking landscape and unique holiday celebrations, another of the best Christmas beach vacations for families is Hawaii. The winter months offer excellent conditions for beach activities such as snorkeling and surfing, but checking the wind and wave charts regularly is needed to decide what beaches are safe on the given day.

If you can’t decide which island to head to, here are some things to do around Christmas that might help you to choose: In Oahu, boats decorated with thousands of colorful lights parade around Honolulu Harbor. The attractions on the Big Island are the Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade, performances of The Nutcracker at the Hilo Palace Theater. In Lahaina Town on Maui are a festive tree lighting ceremony, carols sung in Hawaiian, and a craft fair with a visit from Santa. On Kauai, the celebrated event is the Kauai Festival of Lights. However, the peak season in Hawaii is the last two weeks of December, so plan early!

Mexico

Spending the Christmas period in Mexico is never a bad idea if you are looking for a sunny destination with beautiful beaches that are perfect for escaping cold weather. But this wonderful country is more than just beaches, there are lots of other attractions! Should you stay in the popular tourist areas such as Cancun or Tulum, you can visit Mayan ruins including the famous Chichen Itza, or spend a day exploring magical cenotes.

If you love to travel around and see Mexico’s different sides, not just the touristy Quintana Roo, visit Christmas celebrations in Mexico City that start on the First Sunday of Advent with street markets and last through Epiphany on January 6th. Oaxaca is also famous for its elaborate Christmas festivities including religious activities, mananitas, carnival, food fair music, and fireworks.

Recommended Pots:
Why you should visit the beach in winter?

Aruba

One of the finest Caribbean destinations for a warm Christmas vacation for families is Aruba where that weather is warm and sunny all year round and the shallow beaches are perfect for kids. The island’s most popular area is Palm Beach with amazingly blue, calm water, that is safe for little ones to play in the surf.

If your family loves snorkeling, Boca Catalina is the perfect place to go where the sea is crystal clear and full of marine species including corals and turtles. But our favorite family-friendly location is Baby Beach, which is actually a protected shallow lagoon where you can swim with sea turtles. Does it sound exciting? Don’t wait, book your Aruba Christmas Vacation now!

Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos is a British Territory in the Caribbean. More than 40 islands make up the favorite Christmas destination where the beaches are famous for white sand and turquoise waters.

If you and your kids love water sports, head to Leeward Beach; this sheltered beach is a favorite location for paddleboarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding. Cove Beach, South Caicos is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. To see exotic marine life up close, join guided power snorkeling tours!

Holiday celebrations are numerous: don’t miss out The Maskanoo Parade in Providenciales which is a colorful masquerade festival that takes place the day after Christmas. There is also a party at Grace Beach on December 28th with live music, kayak races, and holiday foods.

The Flamingo Cafe on Grace Beach hosts a bonfire with a DJ and local foods. This beach is also the perfect location to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks if you are thinking to stay that long.

For family vacations, Beaches Resort is a highly recommended hotel to consider.

Australia

Plan the perfect beach vacation for the Christmas holidays in Australia! For ocean lovers, December is the ideal month to explore the famous Great Barrier Reef that offers exceptional snorkeling and diving! But where to?

One of the best destinations for families is Australia’s Gold Coast that has water sports for every age, beautiful beaches, theme parks, and whale watching cruises. Far North Queensland is perfect for families who love casually just lying on the beach. For a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience, plan your Christmas at The Whitsundays!

Maldives

Surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean waters, the Maldives has consistently warm weather with periods of rain during the rainy season, between May and October. Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest periods in this country with good reason; can you imagine anything better than spending the holidays with your beloved ones on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life?!

The Maldives is a Muslim country, so celebrations on local islands are limited, but the resort islands host gala dinners and cocktail parties on Christmas Eve, followed by elaborate brunch on Christmas Day and even holiday games and workshops, including decorating gingerbread houses for the little ones.

Many people are afraid that they will get bored being on an island for an entire vacation, but outdoor activities are numerous in The Maldives! You can do snorkeling or scuba diving, go swimming with dolphins, manta rays or whale sharks in the open ocean, join a sunset beach BBQ or dine at an underwater restaurant.

Canary Islands – Spain

The Canary Islands is one of the most beautiful winter sun destinations in Europe with sunny and mild climate. These volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean belong to Spain and are near Morocco. The culture is European, so it is really safe there and the resorts are family-friendly. Locals speak Spanish, but there are a lot of expats living on the islands that speak English.

Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, the Canary Islands have fun holiday activities for everyone in the family. The 4 biggest islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote that all have UNESCO-protected areas, nature reserves crystal clear water full of marine life. Put on your snorkeling mask and swim with turtles and rays and join dolphin and whale watching tours to encounter magical sea creatures!

Thailand

Thailand is a perfect Christmas destination for families. This Southeast Asian country has beautiful beach resorts, lots of land attractions, and exciting water activities. A perfect holiday itinerary must include a stop in Bangkok is where you can do some shopping at the markets and visiting temples along the river, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. After you and your family explored the capital, move to the south where the most amazing landscape and beaches are waiting for you.

In December, the islands in the Andaman Sea such as Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands in Krabi, or Koh Lanta have excellent vacation weather. There are many family-friendly resorts and various activities are offered everywhere like snorkeling and island-hopping trips. If you are looking to take your family for an adventure-filled Christmas beach vacation, Thailand is where you need to go!

Inspired? Pin it!