Destination head-to-head
Cancun or Hurghada and the Red Sea in December?
Hurghada and the Red Sea edges it on paper in December at 8.6 out of 10 against Cancun's 7.1, but the gap closes fast once you price the flights, the food and the day trips.
Quick verdict
Cancun for flight access, exploring solo, nightlife. Hurghada and the Red Sea for value for money.
Cancun, Mexico
8.6/10
28C days, 27C sea, 105mm rain
Hurghada and the Red Sea, Egypt
7.5/10
23C days, 3mm rain
Rated side by side
Out of five on each criterion.
| What matters | Cancun | Hurghada and the Red Sea |
|---|---|---|
| NightlifeBars, clubs and late-night energy | ||
| BeachesSand quality, water clarity and swimming | ||
| Food sceneRange, quality and local character | ||
| FamiliesKid-friendly resorts, pools and day trips | ||
| RomanceCouples, honeymoons and adults-only stays | ||
| Things to doExcursions, culture and day trips | ||
| All-inclusiveChoice and value of all-inclusive resorts | ||
| Value for moneyWhat a typical day actually costs | ||
| Easy and safeComfort for first-time visitors | ||
| Exploring soloHow easy it is to get out on your own | ||
| Flight accessDirect routes and flight time from North America |
Side by side in December
| Factor | Cancun | Hurghada and the Red Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 28C | 23C |
| Rainfall | 105mm | 3mm |
| Sea temperature | 27C, swimmable | Varies by season |
| Beach quality | Wide white sand, calm Caribbean | 4 out of 5 |
| Getting there | under 5 hours from most of North America | 5h from London |
| Typical cost | Highest rates of the year, so lock in early. | Cheap |
| Between beach days | Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling | Very cheap all-inclusives, World-class reef snorkelling |
What is on in Cancun in December
- Guadalupe Day pilgrimages on 12 December
- Christmas and New Year fireworks over the lagoon and beach
- Cool, dry, sunny days in the high 20s
Crowds. Peak season. Book flights and restaurants well ahead.
Prices. Highest rates of the year, so lock in early.
Seaweed. Sargassum seaweed risk is low, so the sand is at its cleanest.
Storms. Outside hurricane season entirely.
Dated plans and community meetups are listed on the Cancun events calendar.
Book Cancun for December
- Check Cancun hotel ratesLive all-inclusive and boutique pricesOpen
- Browse Cancun toursChichen Itza, cenotes, Isla Mujeres and moreOpen
- Get an airport transfer quoteFixed price, 20 minutes to the Hotel ZoneOpen
Prefer a plan first? Build a free day-by-day Cancun itinerary.
Where Hurghada and the Red Sea genuinely wins
- Very cheap all-inclusives
- World-class reef snorkelling
- Almost no rain
Pick Hurghada and the Red Sea if very cheap all-inclusives is the single thing you care most about on this trip.
What catches people out
- Resort strips feel isolated
- Extreme summer heat
- Long transfers to ruins
The Cancun edge
Cancun has comparable reef access plus a real city, cenotes and Mayan ruins under two hours away.
Cancun is the rare beach destination that also works as a base. The airport is one of the busiest in Latin America, the transfer to your hotel takes twenty minutes, and within two hours you can be swimming in a cenote, climbing a Mayan pyramid, snorkelling the second largest reef on the planet, or eating cochinita pibil in a downtown market for the price of a coffee elsewhere. That combination is why we keep building these comparisons and keep reaching the same conclusion.
Cancun wins for you? Start here.
Compare Hurghada and the Red Sea in other months
Other places people compare with Cancun in December
- Cancun or Punta Cana in December
- Cancun or Dubai in December
- Cancun or Mexico City in December
- Cancun or Jamaica in December
- Cancun or Nassau and the Bahamas in December
- Cancun or Aruba in December
- Cancun or Barbados in December
- Cancun or Costa Rica in December
- Cancun or Tulum in December
- Cancun or Playa del Carmen in December