I spend my holiday season in Mexico, where they do things a little differently…
In Mexico, we have a big feast first thing Christmas morning. When I say first thing, I mean midnight! Right as Christmas Eve rolls into Christmas Day.
What’s also different is, the sun is shining and it’s warm out (something I never tire of telling my friends and family in Ireland when I call them)!
So, if you’ve had enough of overcast skies and frozen pipes, why not swap your winter woolies for swimsuits and celebrate Christmas with sand between your toes.
While Europe and the United States shivers through their traditional cold Christmas, myself and countless others are enjoying a different Christmas experience, from Costa Rica’s Pacific shores to Thailand’s tropical islands.
Think Santa arriving by longboat in Phuket, Christmas trees decorated with seashells in Panama, and barbecues on the beach where fresh-caught seafood replaces turkey as the star of the show.
Why shiver through Christmas at home when you could be relaxing on the beach?
Celebrating Christmas overseas can be a wonderful new experience. Did you know that in Brazil, Santa is known as Papai Noel and he sometimes trades his heavy red suit for tropical beachwear?
Or that in Thailand, they decorate Christmas trees with tiny elephants instead of baubles? And then there’s the Christmas food. From festive tamales in Costa Rica to Thai feasts of fresh coconuts and grilled fish.
The best part? No need to worry about defrosting your car or battling holiday blizzards…just grab your sunscreen and head to the nearest beach bar.
I asked my team to find cheap dream homes where you can enjoy Christmas on the beach, read on to discover what they found.
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Listing Price: $128,000
Enjoy Christmas day on Coco beach with this cozy studio condo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Listing here.
This cozy studio condo is within a gated community in Playas del Coco, just a two-minute walk from Coco beach. The fully renovated unit has a kitchenette, modern bathroom with washer/dryer, and access to community amenities including a pool and garden areas.
Guanacaste enjoys perfect beach weather at Christmas. The dry season has arrived so there’s minimal rainfall and low humidity. Average daytime temperatures range from 85 F to 90 F.
With miles of stunning coastline, dry tropical forests, and striking volcanic mountain ranges, Guanacaste is known as Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast”.
Playas del Coco offers a vibrant beach town atmosphere with lively restaurants, shops, and nightlife. As well as relaxing on the beach, visitors can enjoy surfing, sport fishing, scuba diving, and day trips to nearby national parks.
The home is listed for $128,000 and you can view the listing here.
Caucaia, Brazil
Listing Price: $117,100
Swap the Christmas turkey for fresh-caught seafood with a beach house in Brazil. Listing here.
This charming six-bedroom beach house is located on the main avenue in the city of Caucaia in northeastern Brazil. Situated on a 12,000 square foot lot, the property has a pool, balconies, garden, backyard, kennel, and a caretaker’s house. There’s a balcony with panoramic views and a garden with fruit and ornamental trees.
The house is just steps from the serene Icaraí Beach, while the livelier Cumbuco Beach, a popular sport for kitesurfing and windsurfing, is 15 minutes away. Caucaia, in northeastern Brazil, is a coastal municipality less than 10 miles from the state capital of Fortaleza. It’s part of an extensive coastline featuring both urban beaches and more secluded stretches of sand. Close to the shore you’ll find impressive dunes and dense mangrove forests which give way to rolling hills and winding rivers inland.
Situated in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas in Caucaia sees daytime temperatures at a very pleasant 82 F to 88 F. And you can forget the traditional turkey, in Caucaia holiday food means seafood. Local fishermen deliver fresh catches daily to beachfront restaurants, where you can celebrate with grilled lobster, garlic-infused shrimp, and the region’s famous moqueca, a rich fish stew simmered in coconut milk.
The listing price is $117,100. Click here to for more details.
Seminyak, Bali
Listing Price: $208,000
Jingle bells meet ocean swells in Bali, the location of this three-bedroom villa. Listing here.
My team found this elegant three-bedroom, two-story villa in Oberoi, Seminyak, with 2,045 square feet of living space. The villa has three bathrooms, a modern kitchen, and living and dining areas. There’s also a swimming pool, sun deck, garage with outdoor parking, and comes fully furnished with air conditioning throughout.
Seminyak is an upscale beach resort area in southern Bali, Indonesia with high-end boutiques, contemporary art galleries, luxury spas, and trendy beach clubs dining restaurants. It has evolved into one of Bali’s most exclusive neighborhoods, attracting affluent travelers and real estate investors.
Seminyak Beach stretches along Bali’s southwestern coast, known for its wide sandy shores with volcanic sand and spectacular sunsets.
Christmas in Seminyak could be spent relaxing under an umbrella with a cold drink, taking a surf lesson, or simply walking the long stretch of beach that connects to Kuta in the south and Canggu in the north. In Seminyak you can experience a genuine tropical Christmas. December is right in the middle of the rainy season, but daily highs still reach around 88 F and mornings are typically bright and sunny followed by an intense tropical downpour in the afternoon which clears in time to enjoy another spectacular Bali sunset.
It’s at sunset that the beach comes alive, as the sky transforms into a riot of vibrant oranges and pinks, and beach bars open for another night of gourmet beachfront dining and exquisitely crafted cocktails.
The villa is for sale at $208,000. Click here to view the listing.
Phuket, Thailand
Listing Price: $381,600
Tinsel in Thailand: You could be putting up Christmas decorations in this villa instead of shoveling snow. Listing here.
This stunning three-bedroom villa has 2,175 square feet of living space and is located just two minutes from Laguna 5-Star Resort on Phuket’s west coast. The villa has three bathrooms, including a master with Jacuzzi, an open-plan design with a sunken living room, elevated dining area, and full-length windows leading to a private pool and garden.
The villa is in a fast-growing area. Planned new developments include a water park, an extension to a nearby shopping complex, and a botanical garden. You’re close to high-end dining, golf, and beautiful sandy beaches.
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is famous its incredible beaches along the western shore. The area around Laguna, is where you’ll find many of Thailand’s high-end resorts as well as world-class golf courses, and luxury residential developments.
The area was once tin mining land, but today it’s one of Thailand’s most prestigious resort destinations, with integrated facilities and easy access to Phuket International Airport.
December marks the beginning of Phuket’s peak season, and Christmas visitors can expect average daily highs of around 90 F, low humidity, clear skies, and calm seas.
The villa is for sale at $381,600, and you can view the listing here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. If you’re interested in any of these listings you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. We haven’t done any due diligence on them.
P.P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.
