We round up the top five December destinations according to First Choice holidaymakers…

While most of us were doing the usual Christmas rounds last month, some First Choice customers jetted off to enjoy the party season in sunnier climes. So, while our Saturday nights consisted of awkward family get-togethers, Christmas drinks with Pete and Trish from next door, and the cringe-worthy affair that is the annual office party, they were sipping cocktails and dancing barefoot on the beach. We check out the nightlife we could have been sampling in last month’s five most popular destinations. We’re not jealous – honest…

1. Tenerife

It might sound like an old cliché, but the after-dark scene in Tenerife really does cater for everyone. In these parts, Playa de Las Americas is the party hub, and the sleep-dodging revellers here head for the Veronicas strip, darting in and out of neon-lit discos and Irish pubs. It’s an altogether different vibe in Los Cristianos, though. This pretty seaside town is home to a collection of chic wine bars, particularly around the harbour area. Then there’s the capital, Santa Cruz, to think about. This place is home to an amphitheatre – the Tenerife Auditorium – that looks a lot like the Sydney Opera House and boasts a Symphony Hall that covers 4,000 square feet. Catch an opera show here – the acoustics are out of this world.

2. Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm is without a doubt the nightlife capital of Egypt and, while most of the region’s hotels offer up night-time shows and live music, you can’t beat Naama Bay for a good night out. The main strip is studded with bars, cocktail lounges and pubs, so whether you fancy perching on a floor cushion with a hubbly bubbly pipe, or dancing until the sun comes up, you’ve got the full spectrum of frolics up for grabs. On top of that, there are casinos to try your luck in, and belly-dancing shows to catch. If you can only tick off a couple of nightspots, though, put Pacha and Pangaea on your list. The former is set in the heart of Naama Bay, can hold up to 3,000 party people and counts a swimming pool and some of the world’s biggest DJs among its main draws. You’ll find Pangaea near the Hotel Savoy in SOHO Square. This place teams African-style décor with bar staff who channel Tom Cruise in Cocktail.

3. Gran Canaria

The nightlife epicentre of Gran Canaria is Playa del Ingles, a resort that runs from San Agustin in the north, all the way to the Maspalomas sand dunes in the south. And thanks to its sheer size, this place offers up more bars per square metre than anywhere else on the island. Cue karaoke joints and sports bars mingling with open-air cocktail spots and Seventies-style discos. The best places to try are around the Kasbah Centre and the Yumbo Centre – the latter of which plays host to a load of bars waving the rainbow-coloured flag. Pay a visit to the Harley Rock – just outside the Kasbah Centre – for Tex Mex food and a rock music soundtrack. Or make a beeline for Puerto Morgan’s harbour area, where you’ll find chilled-out tapas bars and seafood restaurants, plus a few cocktail bars overlooking the fishing boats.

4. Majorca

Parts of this Balearic Isle are as sleepy as they come, and others – namely Palma and Magaluf – crank up the volume all night long. Palma is Majorca’s style-savvy capital, and its cobbled old quarter is filled with atmospheric tapas bars and cosy jazz dens. Snaking along the seafront, meanwhile, are strobe-lit superclubs like Tito’s. Barely-dressed dancers on stilts greet you here, and you’re whisked up to the action in a lift. If that’s not your scene, Abaca is the perfect antidote. This cocktail bar is hidden away in the courtyard of a Medieval palace in the old town, and on Friday nights guests are showered in flower petals as part of an amazing display. Then of course there’s Magaluf, which is held in the same regard as Ayia Napa with the 18-30s crowd. Here, it’s all about Brit-style pubs and fishbowl cocktails.

5. Lanzarote

Just like its big sister, Tenerife, Lanzarote has all bases covered on the nightlife front. Puerto del Carmen is – and has been for ages – the leader of the pack. The Avenida de las Playas is a congo-line of bars and pubs, pumping out everything from R&B to rock ‘n’ roll. Playa Blanca offers more of the same. Once a sleepy fishing village, this seaside hub is where locals dance ‘til dawn alongside holidaymakers – head to the Centro Commercial Papagayo district for the hotspots. Journey just up the road to Femes, meanwhile, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world. This tiny hamlet has just a sprinkling of great restaurants to its name, all of which offer front-row seats to the sea. The same can be said of El Golfo. With its handful of seafood eateries, the nightlife here is best described as sleepy.

Did you jet off somewhere different in December? Tell us about it here.