Planning a winter vacation can be far trickier than a summer holiday. After all, there is a lot to consider when it comes to planning for a cold weather adventure. For instance, winter vacations come with less sunshine, which means you might need to pack an LED flashlight and an electric hand warmer, along with other items you might not normally consider bringing.
However, with just a bit of planning and guidance, you can make your snowy vacation a success. Here is what you need to know to make sure that your winter travels go off without a hitch.
Research Your Accommodations
When vacationing for the winter, it is necessary to research where you will be staying. This means that you need to verify information such as:
- Will there be heating (many cabins do not have heating outside of a fireplace)?
- Is the place accessible without 4-wheel drive?
- How close is it to other things you will be doing?
- Will it be easy to get stocked up in case you get snowed in?
Consider Your Vehicle Home Base
Given that many places are still operating on limited hours and unexpected things can happen when traveling, it is essential to prepare your vehicle to fill the void of any inaccessible (for whatever reason) welcoming centers or on-site facilities.
This means that you will want to make sure that your car is packed with extra food, water, blankets, clothing and other things that you will need to stay warm and comfortable.
Additionally, you will want to research your travel route to establish if the drive demands snow chains on the vehicle’s tires.
Pack for Your Activities
When packing for your winter trip, it is important to consider your vacation activities. For instance, if you are heading for an all-inclusive spa resort, then you are probably going to want to pack some comfortable clothes and swim attire. Alternatively, a ski trip packing list that includes snow pants and goggles is likely to be more in order if you are hitting the slopes in Aspen.
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The point here is that it is vital to pack for whatever you plan on doing for your snowy vacation. Packing inappropriately for cold weather activities is a surefire way to turn your winter adventure sour.
Bring a Hard Shell, Waterproof Case
If you don’t already have one, winter vacations are an excellent opportunity to purchase a hard shell, waterproof case to protect your gear from the winter elements.
Not only is this kind of case fantastic for packing your electronics, camera equipment and other expensive, delicate gear, but it is fantastic for protecting your clothes and other belongings from the cold and wet winter environment. A waterproof, RFID blocking wallet also comes in handy when you need to travel light and keep important documents (and money) dry.
Be Cautious of Storms
No matter if you are taking a plane, train, bus or otherwise, winter storms can impact your travel plans. However, if you are going to be driving, it is particularly important that you be incredibly cautious about storms.
When taking a winter vacation, it is vital to pay close attention to the weather along your travel route and to plan accordingly if things start to turn south. For drivers, this means rerouting your trip or just staying off the roads until the storm passes.
However, if a storm happens to take you by surprise, it is essential that you have some cold weather necessities piled up in your car, such as food, water, blankets, emergency flares, warm clothes and the like. This goes back to the importance of treating your vehicle like home base.
Prepare Backup Plans
Given just how many things can go wrong before or during a winter vacation, it is wise to have backup plans to your backup plans. For instance, if you get snowed in or your flight gets delayed, have some games on hand to pass the time. If your travel location suddenly becomes inaccessible, have a secondary destination planned out so that the trip isn’t a bust.
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The idea here is to be prepared for anything to happen and to have a backup plan to ensure the trip goes smoothly, should any one part of it get canceled.
Take Care of Your Body
One of the most important things you can do on a winter vacation is to take care of your body by eating well, staying warm and keeping your hands clean.
During the colder months, people are already prone to getting sick. If this happens on your trip, the vacation could be ruined. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to your body, eat well and do everything possible to remain healthy on your adventure.
Preparing for a Successful Winter Vacation
With all of these tips for winter vacation preparedness, don’t forget to prepare to have fun.
It can be rather easy to get caught up in all of the complexities and contingencies for a winter trip. Remember that this time is all about making memories and being with loved ones. As long as you are present with your family during the trip, it is sure to be a snowy success.
