5 Mistakes People Make When Traveling in Winter: Expert Reviews

When you go on vacation in winter, you expect to get away from the crowds. But this bonus has a downside: you may have to sacrifice something. Author and traveler Kaitlynn Sortino advises all tourists to remember that the availability of amenities and attractions during the colder months may not be the same as in the summer. For example, you should check with the hotel if the heated swimming pool is operational or will be closed until March, and also see if the schedule of shops, museums and other places you want to visit has changed.

Travel agency manager Nick Muller advises “doing a little research” about the climate where you’re going. “Is it cold there at this time?” Or on the contrary, is it hot? Perhaps you will come in the middle of the rainy season? – he says. Travel expert Larry Snyder also recommends remembering to check the weather forecast regularly so you can adjust your plans in a timely manner.

According to Brittany Mendez, marketing director for a travel agency, if you’re traveling to a place with bad weather in the winter, a connecting flight is the worst choice. You should choose either a direct flight or transfer to where it snows less often or not at all. Julia Di Leo, who works for a company offering private vacations on yachts, also advises not to plan any events on the day of arrival – in winter there is a high risk that you will fail to do so.

This is especially critical in winter: you probably won’t want to walk several miles to the store during a snowstorm. Di Leo advises finding out what’s nearby and determining if you can get away with not renting a car when traveling in the winter.

Packing warm clothes isn’t everything: Travel blogger Luke Xavier reminds you not to forget sunscreen: you can easily get sunburned in the winter sun. It is also worth bringing cash with you (in case the card is lost or stolen), a first aid kit and a list of the nearest hospitals – it is better to have all of this at your fingertips rather than frantically searching for it when the need arises.

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