I love winter travel. And I’m not talking about ski vacations or tropical beaches. I’m talking about Edinburgh when the sun sets before 4 pm, Oxford and the Cotswolds when they are socked in, and Amsterdam when it is windy and wet.
Summers tend to be a busy time for many – my family included. Summer is also a beautiful time to be home. Usually we book our travel for other times of the year. The shoulder seasons, spring and autumn, can be a great time to travel. The weather is often still pleasant and there are fewer crowds. But even the shoulder seasons have become increasingly busy times to travel. Here are 5 reasons why I love winter travel. And, no, it is not just because of fewer crowds or lower prices.
1. Cozy evenings and winter lights
When we travel in the summer months we are always trying to take advantage of the daylight and fit in as much as we can. Winter weather and short days give us an excuse to slow down and find cozy local pubs or restaurants to spend the evenings at and enjoy hearty meals. On our walks back to our accommodations we get to soak in sparkling city skylines and winter lights. This is especially true leading up to, during, and in the weeks following the holidays, when most places are lit up.
2. More opportunities to experience local life
When there are less tourists, you have more opportunities to interact with locals. In the winter months, attractions, historical sites, restaurants, and hotels are not as overrun with tourists. I find that this leads to more conversation with employees of the places we visit (an opportunity to learn about them!) and a more tailored experience.
On a recent winter trip, I was in a restaurant with my kids. It was a slow afternoon and the owner really took interest in my little ones, who devoured the meal and expressed how delicious it was. He played games with my kids, talked with them, and brought them little treats on the house. Sure, maybe there was some business strategy behind making us feel welcome and special. But he also seemed to be genuinely enjoying chatting with us and acting out of the generosity of his heart. If it had been a packed summer day and we were one of many tourists filling his restaurant all day long, he may not have had the time or energy to interact with us to such an extent.
You also don’t have to plan as much as far in advance, which allows for more spontaneous exploration and unique experiences and interactions. In my younger years, I rarely made plans when I traveled. I jumped from hostel to hostel and filled my days as opportunities arose. I found myself on day trips with other travelers and locals. Often not knowing where I would travel to/stay the next day.
Now, with kids in tow, I can’t be nearly that spontaneous. But we can still aimlessly wander back streets, pop into hole-in-the-wall shops and eateries unplanned, and visit the sites as they fit into our schedule, rather than organizing our day into a rigid itinerary. If my kids are having fun with some local kids at a playground, we can stay longer and enjoy that. The day is more flexible when you aren’t fighting crowds.
3. Experience different weather
Foggy landscapes, a crisp sunny day, northern lights, the quiet beauty of snow falling, the loud pitter patter of heavy rain on roofs, gothic architecture on a dark dreary day. How people around the world experience winter varies so dramatically. I enjoy exposing our kids to different climates and seeing their reactions. I vividly remember when a foreign exchange student living with my family growing up experienced snow for the first time. The awe and excitement of that day was unforgettable.
Not every place is sunny and warm with baskets overflowing with flowers lining every street year round. It is fun to see how people live and the weather they experience the other half of the year. How do they get around? How do they stay connected with their communities in the harshest and darkest months? In what ways did climate influence their traditions and cuisines? There is a lot to learn and discover with winter travel.
4. Your money goes further
This is a big plus. It may very well be the cheaper airfare and hotels that make the trip possible. We have certainly taken trips in the winter that we would have had to really think twice about if we were trying to plan them in the summer. Now, some places will not be cheaper in the winter – they could actually be much more expensive. Specifically, ski resorts and warm-weather destinations. But many places in the northern USA, Canada, northern parts of Asia, and Europe experience price drops in the winter months.
When traveling in the winter, I like to try to fit in one or two experiences that we maybe would not have splurged on if we were traveling in the peak tourist season. Like afternoon tea, a fancy dinner, or an afternoon or evening show. If it were a beautiful summer afternoon/evening, we might find ourselves wanting to be at a beer garden or soaking in the last rays of sunshine in a park instead. But in the cold of winter, I might be looking for an excuse to step inside a heated building and enjoy a performance. You can usually find kid theaters and kid-friendly cultural experiences if you look for them. I keep my eye out for seasonally discounted tickets as I am planning the trip.
5. Winter travel helps make winter fly by
Winter at home can feel long. Especially once the holidays are over. Breaking winter up with an exciting trip helps fill the long winter months. The Christmas and New Year holidays end, we get some time to relax, pack, and do last minute planning. Then head out of town for a bit. Come home and get organized. And suddenly we are starting to see the first few signs of spring. Ok, maybe it doesn’t fly by that quickly, but it does help break up the monotony of the winter months.
Now the main downside of winter travel is sickness. But sickness is a possibility whenever we travel, especially with little kids. And we are just as likely it seems to come down with a bug at home. I’m not going to downplay the bummer that it is when my family gets sick on a trip. But I’ve also not yet been convinced that this downside outweighs the many other upsides of winter travel. We try our best to eat well, wash our hands, and stay away from illness leading up to the trip. And then we go for it! And we make some wonderful memories!
I hope this post has inspired you to check out some places that you would not think to visit in the winter. For me and my family, winter travel has surprised us and given us greater appreciation for this often overlooked season.
