5 Reasons To Take A Winter Vacation
For many of the best places to visit, winter is the “off-season,” or the time when fewer people go there. But don’t be afraid to do things differently! There are some benefits to traveling in the winter, such as cheaper prices, fewer crowds, and shorter lines.
If you’re on the fence about buying those plane tickets for winter, we’re here to help you decide to take the plunge and go on a winter vacation. Here are some great reasons to take a vacation this year during the winter or off-season.
1 – Lower Prices
Prices for flights and places to stay drop a lot in the winter. The price jump from winter to summer can be in the hundreds, which is maddening when you consider how much more it costs to fly in peak season, spend time at a crowded beach, and dine in a crowded restaurant (if you can even get a table).
When you travel in the winter, your money goes further. Tourism companies need business in the fall and winter, so now is the best time to get a great deal on a trip. Start looking for deals when companies offer their biggest discounts to attract customers for the next few months.
2 – Start A New Hobby
When the snow starts to fall and the temperature drops, outdoor fun doesn’t have to stop. In fact, the number of fun things to do might even increase. Put on lots of warm clothes and try a new sport like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, or even ice skating while you’re on vacation.
If your idea of a good time is to see amazing sights and do things you would never do at home, you can also go dog-sledding or snowshoeing. You can find all this in one place too, so you don’t even have to move around. Winter in the Catskills is a great example of somewhere you can have a great break and try a plethora of new things.
3 – Fewer Crowds
The amount of visitors during the summer and the winter is completely different. If you visit a popular destination during the off-season, you can be one of only a handful of people there. Simply enjoying the peace and quiet that comes with fewer people around in the winter is incentive enough to plan a trip during this time of year.
However, a word of caution is in order. Because of the lack of customers throughout the winter, some establishments close completely. Find out ahead of time if there are any restaurants at your destination that are open throughout the winter months by doing some research. It’s likely there will be a lot of options that work for you, but don’t assume anything.
Plus, the reality of a place can be distorted by summer. The pace of life at a destination may well be altered by tourists during the summer months, so what we observe then might not be representative of the place as a whole. However, if we travel there in the winter, we will see fewer tourists and have a more authentic experience of the local culture.
4 – Get A Dose Of Vitamin D
Most people think they need heat to get the benefits of vitamin D, but all you really need is the sun’s light. If you take a winter vacation, you’re probably going to spend more time outside enjoying the sun and getting your daily dose of vitamin D. Just remember that you might still need sunscreen, even if it’s freezing outside, because you can get sunburned in as little as ten minutes if you’re not protected, especially if you’re at a higher altitude.
Speaking of health benefits, one of the most unexpected advantages of winter breaks is the possibility of burning more calories than usual if you take advantage of the extra time to exercise. Getting outside for a brisk winter walk, run, or even a round of skiing may take some getting used to, but it will jumpstart your metabolism and help you shed unwanted pounds.
5 – A Different Perspective
All of us are constantly overwhelmed with holiday images from our friends and family members on Facebook. While most vacation photos feature sun-drenched beaches and questionable tan lines, taking a trip during the winter can provide a new and interesting angle.
White-capped summits on a chilly morning have a mystical quality. When snow falls on a landscape, it takes on a fantastical appearance, as if it were plucked straight from a storybook. Winter has its own special beauty that can’t be compared to the summer’s beaches and sunny skies.
