Top Wintery Destinations for Christmas and What to Bring With You

The Christmas holiday season is a magical time of the year when families and friends come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and make lasting memories. For many, it's also the perfect opportunity to pack their bags and set out on a wintery adventure, experiencing the wonder of the holiday season in a fresh, new setting. If you're contemplating a festive Christmas getaway this year, we've compiled a list of top wintery destinations and tips on what to bring with you to ensure a comfortable and merry holiday journey.

Winter Wonderlands: Destinations

You can't go wrong with a classic Christmas destination like New York City. The streets are decked in illumination and décor, and landmarks like Rockefeller Centre and Central Park become enchanting Christmas scenes. Treat yourself to some retail therapy as you marvel at enticing designer's womens jacket collections and other fashionable winter apparel.



Cross the ocean to the grandeur of Europe. A city like Vienna in Austria offers timeless appeal, with its Christmas markets, ice-skating rinks, and mulled wine; it’s a picture-perfect winter wonderland. Or head up north to Lapland, Finland. Known as Santa's hometown, this place delivers an authentic holiday experience, complete with reindeer sleigh rides and northern light sightings.

If you're craving a blend of tradition and exoticism, then head to Japan. Specifically, Sapporo, where the snow festival and extraordinary winter landscapes ensure an enchanting Yuletide celebration far removed from the ordinary.

While Antarctica might initially seem an extreme option, a visit here will surely be an unforgettable Christmas adventure. The pristine snow-covered landscapes, unique wildlife sightings, and surreal tranquillity will ensure you experience the holiday season like nowhere else on Earth.

Packing Essentials: Apparel & Accessories



Having chosen your winter destination, thoughtful packing can enhance your travel experience significantly. Start by focusing on essentials for cold weather - thermal layers, warm scarves, and loop-resistant gloves are your best friends. Don't forget to pack some stylish clothes that align with the local culture and festive season. Finally, for ultimate comfort, add waterproof shoes and warming accessories to your bag; these will prove exceptionally useful particularly in snowy destinations.

A jacket is a must-have in any winter wardrobe. Opt for versatile jackets that are both functional and fashionable. Consider parkas, wool-blend coats, and puffer jackets, ideally with a water-resistant exterior and a warm lining. A well-chosen coat or jacket can transform your look while providing necessary warmth.

Packing Essentials: Tech and Extras

Apart from attire, some smart gadgets can offer comfort and convenience during your winter journey. Portable mobile chargers ensure that your phone is ready to capture those memorable moments. Noise-cancelling headphones can provide an oasis of calm during hectic travel. A Kindle loaded with your favourite reads can be a boon during unexpected delays or simply to relax after a busy day of sightseeing.

Bringing along some personal care items can also be essential. Lip balm and moisturizer help protect your skin from harsh winter conditions. If you're targeting a particularly adventurous destination, like Lapland or Antarctica, packing items like UV sunglasses and sunscreen can protect you from snow glare and UV radiation reflected off the snow-filled landscapes.

Summary



Embarking on a Christmas trip promises fairy-tale-like experiences, unforgettable memories, and a fresh perspective on the holiday season. Destinations like New York City, Vienna, Sapporo, Lapland, or even Antarctica offer boundless opportunities to immerse yourself in the Yuletide spirit. Equipping yourself with the right apparel and accessories will ensure your comfort and style throughout the journey, allowing you to focus on the pure joy of the season. Prepare well, get excited, and enjoy your holiday to its fullest, making this Christmas an experience to cherish for years to come.

Note: The pictures in this article are courtesy of wikipedia.org and have been borrowed under the creative commons license. Each photograph has been linked to its host page on wikipedia.org.

Continue Reading...

The Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

There may be no better sight in the world than the Northern Lights. Those dancing colors in the sky are one of the few things in life that can really take your breath away. It’s a sight that you’ll tell your children about and one that you’ll remember every little detail of even years later. As for where to experience the lights, there may be no better place to see them in Finnish Lapland. For those looking to experience the Aurora Borealis for themselves, here’s how to make the most of it.

 

Northern Finland
Few things can generate a warm glow of childlike wonder like holidays to Lapland, not least for the ability to see the Northern Lights from almost anywhere in the country. Of course, there are ways to get the most out of the view as the further north you go, the better. In northern Lapland, this natural spectacle can be seen on up to 4 clear nights out of 5 from September to March.

Southern Finland
On the other hand, southern Finland is only treated to a show on 10-20 nights a year. So if you do happen to find yourself in northern Lapland on a starry night, there’s a good chance that you’ll witness one of nature’s wonders. To enhance the experience, try to stay away from buildings and other sources of light as they will degrade the viewing quality.

 

How to photograph them
Of course, you’ll want to take pictures of this magical wonder. Just remember, anyone can take great pictures as long as you’re prepared! As far as equipment goes, a tripod is a must, along with a wide, fast lens to capture pictures in the low light. Keep in mind that it’s going to be cold, so weather-sealing is preferable. The last thing you want is the camera being damaged due to moving from an exceptionally cold environment to a warm one. Also, it may seem like a full moon would be beneficial, but even that light can overwhelm the Northern Lights. A quarter moon is most preferable.

The Northern Lights are truly a wonder and anyone who is able to see them in person should count themselves lucky. Just remember, bundle up, it’s going to be cold.

Images by Timo Newton-Syms, used under creative commons license.

Continue Reading...

Out In the Cold: Preparing for a Fun Snowy Holiday in Lapland

Think of places where to go and enjoy plenty of snow and Lapland holidays in 2014 might be on your mind. A little planning and preparation will go a long way to making sure you have the best possible holiday experiences, whether you’re going snowboarding, sleigh riding or just taking photos of the Northern Lights.

For the Lapps, snow is part of their daily life, and they’re well-equipped to cope with it. Your travel company may offer you padded overalls, gloves and hats to wear as an outer layer when you’re taking part in particular activities, but you’ll need to have two or three layers to wear underneath. When thinking about your packing, consider a backpack, perhaps one which comes with a detachable daypack, as a wheeled case can be quite difficult to maneuver in snow.

Avoid garments made of cotton, since they absorb moisture. Wool is excellent for inner layers, as it’s very warm and non-absorbent. You will have to wear four layers of clothing. For instance, you should put on two layers of thermal underwear, which should be of hi-tech fabric, wool or silk; a heavy-weight wool sweater or a fleece top; and lastly, your jacket.

Fleece trousers, topped off by ski-pants, will keep the lower half of your body warm and dry, and a waterproof but breathable padded jacket with a hood is essential. Check the label, which will give you all the technological information you need. One rated 10000+ is best. Down-filled jackets are an excellent choice because down is warm and light but you can you compress it easily for packing.

Boots must be sturdy, warm and waterproof. Buy a size larger than you need to leave room for thick thermal socks, or a foot-warmer pad. Make sure you ‘wear them in’ before your trip. Mittens are warmer than gloves, as they allow warm air to circulate around the fingers. A knitted ‘beanie’ hat is a good choice.

The Lapland air and temperatures can dry up the skin, causing it to become sore and cracked. Use a good moisturizer, body lotion or oil, and lip balm. If your friends want to laugh, let them: they’re the ones that will have the sore lips afterwards!

Finally, for those precious memories of Lapland, bring a powerful, compact camera. You never know when you might bump into Santa. The chances are you’ll be photographing the Northern Lights, and if so, using a long exposure, you’ll also require a lightweight tripod, or your pictures will come out blurred. Take plenty of batteries, as they become depleted quickly in the cold, and don't forget a spare memory card. Oh, and enjoy your trip!

Continue Reading...

Guest Post: Skiing in Lapland – more to northern Scandinavia than Santa

If you’ve ever considered going on a skiing vacation, a small number of locations will have immediately entered your thoughts. In Europe, the Alps, which span south-west France, Switzerland, south Germany, Austria and northern Italy tends to be the most popular mountain range, while the Pyrenees and even the Scottish Highlands feature on many skiers’ radars. While the snow that lies there remains for a few months, it doesn’t last, so perhaps it would make sense to head further north where the weather’s colder to go skiing, right? Lapland, a part of Scandinavia which spans Norway, Sweden and Finland is on the edge of the Arctic Circle, which means that they enjoy a winter which lasts from early December right through till April.

A winter wonderland?
Sokuru Slopes Photo Credit

Even before it became known as an emergent skiing destination, Lapland was already popular with tourists for other reasons, the main one being its strong connections with Christmas. Every year, thousands of families make their way to Finnish Lapland to go and meet Santa Claus in his grotto, get up close to the native reindeer and play in the snow. Another major attraction of Lapland is being able to see the Northern Lights. Astronomers and people who like to take great photos love to head up north once in a while to see the Aurora Borealis in all its glory, and are helped during the summer when the sun stays up until midnight. The long summer days are also great for partying and walking when there’s no snow to trudge through!

Sloping off When it comes to skiing, a few resorts stand out, especially in the more mountainous areas of Lapland. A couple of years ago, the charming and authentic resort of Pyha was voted the best in whole of Finland. To celebrate its growing reputation, a competition has been announced which sees the winner will get the chance to go there this winter.

As Ian Brittain, Senior Product Manager from Inghams explained: “To celebrate the introduction of the award winning resort of Pyhä (voted Finnish ski resort of the year 2011) to our 2013/14 programme, we’ve decided to launch a Facebook Ski Photo competition to offer a lucky winner and their guest the opportunity to experience the qualities of Lapland for themselves! “There are also more second prizes up for grabs, so submit your skiing photos to win some great ski gear! For more information please visit us on Facebook”, he said.

Continue Reading...