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.

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Maldives: Planning that Beauty of a Winter Beach Destination

Sun-kissed white sandy beaches, azure or emerald waters, gorgeously warm shallow waters with rich coral reefs and marine life, fresh seafood on offer, a festive atmosphere and a totally relaxed environment is how I would describe the tropical island paradise of Maldives. Add to it over water lagoon suites, beach villas, swaying coconut palms, romantic dinners, some of the best spa centers, umbrella drinks, sensational sunsets and lots of beach and water sports, and you have a beauty of a winter beach destination.



A lot of people usually associate Maldives with honeymoons. While it is indeed a fabulous honeymoon destination, I think Maldives is also a great destination for a romantic holiday, holiday with family and kids or even for a backpacker. You just have to look in the right direction. And of course you have to like beach holidays.



To start with, we Indians get visa on arrival at Maldives, which I think is a great perk for the Indian Passport as Maldives is one of those destinations that is close to India and you can fly to for cheap from most destinations across the country. Air India, Jet Airways and the other local airlines offer some fabulous deals from time to time. Which means that, if you plan well, you can reach Male without even making a dent in your pocket.



Now, comes the accommodation bit, which is tricky in Maldives. The thing with Maldives is that most islands are privately owned and belong to a hotel group. These could be boutique resorts, four star hotels, five star properties and even uber luxury hotels. These properties can be further split into honeymoon, party, family, etc. The One and Only, Four Seasons, Taj Group of Hotels, the all-inclusive Club Med, Accor hotels and many more hospitality brands have properties here. Each one of them are located away from Male, the capital of Maldives and the city where your international flight lands.



Most of these private islands can only be reached by private boat or sea plane charters organized by the hotel that you have booked into. Either the price of this transfer is bundled into your overall price or you have to pay an additional fee. This can be a significant amount and hence it would be good to keep good track of it. Sea plane rides are ideal if you are interested in an aerial view of the islands, the coral reefs and the emerald waters. But, again, they will cost you an additional fee. But, they are totally worth it, especially if you are celebrating something.



The islands that are not privately owned by hotel groups, but by the government itself is where locals live. Here, you can find the budget-friendly guest houses and homestays. It is easier to find such places in Male city, but what I have noticed is that if you have some time at hand, you can find yourself a cheap place to stay in Maldives, like a room in a shack on a nice, quiet and small island. There are government run boats that sail from Male at pre-defined times to other smaller islands. The cost of travel in these boats is real low, but seats get filled up really fast. But, this way, you can spend that amazing budget beach holiday in Maldives.



Depending on your budget and occasion, you can choose your choice of accommodation – super luxury, middle range or homestays. Most hotel properties run discounts and offers from time to time, especially during the rains, just after the rains and right after the peak year end holiday season. Without doubt, the Christmas-New Year season would be the busiest and you can expect prices to be on the higher side at that time. But, irrespective of time of year, if you can afford to plan in advance, you can land a sweet deal with the hotels. After all, the hotels are the priciest bit when you holiday in Maldives. Do remember to explore the cost-value benefits of all-inclusive versus bed and breakfast as usually drinks and meals at these hotels can be a bit pricey.



As islands of Maldives are located far from each other, a beach holiday in Maldives is typically restricted to that island alone where you are staying. But, usually, you can indulge in all kinds of things at that very island – be it watersports, beach sports, underwater activities, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing, swimming or simply sunbathing on the beach while reading your favorite book. And if you are staying on an island with locals, then you can also experience their local customs and culture.



So, go on and plan that beauty of a beach holiday in Maldives and remember that an amazing destination like Maldives is not necessarily expensive to experience and explore.

Packing Tips – Don’t forget to carry your swim wear, beach wear, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, flip flops and some nice clothes for those gala evenings.

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14 Packing Essentials for Winter Trips

We have not had much of a winter here in Bangalore (I guess we can blame that on climatic change), but it is that time of the year when we want to go on those frozen river treks, skiing trips, scenic winter treks and enjoy the cold mountains. It is also my favorite time of the year to visit the Himalayas as the skies are so clear and the sunrises and sunsets are so surreal. It is also the low season in the mountains as the holidays are over and the temperatures are plummeting. Thus, you will find flights and hotels offering great deals. It is however, going to be cold and by that I mean really cold. But, that shouldn’t stop you from having a snow filled winter holiday. All you have to do is take care while packing for such a cold winter trip. Below are some winter packing essentials based on my personal experiences where I stayed in both hotels and tents in the open. If you have these items with you, I am pretty sure you can handle sub zero temperatures fairly comfortably.

1) Boots



Don’t bother with slippers, canvas shoes, running shoes or tennis shoes. You will be cold before you even know it and if your feet get cold, you are bound to fall ill. I would always carry a good pair of boots. Ideally, it should have a waterproof outer lining (like Goretex) and be well broken in. Depending on your activity, you can choose ankle length or high boots. If you are really planning to rough it out, only then opt for boots with a fleece lining. Else, go for regular boots. Extremely warm boots will make your feet sweat and that can lead to problems too. To know more about picking and choosing boots, look up my blog post on ‘how to choose those perfect backpacking boots’.

2) Scarf/Muffler



For me, a scarf (many of us call it muffler in India) is an absolute winter essential. You can use it as a neck warmer. You can use it to protect your ears. You can use it to protect your nose and mouth. And you can even use it to up the fashion quotient with some nice colorful ones. I prefer raw silk scarves for temperatures in the 0 to 10 degree Celsius range and woollen ones for sub zero temperatures.

3) Beanie/Balaclava



Head gear is very important for winter holidays. Go for a woollen/fleece beanie for trips where you do not expect it to be too cold. And use a balaclava (something that covers your ears, nose and mouth) for places with cold winds and sub zero temperatures. A balaclava comes in super handy for any sort of outdoor stay.

4) Mittens

Personally, I don’t like gloves. I find them extremely cumbersome to use. I can’t seem to use my camera with it. I can’s use the touch screen on my phone. And basically, I can’t feel anything or get a good grip without removing them and if I do remove my gloves, my hands get cold in rapid quick time. This is where, I prefer woollen mittens. On the outside, they look like gloves without those finger openings. With their reduced surface area, they reduce heat loss and keep us warmer. And, they also have a provision to access the top of your fingers to use it for any touch or grip based activity. You finish the activity and then go back to having fully covered fingers.

5) Inner Thermal Wear



It is very easy to lose your body warmth on cold winter days and nights and extremely time consuming to regain it. That is where inner thermal wears come in super handy. While, there are lots of new age fabrics available, I prefer traditional breathable fabrics like wool, which allow my body to breathe and does not allow my body sweat to stay on my body. And then, we can follow the traditional method of layering to trap the air and keep us warm.

6) Waterproof Down Jacket



Like a good pair of boots, a good waterproof down (down refers to goose feathers) jacket is a must-have for winter holidays. It becomes a no-brainer for skiing holidays, for outdoor adventures, for wind-chill and for extremely cold weather. And if you use a 800 down quality, you don’t need any layering and still can handle pretty low temperatures. Basically, an extremely lightweight, but expensive proposition.

7) 800 Down Sleeping Bag



You don’t need a sleeping bag if you are going to be sleeping in a cosy hotel room. But, you will definitely need one, if you plan on staying in tents, interested in multiday treks or if you want to stay in non-heated homes and hotels in remote places and villages. This will be an expensive investment. So take your time to pick and choose a good one. Go for one that fits your height, has a mummy like form and one that is lightweight and packs small.

8) Self heating Warmers

Ever experienced a hotel bed that feels like ice and one that continues to feel like that for hours together making you shiver in your sleep. Well, most of the hotels and home stays in India are not centrally heated. The external room-heaters only heat the space around it, but not the bed. That is where self heating warmers like Warmee come in super handy. All you have to do is tear a Warmee packet, shake it, put it in the bed along with you and drift to warm sleep in say 10 minutes. I always carry these with me when I am camping in the open. These self heating warmers are a must carry if you have elderly people or kids in your group as they are prone to get affected by the cold sooner.

9) Moisturizer



It is usually very dry in winters and with so many layers of clothing, our body loses all its lubricating oils and if not taken care of, they turn into irritating rashes. A good quality moisturizer comes in super handy here. These could be our standard moisturizing lotions or creams, petroleum jelly, glycerine oils or any lubricating oil that works its magic for you. If you want it to be traveler friendly, carry a moisturizing cream that doesn’t freeze.

10) Sunglasses

Winter holidays offer the opportunity to see magical white landscapes filled with snow. However, you will be squinting all the time if you don’t carry a good pair of sunglasses with you. The mountain sun and the reflection from the snow and ice makes the light extremely harsh. Hence, when you buy your sunglasses, make sure that they are polarized or category 4 if you are planning on skiing.

11) Deodorant



We seldom tend to shower on our winter trips. Either it is too cold or the water doesn’t stay warm till the end of your shower. In such a case, you don’t want to be smelly. Packing a deodorant is always a smart choice. Don’t bother with those aerosol cans as they can get bitterly cold in winters and can sometimes even crumple due to low temperatures and pressure. Rather, carry a good quality roll on deodorant.

12) First Aid Kit

Have you got hurt during winters? If you have, you will know that the pain is more agonizing due to the cold. Also, cold weather makes our digestion weaker. And if you are planning to go up into the higher reaches of the Himalayas, you might come across acute mountain sickness due to lack of greenery. Hence, it is always recommended to carry a good first aid kit. The following are must-haves in your winter first aid kit:

Probiotics: To ensure that your digestion doesn’t get affected due to the cold

Diamox or equivalent: To combat acute mountain sickness in case you get the symptoms

Pain balm: To relieve you of those muscle spams and niggles from your skiing or other adventure activity

13) Toilet Paper



This might come as a surprise to most of you, but one of the challenges during winter trips is cleaning yourself after you attend your business. Sub zero temperatures ensure that water freezes in all the pipelines. Outdoor campers are usually equipped to stay without water, but regular travelers take water for granted. It is for such travelers that I recommend that they carry toilet paper with them in case they plan on visiting places where water freezes. If you do not like using toilet paper, do make sure that you stay in a hotel that offers running hot water 24 hours a day.

14) Chapstick

As soon as you start your winter holiday, the first thing that you will realize is the chapping of your lips. If left unattended, it can cause a lot of pain, especially while consuming all those hot liquids that are meant to keep you warm. Chap sticks (lip balms) are a god-send for such situations. For very cold and dry weather, just chapsticks do not do the business. Hence, try and apply some ghee or butter to your lips while eating and drinking. This will help you a lot.

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Travelers Flock to State and National Parks This Winter

Visiting a state or national park might seem like old hat to you in the spring or summer. You know that you can take a dip in a river or lake, cook food over an open flame and watch the stars at night. You might think that these parks are only suitable for vacations that take place in the warmer months. State and national parks offer just as many activities and attractions during the colder months as those parks do in the summer.

Great Views
The views that you see during the spring and summer at state and national parks have nothing on the views that you'll see in the winter. Imagine seeing that huge lake completely empty with a thin coat of ice across the top, or think about how gorgeous those mountains and hills will look when covered in snow. With a pair of snowshoes strapped to your feet, you can up close and personal with those views. Take plenty of pictures to show your friends and family back home before you relax with a mug of hot chocolate or coffee.

Plenty of Activities
Hiking with snowshoes is just one of activities that you can enjoy in the winter. Some state and national parks have partnerships in place with skin mountains and resorts that let you ski or snowboard down the mountain. If you need some help, you can take lessons from an expert first. You may also have the option of horseback riding through the wintery mountain trails or ice skating right on that frozen lake. There are plenty of other activities that you'll enjoy as well, including ice fishing and backcountry skiing.

Special Activities
Before planning a trip to a state or national park, take a look at tweets by Bluegreen Resorts and other companies. Many travel companies and websites use Twitter as a way to tell travelers about special activities and events taking place all year round. State parks often offer activities designed for the whole family. You might have the chance to take a hike and learn about what native animals do during the colder months, take arts and crafts classes to make ornaments and holiday decorations or go caroling with a group. Some parks even offer sleigh rides and bring in Santa for the little ones.

Heated and Equipped Cabins
Winter is the perfect time of year to leave your camp stove, sleeping bags and other equipment at home. Instead of sleeping out under the stars, you can enjoy a stay in a heated cabin with a private bathroom and private bedrooms. Most cabins also come with a fully equipped kitchen, a television for those days when it's just too cold outside and a screened porch or patio for watching the snow fall. The only things you need to bring with you are your kids and some warm clothing. Always check with the park first to ensure that it has cabins available before you leave.

State and national parks exist all across the country. While these parks offer plenty to do in the warmer months, you can still have fun in the winter. You can learn about local animals, make holiday decorations and enjoy other activities, and you can fall asleep every night in a comfortable heated cabin.

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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!

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