While summer vacations may be the most talked about, a winter vacation can be the chance to escape the cold or immerse yourself in it. You can enjoy the beauty with landscapes covered in white, perhaps while taking part in fun snow sports like skiing or boarding, tubing, and snowshoeing.
A recent survey found for winter 2020, some of the most popular states U.S. travelers plan to visit iare Vermont, Maine, Wyoming, and Colorado, which means many are going to be bundling up and enjoying a snowy wonderland.
If you’re one of them, you’ll want to know what to pack, whether you’re flying from the east to immerse yourself in the dramatic Rockies, perhaps after buying one of the Boston houses for sale or traveling from west to east to enjoy a postcard-perfect New England Christmas town.
Packing for a winter vacation can be trickier than packing for a beach getaway, but it can be done light and efficiently.
Don’t Pack More Than a Week’s Worth of Clothing
The biggest problem with winter packing is that your clothes tend to be much bulkier, with sweaters, puffy jackets, and the like. The key to making it work is to pack no more than a week’s worth of clothing, keeping in mind that you can always wash it, whether you find a laundromat, do it in your hotel sink, or by booking accommodation like an Airbnb that comes with a washer and dryer.
Plus, you can usually get more than one wear from an outfit during the winter as compared to sweaty summer travel. If you focus on packing clothes made from merino wool, it will not only be lightweight and warm, but it’s odor-resistant, allowing for multiple wears without having to wash.
Plan to Layer
A winter vacation means lots of layers, ideally rather than one heavy jacket. This way, not only will your luggage be lighter, but you can easily adapt to the changing weather conditions. Be sure to bring a base layer such as thermals, especially if you plan on taking part in any type of activity where you’ll be out in the cold for a long time.
They won’t take up a lot of space and are great for staying warm. Don’t forget the wool socks, a winter hat, scarf, and gloves – you may be able to fit them into your shoes, and they can make a big difference when it comes to warmth.
If you do need to bring a bulky winter coat and you’ll be flying, wear it on the plane instead of trying to squeeze it into your suitcase. Once you’re in your seat, you can take it off and perhaps use it as a pillow for a comfortable nap.
Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes make it much easier to keep everything in your suitcase organized while also saving space. They’re practically a must for a winter vacation as they work especially well for that bulky clothing.
Go Big When It Comes to Your Footwear
While you might immediately rule out a pair of bulky boots that can take up half your suitcase or carry-on bag, your feet are going to be on the frontline, so don’t hesitate to go big.
A solid pair that is weatherproof, ideally in a dark color, so they don’t show stains from slush or mud, is the way to go. But like a bulky coat, you’ll want to wear them on the plane to save that precious space. Just choose a pair that’s light on lacing so that you won’t have to do a lot of tying, untying, and tying again when going through security at the airport.
