Winter is coming. And not like in Game of Thrones, where everyone waits ages for a winter that takes four seasons and hours of maudlin dialogue to show up. Winter is really only a few months away – and when it comes around, you’ll want to escape your home city.
Just imagine those long freezing days with the rain and the sleet and the soggy wet feet. If you’re stuck in dear old Blighty, your winter is less likely to be a wonderland and more likely to be a disaster-zone.
So it’s time to book a holiday in advance and escape from your nine to five grind for a while. But to avoid further frustration, what preparations should you make before you head off?
The pains of the airport car park
No one enjoys trying to find a space in an airport car park. It’s like trying to negotiate the mazes of Daedalus, but without the thrill of a minotaur chasing you. You’re more likely to suffer a stress migraine than a Greek tragedy in an airport car park, and that’s hardly going to be a great start to your holiday.
And the solution? Most airports will allow you to reserve parking before you travel, either through themselves or through a third-party. Airport parking in Edinburgh, for instance, allows plenty of parking options near the airport, as well as some services which will hold your car and shuttle you directly to your terminal.
Forecasting a great break
Picture the scene – you’ve seen pictures of Italy bathed in sun, the Colosseum and the Tivoli Fountain glistening within a baking hot climate. But you get there and find that the winter is pretty much the same as here – cold, wet and miserable.
You need somewhere that will almost refuse to believe that winter exists, where Christmastime means putting the air-con up a little higher.
Do your research before you book your flights – you don’t want your winter getaway to plunge you straight back into the snow.
Time to kill
No matter how organised you are, your tight-as-clockwork schedule can’t account for a delayed flight. You won’t get to your destination any quicker, but you can at least make your lost hours more enjoyable.
Before you head on your hols, bring plenty of goodies to while away the time. And if you’re stuck in a departure lounge, be sure you sit near a plug socket. No one wants to see their laptop lose juice when they’ve got three hours to wait on a flight. Right?
19 thoughts on “Booking Your Winter Getaway: The Perils And Pitfalls”
Very true and there’s always the worry that snow is going to stop your flight! Happens in the UK quite a lot!
Yes! We know something about it :).
Would love some more snow this year in the UK! Although the cabin photo just makes me want to get away somewhere cosy!
I look forward to the snow in Holland!
I guess that’s why I prefer to spend the winter holiday on my sofa :-))
Hehehe :)
I love winter! I need a “summer getaway” sometimes if you know what I mean. :) Maybe I should just move to northern Greenland? Haha.
Yes! We love it too!
what are you talking about???? :P Winter just finished didnt it?
Nope, the autumn started in Europe :).
For me, the winter means getting to places that are usually baking hot – like Dubai – so i can enjoy them at their best. And no need to worry about delayed flights due to snow in that part of the world!
Jaja…
We are all looking for the sun and warmth of summer all over the world … :)
Indeed!
I love the idea of escaping the cold British winters to somewhere warm but returning back is always absolutely freezing and you notice it even more!
Oh yes!
Beware travel to Italy to escape the winter. Italian tiger mosquitoes recognize no sort of winter. They will eat you to pieces absolutely year-round, and I found this out the hard way.
Still, Rome is gorgeous for one thing during all the year, and if you can survive its steamy, searing summer and make it to fall, I guarantee you will not find a more beautiful time of year in the most perfect city for it. Italy in fall is fantastic but Rome in fall is transcendentally beautiful.
To escape winter for real, book passage to Los Angeles, California.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LOS ANGELES WINTER. 76-90 year round, 340 days of cloudless, sparkling, hot summer sun!
Yes, no winter blues out here in San Fran, Cali either. It is likely less foggy than summer time.
I definitley understand what you mean about winter travel! I try not to travel much when it’s cold out but sometimes it’s worth it! :)
Just imagine this place in winter time.