Climate change is causing both air and water temperatures to rise increasingly, resulting in more frequent heat waves that disrupt daily life for many people around the world.
Even if high temperatures aren’t dangerous, they can be uncomfortable, which leads many people to seek out cooler weather whenever possible, including when traveling. That’s where “coolcations” come in – a travel trend that allows you to escape the heat while still traveling to fun destinations.
“Coolcations are one of the new post-COVID travel trends, with people seeking cooler-climate vacation spots, especially during the hot summer months,” Gabe Sagree, senior editor at Travelzoo, told HuffPost in an email.
“Temperatures are rising in popular tourist destinations and some people are finding it too hot for comfort, so travelling to other locations where daytime temperatures are more comfortable is becoming popular,” Saguly added.
Countries like Italy and Spain (historically popular summer vacation spots) have experienced record heat in recent years, making it difficult for tourists to actually get out and enjoy the sights they traveled thousands of miles to visit.
““For an increasing number of people, sporadic increases in temperature during the summer may become increasingly uncomfortable, especially in popular vacation destinations in the United States and Europe,” Saguly said.
Plus, places that weren’t historically hot but are now getting hotter — such as the English countryside, Scotland and even the Swiss Alps — often don’t have air-conditioned hotels or airports, said Ashley Ganz, founder and CEO of Artisans of Leisure, a travel company that arranges private, customized luxury tours.
“Many hotels are struggling to address this issue because the weather is much hotter than it used to be,” Ganz explained.
So choosing a colder destination can also be a way to escape overheated accommodation.
Coolcations are also a way to avoid peak season crowds.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by long lines to get into the Colosseum or been unable to get a reservation at a must-try restaurant in Mexico City, an off-season Coolcation might be the perfect trip for you.
““Another way to enjoy a coolcation is to travel to your favorite destination during the ‘off-season’,” Sallier says. “Italy in the fall is likely to have more comfortable daytime temperatures than Italy in the summer.”
While off-season varies by destination, “it’s essentially the non-peak period in terms of prices, crowds and overall demand,” Ganz says.
For example, people can travel to Italy or Greece outside of peak summer months and still enjoy hotel pools and other outdoor activities in mild autumn temperatures, Ganz said.
Instead of visiting Tokyo in spring for cherry blossom season, try visiting in the off-season in September and October, or Portugal in March before the summer festivals and beachgoers arrive.
For many people, a coolcation isn’t just about the cold weather, but about exploring places on your bucket list without thousands of other people around.
“Many of my clients choose late spring or fall because their children are now independent and the couples have more flexibility in deciding when to travel,” Ganz says.
In addition to being less crowded, many coolcation destinations are also off the beaten path, Joan Roca, founder and CEO of tech-based travel service The Essentialist, told HuffPost in an email.
Oleh_Slobodeniuk via Getty Images
Want to plan your own coolcation? Here’s how:
“The easiest way to plan for colocation is to think about inverting the seasons,” Sagley said.
To do that, he says, they need to choose locations outside peak demand periods, such as Oaxaca after the Day of the Dead crowds are over, or summer in Ireland.
“When it’s late spring and early summer in the Northern Hemisphere, choose a location in the Southern Hemisphere where autumn is ending and winter is approaching. Temperatures will be milder, the weather is more likely to be good and there will be fewer crowds of holidaymakers,” he said. This might mean going to Australia in the summer instead of Croatia or the Grand Canyon.
Scandinavia and the Nordic countries (which include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland) are also great for coolcations due to their high latitudes, and these countries are typically much cooler than other popular destinations, Ganz said.
“I highly recommend the Norwegian fjords. [narrow waterways] Stop off in Oslo and Bergen to soak up the local culture. [Norway] “This year it’s also the cultural capital, so there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area,” Roca said.
“If you want to enjoy a coolcation a little further away, [the] “In the Faroe Islands, there is growing interest in wilderness destinations that are far from the crowds and boast spectacular natural scenery,” Roca said.
Or head to the equator in summer to enjoy cooler weather. “Another option worth considering is Argentina or Chile, which offer plenty of options from skiing to glacier walking, and are beautiful times to visit southern South America,” Roca points out.
Be sure to plan your trip properly during the cold off-season.
When traveling in warmer climates, it’s easy to just toss your swimsuit, shorts, and t-shirts into your carry-on luggage, but cold-weather travel requires careful planning.
“Going colocation means that you’ll pack differently — you’ll bring bulkier clothes, so your luggage will be bigger,” Saguly said. “Some travelers will need to budget for checked baggage, especially if they’re traveling internationally,” he noted.
Additionally, some attractions may be closed during the off-season, and there may be fewer events and festivals, Sagley said. So if you do decide to visit a bucket list spot during the off-season, plan accordingly; you don’t want to come home disappointed because your must-do tour isn’t running during the off-season.
It’s also important to consider travel times to remote or off-season locations with limited transport links. “Some coolcations take place in destinations that are more remote and difficult to access, so logistics and travel time may also be factors to consider if travel time is limited,” Roca added.
Booking a coolcation may require some extra planning, but it’s worth it, Sagley says.
“Not only can you expect better value and less congestion, but you’ll also have better access to locals and inevitably be able to travel to new destinations that weren’t on your radar before,” he said.
