7 Destinations You Should Not Visit This Winter According To Travel Experts

Winter trip—two phrases that conjure photographs of cozy escapes, festive markets, or a sun-drenched seaside to beat the chilly. But let’s be actual: the hole between the journey you see on Instagram and the truth on the bottom could be large, particularly in winter.

As the skilled group of editors and writers right here at Travel Off Path, we have seen all of it. We know the frustration of arriving in a “dream” vacation spot solely to seek out it chilly, grey, and fully shut down for the season. This is not about avoiding these fantastic locations ceaselessly; it is about avoiding them after they would possibly disappoint.

So, drawing on our collective information and present journey traits, listed below are 7 locations we’re advising warning on for this winter. We’ve additionally included a wise different for every, as a result of the objective is to journey smarter, not more durable.

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1. The Greek Islands (Mykonos, Santorini)

The Problem: The “Ghost Town” Vibe

Ah, these iconic blue domes and whitewashed villages. The drawback is, the Greece you see in footage is a summer time phenomenon. In winter, fashionable islands like Mykonos and Santorini usually are not simply quiet; they’re virtually ghost cities in comparison with peak season. The climate is commonly chilly, moist, and windy, and a lot of the charming resorts, vibrant eating places, and even the inter-island ferries are shut down till spring. You’ll be met with a lonely, dreary actuality, not the sun-soaked paradise you had been dreaming of.

Instead, take into account: The Canary Islands, Spain. For a European island escape that really delivers on winter solar, head right here. Destinations like Tenerife and Gran Canaria are absolutely operational year-round, providing heat climate, dramatic volcanic landscapes, and bustling cities.

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2. The Amalfi Coast, Italy

The Problem: The “Closed for Business” Vibe

The glamorous, cliffside cities of the Amalfi Coast are a summer time dream. In winter, nonetheless, that dream is on hiatus. The well-known seaside golf equipment in Positano are closed, the climate is incessantly cool and wet, and that stylish, see-and-be-seen power is totally gone. While the views are nonetheless there, you may discover a lot of the outlets and eating places that give the coast its buzz are shuttered for the season, making for a surprisingly sleepy journey.

Instead, take into account: Madeira, Portugal. Known because the “Island of Eternal Spring,” this Portuguese archipelago is a improbable winter vacation spot. The climate is persistently delicate, the dramatic landscapes are lush and inexperienced, and it is a world-class spot for mountaineering and exploring.

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Marrakech, Morocco

The Problem: The “Exotic Deep Freeze” Trap

The photographs are intoxicating: sun-drenched courtyards in vibrant riads, bustling souks crammed with spices, and romantic dinners below the celebs. Travelers e book a visit anticipating an unique and, most significantly, heat escape from the North American winter.

The actuality? Marrakech could be surprisingly chilly. While daytime temperatures within the 60s could be nice, they plummet into the 40s at evening. The largest entice, which floods journey boards each winter, is that these stunning, open-air riads are constructed to remain cool and sometimes don’t have any central heating, resulting in uncomfortably chilly nights. Popular day journeys to the Atlas Mountains or the desert are additionally very chilly, not the nice and cozy Sahara escape many envision.

Instead, take into account: Egypt (Luxor & Aswan). For vacationers searching for a genuinely heat, unique, and culturally wealthy winter escape, the Nile Valley is the right different. During our winter, the climate there’s idyllic—sunny, dry, and persistently within the 70s, delivering the really heat climate that Marrakech solely guarantees in photographs.

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4. Dublin, Ireland

The Problem: The “Perpetual Gloom”

While Dublin’s pubs are all the time cozy, the actual concern for vacationers in winter is not simply the chilly and rain; it is the extraordinarily restricted daylight. In December, the solar can set earlier than 4 PM. This makes sightseeing tough and could be genuinely miserable for vacationers who got here to see the well-known inexperienced landscapes of Ireland, solely to spend most of their time at midnight.

Instead, take into account: Lisbon, Portugal. It’s one in every of Western Europe’s sunniest and mildest winter capitals. It gives world-class historical past, unimaginable meals, and a vibrant ambiance with out the oppressive winter darkness.

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5. Paris, France (Specifically Around The Holidays)

The Problem: The “Poor Value Proposition”

Paris throughout Christmas and New Year’s is undeniably magical, however it comes at a value—a really excessive one. Flights and resorts hit their absolute peak costs, and town turns into extremely crowded. You’ll spend an enormous chunk of your journey ready in lengthy queues within the chilly, damp climate. It’s a basic case of paying essentially the most for the most important crowds.

Instead, take into account: Prague, Czech Republic. It gives a Christmas market expertise that’s arguably much more magical, with fairytale structure and a comfortable, festive ambiance, all for a fraction of the price of Paris.

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6. Iceland

The Problem: The “High-Stakes Gamble”

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Everyone goes to Iceland in winter for one purpose: the Northern Lights. But the truth for a lot of is a visit tormented by excessive climate, blizzards, frequent street closures, and solely 4-5 hours of daylight. Seeing the lights is a chance, not a assure, making this a really costly journey with a excessive potential for disappointment if the climate does not cooperate.

Instead, take into account: Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi). It gives a extra “guaranteed” winter wonderland expertise. You can go to Santa Claus Village, go on reindeer and husky safaris, and the infrastructure is constructed for the intense winter circumstances, making it a way more dependable and magical journey.

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7. Northern Italy’s Lake Region (Lake Como, Lake Garda)

The Problem: The “Hollywood vs. Reality” Trap

Americans see films of George Clooney on a ship on a glowing, sun-drenched Lake Como. The actuality of a winter journey may be very completely different. Most of the enduring lake cities grow to be extraordinarily quiet and are sometimes shrouded in chilly fog. Many of the grand villas, well-known gardens, and even the ferry providers function on severely restricted schedules or are closed completely till spring. It’s stunning, however it doesn’t ship the full of life, glamorous Italian lake getaway you’ve got seen on display.

Instead, take into account: Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. It gives that very same beautiful mixture of a deep blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, however it’s a vacation spot that’s constructed for winter. The ski resorts are world-class, the lakeside cities are bustling and comfy, and it delivers a magical winter wonderland expertise that’s absolutely operational.

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Choosing the best vacation spot for the season is the last word journey hack. Before you e book your good different, run our important 1 Minute Trip Check to immediately confirm all present entry necessities and journey advisories in your trip!