To Travel Or Not For the Holidays

Right now, people are again wondering if they should postpone their trips due to the Omicron variant that we don't know that much about. More people this year are traveling than last, but still not as many as pre-pandemic. I can completely understand that, considering most children are just now eligible for vaccination.

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I won't be traveling for the holidays this year, but I will be eating out (at a restaurant that requires one to be vaccinated or Covid-negative), as I did for Thanksgiving, and I will be traveling in early January. 

My family has just received their boosters and will board a plane for the first time in two years for a quick getaway on Alaska Airlines. Not only have I always had great experiences on them, but I've been following other travelers who have said that they are wonderful with following precautions and keeping people safe during the pandemic. We'll be going to Arizona and doing plenty of outdoor activities (the zoo, the desert museum, the botanical garden), so we won't be engaged in high- or moderate-risk things except possibly while dining. I am looking to eat outside as much as possible though, since the weather will be much warmer than here. 

Please be safe if you plan to travel. Have fun, but remember to still take proper precautions. Do some research on your destination, especially if you are traveling outside of the country. Are you in the minority to be traveling this holiday season?

Pack Light for Winter Travel

Packing even for a beach trip in just a carry-on can be a little tricky if you aren’t used to packing light. Carry-on travel has become more and more popular as baggage fees have become the norm among most airlines. 

Not only does packing light save money, but it also saves time, because travelers don’t have to stand around the baggage carousel waiting for their luggage to (hopefully) make it off the plane. Having minimal baggage can save your back, too. Not sure where to start when planning your winter travel bag? Here are some tips to keep your carry-on light, but still have a large wardrobe.

Mix and Match

When you carry fewer items, you need all your clothing to work together. Throw out the idea of packing a whole outfit for each day and instead look to mix and match everything you bring. Pick a color palette and stick with it, or make sure either all your tops or all your bottoms are a neutral color. If all your tops go with all your bottoms, you’ll find your choices are more than expected.

Scale Down

The only one who will know that you’ve worn the same clothing separates more than once on vacation is you (and your travel companions). It’s unlikely you will see the same people more than once on a trip, and if you do, they probably won’t notice that your outfit is similar to what they saw you in before. The magic numbers for what to bring: Five tops and three bottoms. These, coupled with the outfit you’ve traveled in, net you over three weeks of unique outfit combinations.

Layer, Layer, Layer

Just because it’s cold today, doesn’t mean it will be tomorrow. Plan for days that can vary in temperature by packing layers. You might have an unseasonably warm day in the middle of winter or an unexpected cold snap in fall. Be prepared. Pack a few sweaters, a scarf and a mix of tanks and tees. When it’s warmer out, you can opt for a t-shirt. When it’s really cold, you can add two or more layers together to keep chill out. If you’ve brought a dress, toss a pair of tights into your bag to protect your legs. Don’t forget your favorite jacket, which you should leave out of your carry-on to save space for other necessities. It can double as a pillow on the plane or can be stashed under the seat in front of you.

Choose Two

Shoes are the biggest challenge of everyone’s travel bag, it seems. A pair of flip flops is a staple to any carry-on, as they take up little room and are perfect for quick jaunts to the lobby or to the hotel pool. Other than those, two pair of shoes is all you need. When your destination is projected to be cool, a pair of comfortable boots and another pair of walking shoes are going to be your best bet. Don’t bring anything you haven’t worn before or that you can’t walk in for long periods of time comfortably.

Wear your walking shoes on the plane and leave your dress up shoes at home. You’re not going to want to wear high heels after a day of sightseeing. If you really want to wear a pair of nice shoes out, look for a fun pair of ballet flats or wedge booties that will go with other outfits as well.

Accessorize

If you feel that what you’ve brought is kind of drab and not really exciting for a night out, then accessories will elevate those plain Jane items. A scarf, a belt and some statement jewelry can pack small and make a big impact. Jazz up your little black dress or a simple tank with a funky necklace. Even if you’re specifically planning to go to an upscale restaurant or clubbing, you probably won’t feel like leaving your fancier clothes at home was a bad idea. If you aren’t going to wear something two or more times, it is just taking up valuable real estate in your carry-on.

Do Laundry

There’s no way around it. If you pack light and you’re gone for more than a week, you’re going to have to do laundry. Schedule some downtime (which you should do anyway) to clean your clothes. It doesn’t sound fun, but you can take the time to hit the pool, watch a show or catch a nap. Just need to freshen up a piece? Spray some vodka on it. It deodorizes, and since it doesn’t have its own smell, you won’t reek of booze.

Carry-on packing can be difficult at first, but with some practice you can become a pro and save baggage fees. With fewer bags to deal with, you’ll feel freer as you waltz off the plane and get right onto your vacation while everyone else is still waiting for their suitcases. 

5 Budget Winter Destinations

It's not even winter yet, but I can feel the winter blahs coming. The cold, rainy weather has arrived in Portland and I'm already over wearing a coat, considering it's usually windy as well, so your hood doesn't even stay up well. If you're thinking about a getaway this winter, you're not the only one. I've already got a trip to Arizona planned in January and will be traveling to Vegas in February.

You can get away on a budget, too. Let's look at 5 destinations to start planning a trip to:

Photo by Wei Zeng on Unsplash

Puerto Rico

When you're needing to escape to somewhere warm, the Caribbean is there to welcome you. Enjoy the beach, delicious foods, the rainforest, casinos, and even the mountains. Turn your vacation into something much different than others by following the food trail and going on a culinary adventure. You will need to have proof that you are fully vaccinated and are Covid negative, or you will be quarantined upon arrival until you can take a test and results come back negative.

Photo by Kit Suman on Unsplash

Venice

Though Italy is still in a state of emergency, that doesn't mean you can't visit. In fact, they are open to visitors from many countries, including the U.S. There are many historic sites you can visit, there's still amazing food you can eat, and the city itself is just gorgeous, so even if you stayed outside most of the time, you'd still be getting a lovely vacation. You must either present proof of vaccination, or recovery from Covid, and present a negative Covid test.

Las Vegas

Spend your days that would be cold and dark at home by the pool in Las Vegas. I love going off The Strip and enjoying other things the city has to offer. Downtown's art district is lovely and you can view so much free art just by walking around. The Container Park has many outdoor dining options. Ethel M's allows you to view a real, working chocolate factory, and the cactus garden is beautiful in the day and lights up after dark. I would also highly recommend Springs Preserve, which combines the history of Las Vegas, indigenous plants and animals, and art to create an awesome day out. If you're traveling domestically, there aren't any restrictions, though there are still mask mandates indoors, including in casinos (a woman asked me this when I told her she needed to wear one in Las Vegas, despite being from "elsewhere", like casinos weren't all indoors. 

San Diego

With mild temps during the winter, San Diego is lovely, historical, and full of amazing things to see and do. This is another city that has a lot of outdoor choices: Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Mission Beach Boardwalk. You can see my post here. Again, there are no vaccination rules for travelers, but masks are mandated for all indoor public spaces.

Photo by Kathryn Maingot on Unsplash

Barbados

Looking for a beach vacay that also feels Mediterranean? Head to Barbados to drink rum, go scuba diving (or snorkeling if you're not that adventurous), go hiking, and even take a safari tour. There's something for everyone here, including amazing historical architecture and fantastic cuisine. Even fully-vaccinated travelers will need to present a specific negative Covid test.

Did this satisfy any of your wanderlust? My runners-up for budget destinations are Tulum, Mexico (this has become very popular though and may well be insanely crowded), Santa Fe, NM, and Quebec City.

Sometimes, just a change of scenery can do you good, even if the weather is similar to where you live. I know just seeing new things and eating different food and engaging with people I don't know gives me that reset I need in life to not feel like I want to jump out of my skin when I'm home again. It keeps the SAD at bay long enough to get to Spring (for me). Destination Date Nights can only do so much.

Are you planning a winter getaway? If so, where are you going?