Most people will generally think about the climate of their travel destination, but don't necessarily research/plan enough of the details, which can not only lead to surprises, but can also add frustration to their trip. A little bit of advance planning, research, and preparation can go a long way to ensuring a smooth trip, and can help you enjoy yourself that much more.
A good starting point is to look at the overall climate for a destination for the time of year you're planning to travel - Ireland, for example, has a reputation for constant rain, but the east coast only sees about half of the number of rainy days as the west coast. Trinidad, on the other hand, has a rainy season running all the way from June to December. Some quick advance research on the normal climate for that location/season might help avoid surprises, and will set reasonable expectations about what you'll find at your destination - and may even help you to choose your destination in the first place.
Once you've settled on a destination, you can do some initial preparation - if the climate is wet, pack a small travel umbrella and some warmer clothing (wool sweaters are ideal), and include a lightweight nylon raincoat/shell. If it's cold or snowing, plan for wool socks, sweaters, gloves/hat/scarf, and check the average temperature to ensure your outer jacket is suited to the right temperatures - ensuring you plan and pack extra layers is also helpful, as you can always add/remove layers as the temperature changes. Warmer/tropical weather is easier, but plan to bring some of the necessities with you, as they often charge far more to tourists than what you would pay at home for items such as sunglasses, suntan lotion, hats, and towels - plan to bring a supply of high-SPF suntan lotion, a sunburn can quickly ruin a trip if you are overexposed in your first day or two (especially when travelling with children), and even consider visiting a tanning salon before departing from home, as it can help to build a base and prevent burning. As you get closer to departing, double-check the weather to make sure there aren't any last-minute changes (such as storms, cold fronts, heat waves), and revise your preparations accordingly.
Don't forget to take the altitude into account as well - many countries have a broad range of high and low altitude regions, so if your itinerary takes you high into the mountains or closer to sea level than the rest of the area, take that into account with your planning (even hotter climates can get much cooler as you go higher in altitude, so bring extra layers of clothing).
Some other areas that often get overlooked deal with adapting to the local climate - if you are an avid photographer, consider a protective pack/case for your camera to prevent damage if travelling to a traditionally wet or cold area. In countries with a lot of rain, be sure not to take anyone else's umbrella by mistake, it's considered a major 'faux pas'. In warmer countries, especially in Europe and the Middle East, take care when dressing for the climate, as there are often more conservative dress codes which may prevent you from entering many churches and institutions (especially for women), and could also go against local customs.
Like anything else, a little advance planning can go a long way to ensuring that you have a smooth comfortable trip with no surprises. If you're the adventurous type, you can always play things by ear and adapt once you arrive - but for most of us, eliminating some of the more common travel frustrations can help make a trip more memorable, and help us enjoy the destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment