It’s almost winter and that usually means cold and miserable weather (depending where you live). So rather than stick around for the cold, you’re deciding to pack up and take a holiday during to avoid the cold winter months, but where do you go? Well, we asked 10 travel bloggers where they would recommend visiting this winter and here’s how they responded.
Who Are The Travel Experts?
Nomadasaurus
This winter we recommend you get off the beaten path and try somewhere exotic, beautiful and cheap – Kyrgyzstan! Kyrgyzstan is booming as the next big thing in tourism, and more and more people are visiting every summer to enjoy the adventure activities in the mountains, but few people realise that when the snow falls it becomes a winter playground. The ski resorts outside of Bishkek and Karakol are covered in deep, light powder and lift passes the hills are uncrowded. Lift passes are super cheap and accommodation is plentiful.
If you prefer getting off piste, head out to the small village of Jyrgalan, where ski touring is growing every year and soon there’ll be cat skiing and snow mobiles available for hardcore shredders.
For those that aren’t into ski holidays, there are winter yurt stays in the mountain valleys and the capital city of Bishkek has an excellent restaurant and cafe scene, and with mountain views from right downtown it’s a great place to base yourself for further exploration.”
Goats on the Road
Grenada is a small island located in the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean. We’ve spent almost 2 years on this gorgeous island and highly recommend it for a winter getaway! It’s safe, English is the first language, there are endless activities to do, the beaches are top-notch and the locals are friendly. Winter is the dry season so you don’t have to worry about getting much rain when you travel to Grenada! (https://www.goatsontheroad.com/ultimate-guide-travelling-grenada/) Escape the freezing cold weather in the north and head south for a tropical getaway. Try to go for a “hash”, go scuba diving / snorkelling and sample a streetside BBQ. It’s all good in “Greenz”!
Johnny Jet
I would go to the luxurious Post Hotel & Spa in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It’s so beautiful there and it would be a magical winter wonderland. Besides with Canada’s weak dollar it’s like everything is 25-30% off!
Travel Dudes
“I love the winter time, when it’s white, cold and snowy. A perfect place to enjoy the winter wonderland are the European Alps. That mountain range is simply spectacular and they got so much to offer.
You can choose between the Austrian, Italian, Swiss and French Alps and no matter where you go, you’ll have a fab time. Though I recommend to book more spontaneously and see which region got the best snow conditions. Usually the Eastern or Western part get the heavy snow falls and that’s the region to go for then. Even without lots of snow, the ski resort offer good fun, as they usually have enough snow machines, so that you can on the different pistes.
My favorite ski resorts are; St Anton in Austria, Livigno in Italy, Verbier in Switzerland, Val Gardena in Italy & Hintertux in Austria.
Other ones worth checking out are LAAX in Switzerland and if you want to see something out of the Alps, but just as good, then head to Valle de Nuria, La Molina and Masella in the Catalonian Pyrenees or Grandvalira in Andorra.
All of the above ski regions got this special vibe, which you won’t find anywhere else in the world. We don’t speak of simply huge resorts with huge hotels and fake atmosphere. No, here you’ll find the real deal, the old & cool traditional culture, amazing food, good nightlife and apres ski and experts who know and love their job preparing the different tracks. No matter if you prefer to stay on track or to give it a go in the powder, each resorts will provide you what you are looking for.”
Travelling Tom
“One of the best places you can go this winter is Wroclaw in Poland. Although it’s western Poland’s biggest city, it’s still behind Krakow and Warsaw in visitor numbers.
This means lower prices and less crowds, which is great for the winter as the city comes alive at Christmas time. The Christmas market and decorations in the centrally-located Market Square are up there with Europe’s finest and you’ll have the opportunity to mix with plenty of locals, too.
Wroclaw also has a massive student population so, as you can imagine, the nightlife is top-notch. It was also voted the European Capital of Culture for 2016 which means that it has a lot going for it.
Another winter break recommendation is Norway’s capital, Oslo. Located in the far south of the Scandinavian country, Oslo is underrated when it comes to a weekend getaway. Although a little more expensive when you’re there, it’s cheap to fly to and accommodation is reasonably priced.In the colder months the nights come a little early, but the city looks absolutely stunning in the snow and is a photographer’s dream. Try ice skating on Spikersuppa for that authentic winter experience, or heading up to Holmenkollen to see ski jump and the world’s first ski museum.”
Emily Luxton
I’d recommend escaping winter and flying straight to Indonesia. I was there during November last year and the weather is sublime. Outside of popular Bali, the rest of the country is a little less explored and there are still many places you can have abeach all to yourself. My personal recommendation is to visit Flores and the Komodo National Park. You can cruise between the islands, hike to see the enormous komodo dragons, and snorkel in crystal clear waters with manta rays – while everyone back at home is shivering beneath umbrellas!
IAmDanElson
I hate winter! Its cold and depressing coming from England, its like that most of the time and thats one of the reasons I’m currently living and working in Sydney! So this winter I suggest you head to the warm, sunny Australia for a different type of Winter….and summery winter! Its 30 degrees today and I can’t wait to be laid on a beach drinking a beer on Christmas Day!
Larger Family Life
We are huge fans of Slovenia in any season. Winter activities here are best between December and March, when the mountains are in the full, snow-steeped glory. For those of you looking to make the most of them there is no end to the activities they offer including ski-ing, sledding and ice-climbing. If you’re looking for something a little less taxing, take a winter walk around Lake Bled for a picture postcard setting or you can sit wrapped in a blanket and let your eyes delight in the sight of the twinkling lights decorating the capital of Ljublana with a mug of hot chocolate.
Rosemary & Pork Belly
www.rosemaryandporkbelly.co.uk
Rosemary has to fight the urge to hibernate but says the best place to banish winter blues has to be New York. “Of course it’s cold, but the skies are usually clear and if it does snow it comes down in bucket-loads, not the half-hearted stuff we get in London! If you’re there in the run up to Christmas don’t miss the enormous tree outside the Rockefeller Centre then ride to the Top of the Rock for a breath-taking view of the city skyline.
Pork Belly’s impervious to cold but even I don’t mind wrapping up warm for a walk or buggy ride in Central Park or you can pretend to be a hothouse flower in the New York Botanical Gardens. Take a free roundtrip on the Staten Island commuter ferry to get a good view of Lady Liberty and don’t miss the chance to take in a show, on or off Broadway.
HannaTalks
“I would recommend visiting Budapest this Winter because it is beautiful, full of history and is super cheap.The European city takes around 2-3 hours to fly to, and the transportation links in Budapest are fantastic. You must try the Metro – it’s old fashion and quirky, but so much fun!
Budapest is a do-able trip in a weekend, and there’s so much to see and do.The Szechenyi Thermal Baths are a must; relax in toasty 38-degree water in a range of indoor and outdoor pools, open all year round.The Big Bus Budapest tour takes you on three different routes in Buda and Pest, taking you on a flying visit to the city’s landmarks, including Buda Castle, the Central Market Hall and taking a ride on the Funicular, with the chance to get off at each stop and explore for yourself.
The street food is delicious, not forgetting their traditional warming stews and broths.The Ruin Bar are a must too, especially the main one, Szimple Kert Ruin Bar. The derelict building is transformed into a bar, with rooms to explore and photobooths to snap away in. If you go to a Ruin Bar, don’t forget to try Palinka, the countries traditional drink!Budapest is full of history, culture and charm – a city worth visiting this Winter.”
