Winter Travel Packing Tips

Clothing

• Layer up: Bring plenty of layers to wear throughout the day to insulate and keep warm. Something like a vest top or t-shirt under a long sleeved t-shirt underneath a jumper or fleece (bear in mind wool tends to be bulky and therefore harder to pack), fitted under an insulated waterproof jacket. You can always add or remove layers of clothing as you go between in and outdoors.
• Hat: You lose the majority of your body heat through your head, so covering it up can really help keep you warm. Make sure your hat covers your ears and is made of thin, modern materials which pack lightly, but also provide maximum warmth.
• Gloves: You no longer have to pack the heaviest, woolliest gloves you can find in order to keep yourself warm. Modern insulating materials mean that you can pack light and still remain cosy. Waterproof ones are the best as they hold up in even the worst weather and the thin, tight material makes them easy to carry.
• Shoes: Your shoes will be your heaviest item, unless you’re bringing your own equipment, but they’re really important as your feet are buried in the snow the majority of the time and so cope with the majority of the wet and the cold. Good, dark, weatherproof winter boots are ideal for the climate and should last you season after season.
• Polarised sunglasses: The low winter sun can be really rough on your eyes, as it’s lower and closer to your point of vision and with the reflective snowy surroundings, being able to see can become a problem when out on the slopes or even just driving.
• Swimwear: Some resorts may have pools, hot tubs or saunas to relax in after a long day on the slopes.
• Sunscreen: Despite it not being warm, windburn or sunburn off the reflective snow and ice can damage your skin to the same extent laying out by the pool can.

Before You Go

• Check the travel alerts from the FCDO of the country you intend on visiting. Follow @FCDOtravelGovUK on Twitter to get the latest travel updates and advice.
• Find out where the nearest embassy will be.
• Sort out travel insurance – insurancewith provide cover for customers with pre-existing medical conditions, allowing you to go on holiday without having to pay excessive premiums.
• If you’re travelling within the European Economic Area, from 1st January 2021 rules around travel to Europe have changed, visit the Government website for up to date information on passports, EHIC, healthcare and more. We’ll update this page with more information as and when the Government release it.
• Check with your doctor whether you’ll need any vaccinations before you travel.
• Make sure you’ve got the correct visas for the country you intend to visit.
• Most importantly, check your passport is valid at the time you intend to travel – it takes up to six weeks to apply for or renew a passport, so checking well in advance might save time later on.
• Tell friends and family where you’re travelling to and leave them your contact details, travel insurance policy details and your itinerary as this will make it easy for them in case of an emergency.
• Make sure you have enough money to cover emergencies.
• If you intend on driving abroad, make sure your licence is current and valid. Make sure you’re aware of the driving laws in the country you intend on visiting.
• Sort out your hand luggage.
• Check with your airline for flight delays.
• Keep all tickets, visas, foreign exchange and passports safely in a travel belt or bag and keep these with you at all times.
• Check your house is safe before you leave – check all switches are off, water is turned off to prevent pipes from freezing and securely lock all windows and doors.

Posted on: Apr 29, 2014

View all posts by Takara Moore