Preparing for a winter vacation, you can read a lot of promotional materials and recommendations. You will be attracted by unique landscapes, exotic nature, classic "all inclusive" and polite staff, but at the same time you will have no idea about small and not very shortcomings. But we will honestly tell you about those places that are better to get around in winter.
For this review, we will use several criteria.
Extreme cold
Speaking about winter, first thing you should think about is the lowest possible temperature in the place of destination.
In Canada, for example, the winter season not only differs in cold weather (from –15 to –45 ˚С), but also is accompanied by strong winds and snowfalls. The same can be said of the northern United States. The coldest state is Alaska, sung by Jack London. Also not very pleasant will be a winter holiday in the American ski resort Winter Park near the town of Fraser (Colorado) and at International Falls (Minnesota). These are high-mountain areas with low winter temperatures and very deep snow cover, which bear the honorary title of "America's Refrigerator."
Among other countries that differ in severe winters and at the same time are popular among tourists, it is worth mentioning Greenland, Iceland, Finland and Norway. In the latter very famous is the Hell town which is covered with ice for at least 4 months a year.
One of the coldest countries in the world is Russia. Absolute minus temperatures here were recorded in Yakutsk (–63 ˚С), Oymyakon (–67.7 ˚С) and Verkhoyansk (also –67.7 ˚С).
Of course, all these cities and countries are a unique sight, but it will be a very extreme winter holiday, so think carefully whether you are ready for it. In addition, they say that spring and summer in these places are even more beautiful.
Heat or rainfall
There are a number of countries in which it is better to relax in the winter. This primarily applies to Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as India, Ceylon and some countries of East Africa. In November, the most favorable tourist season for visitors begins there - relatively dry and warm.
However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the average temperature at this time is still + 26-30 ° C accompanied by tropical humidity. The acclimatization period can be difficult and lengthy.
The second minus of winter holidays in these regions is the unpredictable tropical typhoons that can fly even in winter. And talking about their destructive power is unnecessary. And the third important point is the price of a plane ticket. In December, it usually increases by 25-50% compared with the average annual cost, so you should think about this issue in advance.
But what you should definitely not forget about when preparing for a winter vacation is that in the Southern Hemisphere, that is, countries located south of the equator, the seasons are directly opposite to the European ones. From December to February, summer in this region lasts, with all the ensuing consequences.
For example, consider Australia, which is considered the driest continent on the planet. From December to March, the hot season of monsoons and typhoons lasts in the north of the country. In the central regions, the air temperature can rise to +40 ˚С, in addition, dry desert winds constantly blow here.
The rest in Australia's second largest city - Melbourne can be no less extreme. Its motto speaks for itself: four seasons in one day. From December to February, it is very hot here, up to +40 ˚С, but it can immediately get colder. And the city has repeatedly suffered from severe fires, floods and tornadoes.
However, unpleasant weather surprises can await travelers not only in distant countries from the other hemisphere, but also very close ones. For example, numerous advertisements are trying to convince that in Turkey and Egypt you can relax all year round. Indeed, these countries are the most popular in the post-Soviet space, but will it be nice there in the winter?
Turkey has a mild subtropical climate, but in winter the air temperature during the day does not rise above +14 ˚С. The main trouble is that it is a very rainy season: in December and January, 12 days in a month can be with precipitation. Let's face it is not the best time for vacation.
A similar situation can be observed in Egypt. From December to March, the average monthly temperature ranges from +4 to +10 ˚С, and 10 days in a month are rainy.
All of these countries are beautiful and have a well-developed tourism sector, they are definitely worth a visit, but still it is better to do this in the off-season.
Outrageous prices
We decided to include in the review of the worst places for winter holidays also the most expensive resorts in the world. Why not? They are virtually inaccessible to 99% of the world's inhabitants and play a predominantly status role.
Today, the most expensive and trendy ski resort is considered to be Swiss St. Moritz. Its main visitors are members of the royal families, presidents and Hollywood stars. Mostly private jets fly here, and on the main street of the town there are boutiques of the most famous brands. The same can be said about the resort Aspen (USA), Leh (Austria) and Courchevel (France). It is difficult to imagine a comfortable stay in a crowd of capricious monarchs and at the sight of annoying paparazzi. Therefore, we would not recommend such winter travel options either.
Of course, the above examples can be attributed to extremes, but they will find their supporters. And even more so there will be no problems with choosing a place for a winter trip among lovers of classic vacations. Our planet is so beautiful and diverse, and thanks to the development of transport, you can get into a completely different climate zone in a matter of hours.
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