Autumn is definitely upon us now, here in mid-October (at least on this side of the hemisphere), and the thought of everyone jetting off on Fall break adventures made this TFT Blogger think about the different ways to stay warm while traveling to chilly places, not only this fall, but for some of our summer trips like South Africa Community Service, Germany Austria & Switzerland, and Alpine Adventure: Switzerland and Italy! Packing for cold or uncertain climates can be pretty tricky (is it going to be raining, sunny, chilly, or all three in Scotland and Ireland? You never can tell!) So here is some advice to help you stay warm and pack prudently!
A few main cold-weather staples to bring include at least one good pair of jeans, and depending on the length of your trip, another set of pants. If you like to dress up a bit, a thick pair of leggings will keep you warm with a skirt or dress. Closed-toed shoes such a comfortable boot or waterproof sneaker, paired with some warm socks (preferably quick-dry if you’re going to a rainy place like London and Paris) will definitely keep your toes warm. A raincoat (that you will actually wear) is a great staple to take on a fall trip, because they usually provide enough insulation to keep you warm if worn with a good enough sweater or fleece underneath.
As Lu (a counselor for our Scotland and Ireland trip last year) knows, layers are important!! You can go a long way with a few different pieces. When packing for cold climates, thin but warm fabrics such as fleece and flannel are much more space effective then hoodies and sweatshirts. If you’re the kind of person that just loves their hoodie, bring it as a carry on so it can double up as a pillow on the plane! And definitely, don’t bring more than one. A great tactic for climates where you’re not quite sure if you’ll be cold or warm is to wear t-shirts and even tank-tops under warmer layers such as cardigans.
Accessories! One good knitted cap will keep you surprisingly warm in chillier climates. Surprisingly, the majority of your heat escapes through your head, so keeping it covered helps you stay warm. Scarves are also great accessories that keep you warm and don’t take up too much space. Also, if you go out with a scarf and it ends up being colder than you thought, you can wrap it around your shoulders.
When shopping for your vacation, I would recommend checking out camping or outdoors stores to look for some of your main pieces because they tend to have lightweight, warm fabrics designed not to take up too much space on the trails or in your travels! This is an especially good idea if you’re planning on going on Europe For Older Teens: Amsterdam, Munich, Swiss Alps & Venice or Europe For Older Teens: Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland, Paris.
Lastly, and most importantly, I would say get informed about where you’re going. Though this article is dedicated to helping you be prepared for whatever weather might come your way in the uncertainty of travel, it is always helpful to do some research before you leave. For example, if you go on our Australia New Zealand trip you’ll most likely see snow on the peaks of the New Zealand mountains!!