Traveling in the Winter
Traveling during the colder months, no matter what mode of transportation you decide on, is going to take a toll on you, your companions and your bodies. Aside from the fact that things are going to be colder, you have to consider the impact that the trip will have on your plans.
Usually you can expect to encounter delays due to bad weather. This is true no matter what from of transportation you take. Planes get delayed; roads and rail lines often get closed due to snow. For this reason it is best for you to leave some added time at the beginning and the end of your plans to allow for the possibilities of unavoidable delays.
Keep in mind as well that travel to places that have extreme cold will require that you pack an assortment of clothing that you might not normally think of. Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm and dry in cold climates. That way if you are too hot you can take off a layer of clothes and if you are too cold you can add a sweater of other piece.
If you are driving you will need to make sure that the vehicle has been gone over by a mechanic and that it has good tires that are designed for travel in mud and snow. This is for your safety. Also you may well want to go back over the rules of the road and the driving techniques for hitting the slippery white trails. Hitting a patch of ice is not the best time to find out that you don’t remember how to deal with it.
Keep in mind too that if you are traveling by a means that involve ground transportation of any kind, it is best that you keep a winter survival kit where you can get to it quickly. For those of you that do not know what I am talking about, that includes a blanket, a candle, a candy bar for energy and a flashlight and extra batteries at bare minimum. These items can mean the difference between life and death should you get stranded in a snow bank for an extended period of time. Being prepared is always the best option but it in a necessary thing in winter travel.
The same things as regular travel apply here. If leaving the country, make sure that your itinerary is given to someone at home and that you get all travel documents arranged well in advance of departure to eliminate any possibility of complications that could delay your departure or in the worst case scenario, cause you to not be let into or out of countries where you are scheduled to travel.
A little bit of planning in advance can certainly make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a trip that is nothing but problems. Make sure that you are set in your plans but remain flexible so that winter emergencies do not totally ruin the trip.