Planning winter getaways
My favorite time of year to travel is all year round - well, maybe with the exception of the middle of summer.
But winter in particular is the season when I try to go away at least once, or preferably a few times, even if just for a few days.
Winter trips, whether dedicated to photography or simply for leisure, are my favorite way not only to survive the winter and beat the winter blues, but also to enjoy a stress-free getaway without feeling like I’m fighting through crowds or draining my wallet.
Disclaimer: to rest well or see something new, I don’t need either great weather or luxury accomodations.
If you’re anything like me, and you’re a fan of rather peaceful surroundings, not interested in all-inclusive resort vacations, and instead prefer to experience authentic local vibes - whether you’re heading to a winter wonderland or toward the warmer south - this text is for you.
1. which travel agency to go with
I don’t go with any. I organize everything myself - flights, accommodation, and car rental. This not only gives me the freedom to decide where, for how much, and when I’ll go, but also what I’ll eat, where I’ll sleep, and how I’ll get around.
Planning a trip on your own is neither complicated nor time-consuming. All you need is: a few budget airline apps that serve nearby airports, Google, and ChatGPT (optionally).
2. how to choose a destination
It rarely happens that I just come up with a destination and book tickets right away. Most often, I check budget airlines “Inspiration” sections, where, depending on your set budget and date range, you can find something reasonable that fits your basic ideas.
The rule is simple: if I want snow (which doesn’t happen often) — I head north. Think Scandinavia.
If I want sun and a bit more warmth than usual — I head south. Think Spain, Portugal, Italy.
If it’s a photography trip - it might seem like heading toward the sun is best, but that’s only partly true.
No sunlight (or even the polar night) offers an absolutely unique opportunity for exceptional photos in extraordinary light. My images from Tromsø, where I spent some time during the mid of the polar night two years ago, remain some of my favorite travel photos to this day.
3. when to go
See point one. I travel when flights are cheapest. The nature of my job makes taking off quite easy, and the fact that I work four days a week gives me the added advantage of organizing longer weekends without much juggling or scheduling gymnastics.
It often happens that departures and returns in the middle of the week (or on Sundays) are cheaper.
If I’m planning a longer trip that will cost me a few days of vacation time, there’s nothing stopping me from flying out on a Sunday and coming back, say, on a Saturday.
If it’s just a long weekend, I usually leave on Wednesday or Thursday and return on Sunday (or do a Friday-to-Monday trip).
4. how to get around
It's hard for me to imagine getting around without a car, although I've done that in the past.
In Israel, to get from Eilat to Timna National Park or the Red Canyon, I used public transport, and it was quite cheap and quick. Similarly, in the Tromso area, where traveling with public transport went super smooth.
My first visit to Mallorca will remain in my memory for a long time, as I traveled almost the entire island on a rented scooter (without even an ounce of driving skills).
If I'm going on a typical city break, a car or scooter is obviously not necessary, and instead I buy a multi-day public transport ticket.
However, I rent the car most often. To get the best possible rental conditions, I always use the same car rental website, which in turn gives me a discount.
Furthermore, I rent a car with full insurance immediately after booking the tickets. Then I regularly check for price changes. And they often do. Then I cancel the reservation and book again.
This may seem like a strange technique to some, but it saved me a lot of money.
The same applies to local parking (I often drive to the airport in my own car) and hotel (see below).
I don't skimp on car insurance, however. Experience has taught me that it's always worth having it.
5. where to sleep
Everyone has a certain minimum level of comfort. For me, it's a clean room with a private bathroom. And the standard doesn't really matter here, as most accommodations are simply acceptable.
Of course, it would be best if it were free of insects, leaks, and other hazards. So far, I've managed to avoid all of these (well, maybe with the exception of insects once haha).
Since I usually only sleep and use the restroom in my accommodation, I really don't care whether the building has a pool or sauna. I usually don't waste my time taking advantage of such amenities anyway.
I search for accommodations on websites designed for this purpose, well in advance. If possible, I book with a cancellation policy, and the situation is similar to that with car rentals. If I find time to look for a cheaper alternative in the meantime, I do so and rebook.
Hotel booking sites hate me, but my wallet loves it.
The exception is my trip to Spain next year, where I haven't booked hotels yet. My partner and I want to experience total freedom of movement and spontaneously rent something in places we like, while we’re there.
6. What to do and see
This, of course, depends on your preferences. My first choice is always to experience ordinary life locally.
Away from the resorts, large shopping malls, and boulevards. I tend to focus on local towns, authentic atmospheres, and local food, as much as possible.
GPT chat is an great source of information about places, but it's worth being very specific with your questions and then checking their responses on Google and local travel websites or blogs.
Think of prompts like "suggest a small but charming beach on the way from Faro to Sagres, where there are no crowds and parking is free," rather than "where to go to a beach near Faro."
If you know what you’re interested in and what kind of vibe you enjoy most, you'll easily find inspiration.
Then just get in your car, bus, train, whatever, sit back, and drive away. Adventure awaits.
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