5 Winter Travel Ideas

A colleague is traveling to New York City in December for a little winter travel to participate in the festive Manhattan holiday season. They are doing it all- carriage rides through Central Park, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and watching the lighting of the tree.

That got us thinking about other great destinations for winter travel. Here are five great trips for all you globetrotters.

1.Take to the Sea

Long, cold winters can be such a downer. Therefore, the best winter vacation may be the one that escapes the frigid temperatures for something… a little sunnier. Keep your swimsuit out for this one because we?ve discovered a great company doing curated sailing trips in picturesque destinations. Now that?s an adventure! How does seven days exploring the British Virgin Islands or Phang Nga Bay, Thailand (a.k.a. James Bond Island) sound? The idea of waking up to go on deck to soak up the sun and take in the pristine seas excites us so. An outfit called Sailing Collective offers these amazing journeys. They curate memorable trips with your own captain and onboard chef to prepare exquisite meals during your stay on the boat. There are options to charter your own sailboat or to book a cabin in an upcoming trip. Check out their winter trips to book today.?

2. Fore-thought

Golfers love New Mexico because you can play year-round. A sunny, 50-degree December day in Albuquerque makes for a great day of golf at courses like Sandia Golf Club. However, what if you could turn your passion for golf into a world class winter vacation? How about a South African golf and safari trip to South Africa through Worldwide Golf Adventures? South Africa is a hidden gem for golfing. Add in the near perfect weather and you can?t go wrong with this trip. The folks at Worldwide Golf Adventures work with you on building a custom vacation including golf and tourist activities. We chose this destination out of many because you can also include a safari (!) in your travels.

3. Overland Adventures

For something that?s both a little closer to home and higher on the adventure scale we recommend a unique winter travel overlanding experience down Baja. Through Bolt Travel you can offroad and camp down Baja with a group of other travelers. Enjoy all the adventure while Bolt handles the logistics and planning (they supply you with your own offroad vehicle!). This is definitely the type of excursion for those that don?t like to do ?touristy? things. You?ll camp on the beach, soak in hot springs, and go deep into the largest nature preserve in Latin America. There will be opportunities to kayak, snorkel, and hike. The unique thing about Bolt is that it?s a collective. You will be able to connect with others that are drawn to these types of adventures.?

4. The Other Hemisphere

We?ve already been to the Southern Hemisphere for golf. And adventured in our backyard. How about an excursion to South America? We found a seven-day Peru hiking adventure through the company, Mountain Lodges of Peru. Through this fantastically-curated trip you spend your days with challenging hikes and your nights in luxury lodging. Start the trip in Cusco, Peru, journey to Salkantay Peak, and complete a loop that finishes at Machu Picchu. On the way to Machu Picchu you will scale peeks, visit mountain lakes, tour a coffee plantation, and more. This is not a vacation for those who like to sit in the hotel room.?

5. Winter Travel…to a Winter Destination

Fine. Fine. We will make our fifth winter vacation suggestion actually about a winter destination. Consider sneaking away to Southwest Colorado to the little ski town of Telluride- home to world class skiing, luxury digs, and great cuisine with less fanfare than places like Aspen. Tucked away in the San Juan Mountains, you will find fun, relaxation, and a wonderful retreat. For a high-end luxury stay in the village of Telluride look no further than Element 52. After a long day on the slopes at the Telluride Ski Resort you can ski directly to the residence and soak in the hot tubs or sprawl out on the couch in the living room of your grand house in the mountains.

Otherwise, if there are only two of you and/or you?re working a smaller budget make your basecamp the Madeline Resort in Mountain Village. Steps from multiple ski lifts and the gondola into town, this provides both convenience and luxury to make your Telluride visit a great one. In town, you can have a steak and malbec at The New Sheridan Hotel Chop House or apres ski overlooking the town at Allreds at the top of the gondola. At night, make sure to drink with the locals at the Last Dollar Saloon. The restaurant, There. is a culinary and imbibing delight, and at Siam you might get some of the best Thai food you?ve ever had. However, if Telluride is not enough of an escape for you, go further into the mountains to the Dunton Hot Springs– a true joining of the rugged mountain exploration of Wild West and luxury living.?