Coolcations: Why travellers are ditching the heat for cooler holidays

It’s 8am in the morning, and already the temperature is sky-high. Sweat is pouring down your back, and you feel horrible. Dreaming of a vacation in a cool-weather destination? If you answered yes, you’re one of a growing group of travellers embracing the coolcation travel trend. So, why are coolcations so popular? Where are the best coolcation destinations? Where are the cool places to travel to? Is going on a coolcation worth it?

Keep reading Coolcations: Why travellers are ditching the heat for cooler holidays for the answers.

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What is a coolcation?

A coolcation is a holiday taken to escape the hot weather. Travellers seek cooler places or climates, usually in the shoulder or winter seasons. Northern Europe is a popular destination that’s in this group.

Coolcations are therefore a hybrid, combining cool weather with a vacation.

Why are coolcations popular?

There are a few reasons behind the travel trend.

Escaping the heat

For many travellers, sightseeing in the 35-40 degree (95-105 Fahrenheit) heat is not enjoyable. Cooler temperatures make walking and exploring easier and more comfortable. There is also less risk of getting sunstroke.

Money saving

Travelling outside traditional busy seasons equals big money savings. Flights, accommodation, tours and attractions are cheaper too. Travel companies offer more discounts during these periods.

Less crowds

Being outside peak seasons, you will see fewer crowds, fewer tourists which means a more relaxed travel experience. No elbowing your way out of a crowd or having to wait ages to take that perfect photo.

Active holidays

Because it is cooler, you’re more likely to be active doing activities such as walking and hiking on a coolcation. Going on a walking tour is a much more pleasant experience in cooler weather.

Sustainability

Scandinavian countries lead the world in sustainability. With a stronger focus on sustainable travel, these destinations offer more eco-friendly options that are good for the planet.

Trend reports

As of the time of publication, searches for travel to cooler destinations have increased by approximately 74% year on year. Travellers are searching for coolcations.

Places like Norway and Sweden have experienced a travel surge, with international arrivals up by approximately 10-14% per year and growing. This trend is likely to continue.

Where are the coolcation destinations?

There are so many destinations to consider. The question is how cool do you want to go?

The temperature on a coolcation range from mild, fresh, winter to extreme.

• Mild – 20-25 degrees (68-77 Fahrenheit)
• Fresh – 10-20 degrees (50 -68 Fahrenheit)
• Winter – 10 – 0 degree (50 – 32 Fahrenheit)
• Extreme – below freezing (32 or below Fahrenheit).

Here are some of the more popular coolcation destinations that travellers are going to cool down.

Iceland

Iceland is the ultimate coolcation destination! If you want to experience geothermal pools, glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, and spa retreats, this is the ideal place!

The temperatures are cooler in summer and below freezing in winter. If you want to read more about Iceland, check out my other blogs:

Blue Lagoon Iceland – the ultimate wellness retreat

Iceland highlights – the best attractions you need to visit

Finland

Finland is also a cool place to travel. Lapland is an in-demand destination where you can experience an authentic igloo, do reindeer and husky activities or tours. If you go to Rovaniemi, you can visit Santa Claus Village. Temperatures are cold but refreshing.

Norway

Norway is another cool-weather destination. Magnificent fjords, mountains, and spectacular scenery await. Travelling in the summer, the temperatures are lower that the rest of Europe. If travelling in winter, a snowy wonderland is ready to be explored.

Sweden

Sweden is a popular coolcation travel destination to escape the heat. It’s a mix of city and natural landscapes. Explore any of the beautiful Swedish cities or venture out into the forests, lakes, or archipelagos.

Canada

Canada offers a vast range of coolcation possibilities, from the Rocky Mountains, Yukon, Vancouver Island and Inuvik. Some Canadian regions near the Arctic Circle are quite untouched with lower tourism. Temperatures are freezing but wildly invigorating.

New Zealand

New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, is also a popular coolcation destination. Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand is the place to go for some nice, cool temperatures. Snow, skiing and tours are on offer when you arrive.

Milford Sound is another South Island destination. If you want to see fjords similar to those in Norway, you will find them here.

Tasmania

Tasmania in Australia is another excellent option for travellers looking for cooler temperatures. In the Southern Ocean, about 2500 kilometres (1550 miles) from Antarctica, it’s known for its cooler climate.

Freycinet is a place 2.5 hours drive from Hobart with phenomenal wilderness and wildlife and temperatures that will satisfy your coolcation fix.

Coolcations as a money saving strategy?

Travelling in low and shoulder seasons throughout the year is always going to be a money-saving strategy. Why? Because busy peak times are expensive due to higher demand. So travelling in the quieter seasons equals big savings.

You’ll get cheaper flights and accommodation too as travel companies are eager to fill up vacancies because of the lower demand.

So, yes. As well as being a cooler holiday, coolcation travel is a smart money-saving strategy for most travellers.

What to pack for a coolcation?

The beauty of a coolcation is that you can dress in layers: a base layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. Wearing the clothes multiple times means you can pack less.

The base layer is for thermal clothing. The middle layer is for wool sweaters, gloves, beanie, scarves, and the outer layer is for a waterproof jacket.

A suggested cool weather packing list is:

• Waterproof jacket
• Small umbrella
• Waterproof shoes
• Warm socks
• Beanie
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Thermal layers
• Hat
• Wool sweater

And don’t forget the sunscreen. Even if the weather is cooler, you can still get sunburnt.

Based on the current volume of travellers searching for and going to cooler destinations, there’s a strong chance that coolcations are here to stay.

Suggested posts:

Iceland highlights – the best attractions you need to visit

Reykjavik on a budget – best places to buy cheap food