How to save your vacation if it rains most of the time

We’ve all been there. Spend months planning and waiting for a special vacation, only to arrive and find out that it rains most of the time.

No matter how many sacrifices you make to the gods of time, the reality is that sometimes the radar is not on your side. But that doesn’t mean your trip is ruined in any way.

Then travel experts share their tips to make rainy holiday days more enjoyable.

Don’t let the stress of the unexpected rain bring you the relaxation of being on vacation. You can still use this time to recharge, especially if you’ve been out of work for a while.

“No one wants it to rain on their trip, but it’s important to remember that any time outside is still a holiday,” Casey Brogan, a consumer travel expert at Tripadvisor, told HuffPost. “Take advantage of the rainy days to really relax and unwind, whether it’s playing a show you wanted to finish, playing with your loved ones, or even enjoying an afternoon at a nearby spa.”

Consider moving to a full day of self-care and focus on being kind to your body and mind. Take a long bath, read a fun book, or hang out with a diary.

“If the rain has dampened your tropical vacation, spend a day at the spa or, for the more active ones, go to the gym,” said Laura Ratliff, TripSavvy’s senior editorial director. “Some resorts even offer destination-tailored exercise classes: think muay thai in Thailand or yoga in India.”

“Take advantage of a rainy event as an opportunity to spend an even closer personal time with the people you’re on your trip with,” said Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer. “Whether you’re with a spouse, your children, family, or friends, take extra time to enjoy the time together. for you.

He stressed that you should take the opportunity to enjoy your conversations a lot. If you go with young children, invent a fun game about staying indoors and spending quality time together.

“The day could have gone better than if it hadn’t rained and you were out doing activities,” Dengler told HuffPost. “And if you’re alone, take the time to reflect and enjoy your own company.”

Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of Tripscout, said rain can sometimes also provide an opportunity to connect with strangers.

“Some of my best travel memories happened because a group of random people escaped together to the nearest shelter, such as spending an afternoon making new friends in an Irish pub or playing board games in an island hut.” , he said. “In both examples, I met more people and learned more about culture than if I had been able to follow my original plan.”

“A lot of outside activities can be rescheduled or reimbursed,” Dengler said. “If it rains, look at how you can adjust your schedule for any planned activity, and instead do things that are weather-resistant. Eating and drinking is enjoyable for almost everyone.”

He suggested a visit to the brewery or winery and go out to try local dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do your research and make a list of interesting foods you’d like to try while you’re in town.

You can arrange a guided (or self-guided) tour or book a tasting at a restaurant. You can even go to the grocery store and buy local ingredients to cook a special meal with your fellow travelers if you are staying in a place with a full kitchen.

Brogan noted that many covered cultural activities are available at most travel destinations.

“Museums, for example, [and other] Theater or indoor entertainment options are an amazing way to learn more about a destination’s culture, “he said.” And of course for history or art lovers, you can’t go wrong shopping or eating out “.

Browsing local shops, especially period shops and second-hand bookstores, can provide an insight into local culture, and you may find some truly unique items to take home.

“Taking virtual classes or inside local cooking, pottery or other arts cooking would be great,” said Stephanie Be, a travel blogger and founder of Buena. “My personal favorite is to use the time to write postcards to my favorite people. It would also be a good time to review travel planning to prioritize how to spend time out in the rain.”

“It’s very important to check the weather conditions you’re visiting,” said Michael Lindsay of the travel content duo Michael & Matt. “If the goal is to be out most of the time or all the time, you really want to pick and choose travel stations. That’s especially true in tropical places. We always look at the rainy season and try to plan it.”

Even if you travel to a destination during a less-than-ideal weather situation, knowledge is power. Lindsay noted that although her husband and he honeymoon in Thailand took place during the rainy season, they were ready.

“We didn’t have a lot of money to spend and the rainy season is low season for tourists, so things were a lot cheaper,” he said. “It wasn’t raining constantly, but we were in a pretty hot environment most of the time with a lot of humidity. Umbrellas and ponchos were our friends. there are activities inside that you will enjoy. “

Ravi Roth, a queer travel expert and presenter of The Gaycation Travel Show, stressed the importance of packing the right equipment to prepare for the rain, from socks and shoes to a good jacket.

“Investigate the destination and if you know you’re going to visit during the rainy season, try the rain boots before the trip, “Roth told HuffPost.” I learned the hard way by wearing new boots to Glasgow, Scotland. As beautiful as my boots were, my blisters weren’t. Rain can often be fun if your socks don’t get wet and you have the right jacket and bag. “

“First things first: who said everyone hates rain?” Is called. “Apart from the brazenness, talking about expectations with your traveling companions is a must before any trip. Maybe your warrior who wants to travel doesn’t mind getting a little wet. It’s okay to want different things and therefore , set a tone of “I don’t like rain”, “I look forward to XYZ excursions / activities compared to total relaxation time” or “This is how I feel about the budget” can avoid problems.

So if your group doesn’t mind continuing with your plans despite the rain, go for it. You may even find that certain outdoor attractions are much less crowded in humid conditions.

“As long as it’s hot and there are no storms, there’s nothing wrong with being in the water!” said Jessica van Dop DeJesus, travel media specialist and blogger at The Dining Traveler. “You’ll catch me on the beach in a flood!”

If you have children and the conditions are not unsafe, they may like to run and play outdoors in the rain. This can be a fun way to make family memories.

“When the rain breaks your plans, accept it!” said Waliszewski. “Traveling is not about seeing the perfect postcard expectation you had in mind. It’s about experiencing the world as it is. And that means it sometimes rains.”