Travel Gadgets and Gizmos for Winter Travel

Taking a trip this winter? In previous posts and on Let's Talk Live this week (click link for video), I address the specific challenges of winter travel. Here are some products to help you stay safe, warm and moisturized during this cold, dry season. 

Do you suffer from the heartbreak of dry skin during the winter? Even if you normally don't, anyone who heads to the mountains is likely to notice that an otherwise peachy complexion goes to the pits on the ski slope. The fact is, when traveling, you should not only NOT forego the normal hydrating routine, but you should actually beef it up. Especially when going to high altitudes in the middle of winter, extra tools of the trade are useful.

Crane USA is royalty among the humidifier set. The company has several products perfect for the global nomad.  The Small and Mighty ($49.99) is a personal ultrasonic cool mist humidifier that increases air moisture. The 1.8 quart water tank runs quietly for up to eight hours.  If you are traveling by car, or if you are carrying a large suitcase, pop it in the trunk.

Small and Mighty

Crane Travel Humidifier

For carry-on types, The Travel Humidifier ($29.99) fits the bill. It consists of a portable tank, a misting probe, and a power adapter that works with both outlets and USB ports.  














Another vital winter weather need--staying warm. This AlphaHeat Battery-Operated Scarf ($29.95) runs on three AA batteries, heating up to nearly 120 degrees. The heating element is on the back of the neck. There are also pockets on the scarf to keep your hands toasty.



Heat Holders claims its thermal socks ($15.99) are "7x warmer than regular cotton socks and 3x warmer than ordinary thermal socks." I can't prove those stats, but I can tell you these socks have kept my tootsies warm during this frigid winter. The company also sells hats, tights and thermal underwear perfect for layering up and keeping in the heat.

Finally, no winter traveler, or any traveler for that matter, should hit the road without travel insurance. Not only does it cover you for unexpected travel and medical expenses, but some policies even reimburse for things like lost or damaged skis. Check out this article from Allianz Travel Insurance for the scoop.

Winter Travel Tips

We are approaching the dog days of winter. As another snowmageddon looms, it's a fine time to weave in some winter travel tips. Below are some you may already know, along with a few you may never have pondered. 

1. Try to travel on non-stop flights leaving early in the morning. If you do have to connect, try not to do so through hubs that regularly experience nasty winter weather, like Chicago's O'Hare and Denver International. That said, even southern airports like Dallas or Atlanta can be tricky during the winter, given the increasing number of ice storms that seem to be besetting Dixie. 

2. Traveling to high altitudes for skiing or snowboarding? Prepare for the highs. 

• Don't overdo exercise on the first day.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol intake, particularly during the first few days of your trip.
• Your digestive innards work slowly at higher altitudes, so late meals may     interfere with sleep. 
• Consider taking aspirin with a huge glass of water right before bedtime to preempt  altitude-induced headaches. 

3. Loyal Daily Suitcase readers know of my great concern for proper hydration.  This is because I have ended up in emergency rooms in both Beijing and Phnom Penh with heat-related dehydration. But it is important to note that dehydration can also happen in frigid temperatures. In fact, for some, severe dehydration may be more likely to occur in winter than summer. 

If you are flying somewhere for a ski trip, the flight has already likely dried you out. Add to that extreme exercise, the lower oxygen levels and lower humidity of high altitudes, and the intense sun, and you have the perfect storm of ingredients for dehydration. In order to avoid this fate, start drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day about a week before your trip starts. Then, keep drinking H20 as you go. Again, avoiding dehydrators like caffeine, alcohol, and fatty foods may be wise.

4. Invest in the proper clothing. If you are going to be outside for a good part of a winter's day, layer away and thermalize. Pay special attention to your extremities, including head, hands and feet. I can recommend Heat Holders thermal socks (the company also sells hats, neck warmers, tights, and gloves).  At The Warming Store, you can find a wide selection of battery-heated socks, insoles and gloves that will keep you extra toasty. 

5. Buy travel insurance. If your winter trip gets cancelled or delayed due to unexpected weather events, insurance will cover prepaid costs and extra expenses (additional hotel nights, meals). Plus, some travel insurance companies offer concierge services. If a flight is cancelled or bags are lost, the concierge can provide a much-needed assist. 

Captions: All images photographed in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Time for #TravelToppers on Twitter: Winter Travel Tips

Here are your questions::

Q1: What are your favorite cold weather vacation destinations?

Q2: What are your top tips for traveling during the winter?

Q3: Share how travel insurance has helped you during your travels.

Q4: What are your favorite cold weather vacation activities?

Q5: What are your top tips for staying warm during outdoor activities?

Q6: What are the items you always pack for winter trips?

More on Winter Travel Tips here.

Laura on TV

One of my infamous spokesperson gigs. This interview, done with NYC's It's a Glam Thing blog, was #23 of 23 completed in a five-hour satellite/studio window. Vanity Alert: Between the camera adding 10 pounds  and the compression of the video to fit the web format, I look more beefier than I am. That beautiful David Meister dress is a Size 2, people.

http://bcove.me/qi21l66b

Where To Go This Winter*

Thanks to climate change, it's likely that this winter is once again going to be long and brutal. Even the hardiest cold-weather enthusiast is likely, at some point, to be driven to get the heck out of Dodge. And if Punxsutawney Phil decides the cold will extend six weeks beyond Groundhog Day, a winter getaway will go from a maybe to a must.

From January through March, people usually seek out the sun. Naturally, thoughts turn first to islands or cruising. But don’t forget, if you go south of the border….south to the Southern Hemisphere that is….it’s summertime. South America is often overlooked as a winter destination, but with archaeological treasures like Machu Picchu and Easter Island, along with natural wonders like Iguazú Falls and the Galapagos Islands, it’s a continent that should definitely be placed on the map of winter possibilities.
While flights to South American countries can be lengthy, jet lag is rarely an issue, as the continent shares most time zones with the United States.

If you don’t want to go beyond the equatorial beltway, however, a tropical escape to the Caribbean or Hawaii can be the perfect elixir to whatever SAD symptoms you may be feeling. Aside from escaping the cold, another advantage of traveling to islands in January and February is a lack of crowds and shoulder season rates. Even five-star resorts are known to discount during these months, which fall between the busy holiday travel season and spring break.

The same season delivers value on the high seas. The big news in cruising these days is the proliferation of home ports outside of Florida. That is particularly helpful in the winter, as cruisers can avoid the potential of airport delays by driving directly to their ship of dreams. On the East Coast, winter port options now extend from Florida to Charleston, South Carolina to as far north as New York City (with Baltimore in between). Most of the ships sailing from these ports during the winter are Bahamas-bound. If you want to sail farther into the Caribbean, the Florida ports are still the best option, although there are also winter trips scheduled out of Galveston, Texas.

Winter golf getaways are par for the course in some of the country’s southernmost states. If you want to shoot for a multi-sport winter getaway, remember that it’s easy to hit the greens and then sample the succulent fruits of baseball during Grapefruit League season in Florida and Cactus League season in Arizona.

Of course, for some folks, a winter sports vacation can only mean one thing--skiing. The good news about ski resorts in places like Colorado, Utah and Idaho is that while the weather is cold, it’s also generally sunny and dry. So the cold doesn’t feel as intense. If you want to go to a legendary ski resort without the crowds, Sun Valley, Idaho may be America’s best-kept secret. Although it lays claim to being the country’s very first ski resort (thank you, Averill Harriman, circa 1936) and a former mecca for Hollywood movie stars (circa the 1940s and 1950s), most folks nowadays find it challenging to locate on a map. While the Hollywood scene is far more low-key these days, star power still exists in the form of present and former winter Olympians who call the town home. And if these moguls of the mountains consider Sun Valley a gold medal winter sports destination, the peak is worth the trip.

*A version of this article appears in The Weekly Standard's December 19 issue.