Summer has always been identified as the vacation season but not everyone has the luxury to do so. A survey revealed 23 percent of Americans prefer to go on vacation during winter as opposed to the  sunny months. You may want to vacation during winter for any number of reasons, from trying to avoid the summer crowds to only having enough free time to do so then.

Winter rates are also noticeably lower than summer vacation costs. Regardless of your reasoning, you will find that preparing for a winter vacation is vastly different from packing for a summer getaway.

Learn how to prepare well for a holiday in the snow to cover your safety, comfort, and entertainment.

• Expect Delays

Everyone has experienced the agonizing crawl of vacation traffic, whether it’s because there’s no more parking space at your favorite theme park or there is a miles-long line of cars to the beach. When you are traveling or vacationing during winter, you may experience similar delays for different reasons.

Although there are relatively fewer people out and about during winter, the weather can be detrimental to your traveling. For example, heavy snowfall can gridlock roads and prevent access to your vacation zones. When traveling somewhere snowy for your holiday, learn the local weather patterns and see when the snowfall and traffic patterns will allow speedier movement.

• Pack the Right Clothes

Proper clothing is essential when you go out in the winter. Packing the right attire for every expected activity can not only enhance your comfort but it can also be a matter of life and death. Before you start worrying about which Descente ski pants to bring with you, consider the basic winterwear you must pack.

First, thermal underwear is a must if you want to avoid feeling chilly. Second, proper layering is crucial to avoid frostbite, even in temperature that may seem just a little chilly. Proper protection of your extremities is important so you must pack suitable gloves, earmuffs, and scarves to ensure exposed areas are warmly covered up by fabric.

• Schedule Outdoor Activities

Spending time outside can be very exciting, especially during the winter when you can engage in snowball fights, build forts out of the frost and even sports like skiing or bobsledding. However, winter carries with it environmental dangers, especially if you are out in the cold too long. It is essential that you schedule all outdoor activities carefully.

There are several factors you should consider when scheduling said activities. First is the prevalent snowfall of the state, since this will affect everything from the power to travel. Second is the time of day. Naturally, it will get colder the less sun and the later in the day you schedule your activities. But you must be very wary of snow glare, which is when sunlight reflects painfully off of snow. This can cause severe eye pain and even blindness, particularly during noon when the sun is at its peak. Schedule activities to avoid both these extreme conditions.

• Have a Backup Plan

When you are traveling during summer, your planning may extend from securing the best place to sit on a plane to selecting your vacation itinerary. When you are traveling during the winter, you must prepare an emergency backup plan in case your first holiday idea falls through. This is because adverse weather events can shut down your holiday plans.

A blizzard may cut off your cabin, heavy snow can cause blackouts and all manner of disturbances which could spell the end of your holiday. It is essential that you have an alternative, so your vacation days don’t get wasted. Perhaps you can secure a staycation at a local hotel or go on a road trip.

• Don’t Go Too Far

Unless you have a ton of supplies and excellent survival training, you do not want to travel too far when vacationing during winter. Ski chalets and log cabins in parks may seem remote, but they still have support systems such as emergency access roads and park rangers that can provide aid in times of emergencies.

But if you have a remote cabin in the woods or want to go hiking in the snow, it is much better to stay close to civilization. This way, you won’t have to worry about getting lost in case of a blizzard or for emergency services to take too long to get to your location.

Winter holidays can be wonderful as long as you manage to prepare sufficiently for the weather. Make sure you take into account every possibility and prepare backups so the snow will be an added attraction to your vacation, not a hindrance.