Autumn Has Arrived: Start Planning Your Escape

I actually happen to love fall. I love that the hot, humid summer days are finally behind us, I like the energy of the city as people move back in from their summer retreats, and I especially love to start planning my first trip out of the country to escape the cold air that I’ll inevitably be complaining about in a couple months from now.

Think about it, when you travel during the summer you’re more likely than not going from one hot place to another hot place, which makes the whole transition seem less than spectacular. But when you travel during the cold months, you get to experience that glorious feeling of flying out of a barren, cold landscape and to a completely different atmosphere which only heightens the feeling of distance. (It’s also a great feeling to have people approach you asking you where you got a tan in December.)

Check out the piece that I’m linking to that describes some interesting ides for winter travel. Thinking of North Africa? Head to Tunisia where you’ll bake in 70-degree weather amongst some of the world’s greatest artifacts. How about Asia? Penang island, off the west coast of Malaysia, averages temperatures in the 80′s and is a popular winter destination (head to the western part of the island to get away from the tourists).

And of course South America . . . Where better to go then to someplace where everyone’s exuberant about the onset of Spring and the coming summer months? Rio’s a great option for those with the money and the time, and Argentina’s extremely favorable exchange rate still makes it one of the best places to visit down South. (When I was there last year in mid-November the Jacarandas were in full bloom — a traditional sign of the Spring in many cultures — with their bright purple blossoms and the giddiness of a population that truly detests the winter and welcomes the warmth like no other was contagious). My plans? I’ve been leafing through my Colombia Lonely Planet now for days and the prospect of wandering the magical city of Cartagena and exploring the country’s famed Caribbean beaches while the snow begins to fall back home is oh so tempting. To be continued . . . (Click for the article)