Winter Travel with Stephanie Oswald

Is the cold weather getting tiring? Some of these days where the weather is in the single digits and feeling like it's below zero have many of us wanting spring and summer to come her quick. While the warm weather seems like just a dream at this point, it can also be inspiration for a winter getaway or planning for a warm weather vacation later this year.

I took the opportunity to chat with travel expert and editor-in-chief of Travel Girl magazine, Stephanie Oswald, about some travel tips we can be taking advantage of this time of the year, and even some of the top travel destinations for those winter escapes.

Hey there Stephanie. How are you today?

I'm great. How are you?

I am just wonderful. And now that we are a month and a half into the new year, many people are wanting to get away from the cold weather and are already thinking about those travel plans and some fun ideas for getaways. What are some of the hot travel destinations right now?

Well, I want to also tell you why you need to have three bucket lists, a few hot friends, and some smart packing tips. So to start with the destinations that can also warm you up, Aruba is a big one and many other places in the Caribbean. It's not too far away and can definitely warm you up after some of this cold weather we've had lately. Now this is also the time of year to put together three bucket lists. The first is a big destination list for the rest of your life including those places you want to go before you die. Then second, you want to create a destination bucket list for 2015, and then finally the third is a backyard bucket list. That third list is for the places in your own hometown like the museums you drive by and the local theaters to make yourself aware of the treasures in your own backyard.

Right because getting out of the house doesn't mean you have to plan this big extravagant vacation of traveling to another country. It can be something simple and low-budget too.

Exactly. And if you want to get some inspiration then you can check out places like travelzoo.com. They have local deals all the time and also hotels that have spa treatments for the locals. Plus you get better rates because you live in the hometown. All you have to do is show your ID and you can get a really great deal. Another website destination to take advantage of is tripadvisor.com. They have so many great ideas, and right now we are seeing many top ten lists like the best places to go this year and the best off the beaten path places.

It also pays to look back at some of your favorite spots, and one of my favorites is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and they actually ended 2014 on a good note. TripAdvisor listed them as one of the most popular destinations for 2014. When you hear things like that, check out the website for your trip's destination and also check out the Convention and Visitors Bureaus because you will find out where you can get what's happening and also the best deals. I'll also tell you that this year Myrtle Beach will be opening a winery, a new sports complex, and many new restaurants. It's really important to do that research before you go. Get online, find out what's happening in your favorite destinations and then you can plan better for your trip.

That's always the best part. You want to have a couple things in mind in mind to do, but you don't want to have every minute scheduled out with an activity. That's one way to really stress yourself out on a vacation instead of enjoy and relax.

Right, and no one wants to be stressed out. One of the trends we are seeing for 2015 includes people finding what they can do to make their travels easier. The number one tip for that is early planning and what we end up seeing is people extending their business trips more than ever before. It was really popular for a while and then went away, and now it's coming back. Now people are saying if they already have to go away for work, why not include the family in some way. So many people are adding a couple days to that trip so they can make a family vacation out of it too. This way people are also taking advantage of lower rates at some of the business hotels. It's a smart way to balance your work life with your family life.

Also try taking stock on how you're getting to these destinations. This about the journey because after all it is apart of the adventure. If you haven't tried the bus, then megabus.com has more than 120 detinations in North America. It's not the way buses used to be in the old days for those of you who may have a stereotype of buses. MegaBus has these beautiful double-decker buses with top-notch safety seatbelts and comfortable chairs. You will be pleasantly surprised while also saving a lot of money. You can talk, go online, listen to music, or just enjoy the view while someone else is driving.

Perfect and you want to make sure that whatever mode of transportation you pick that you will be comfortable especially if it's several hours maybe even days until you get to the destination.

That's so true. And also one great thing about MegaBus is that you can actually choose your seat. There are 10 seats that are considered premier/special seats. They will give you either a great panoramic view or sit you next to a table. A few extra dollars can really make a difference in the quality of your trip.

I also want to talk about some packing tips. There are things you can do today that will change the quality of your trip for the rest of the year. If you learn to be a smart traveler and a smart packer, then you know that you can do little things to enhance the quality of the trip.

Of course, now what are some of your tips for that smart packing?

What I like to do is take my carry-on and go through it. Make sure that everything you need is in and everything you don't need is out. First of all, for those of you who don't know how to do it your resolutions should be to learn how to be a carry-on packer. You want to try to get everything into one bag. No matter how you travel, traveling light and as a carry-on packer will make things easier for you.

So what are some things that we can do to help with that, because I'm definitely one of those packers where if I'm using just one bag it needs to be the biggest possible bag.

Then I have some great advice for you. First, you want to make sure that when it comes to little things like sunscreen, vitamins, aspirin, and anything with an expiration date that this is a good time to go through your bag to throw out anything old and bring in anything new. Make sure you then have some little things like bandaids and a sewing kits. They don't take up a lot of space, but if you need them then you have them handy. Then make sure you have some smart snacks like energy bars and individual packs of fruits and nuts in your cupboard at home so you can throw some in your bag. Then when you come back put another set of snacks in the bag so it's always ready to go.

When it comes to packing itself, you want to be a smart packer. Invest in some packing cubes. You can get a set of three for under $20 and it will make it a lot easier for you to pack. You can keep things separated and organized, and it will give you more space. Also instead of that bulky hairdryer, I pack an Aquas hair towel. It's less than $20 and you can get one at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. It dries your hair in 15 minutes. They are made to make sure your hair is dried faster and to keep your hair healthy. It saves you space in your bag. My final suggestion is to roll your clothes. People think that's kind of weird until they try it. Once you start rolling your clothes and getting them in your bag, you'll see how much extra space you have.

I've always heard that about rolling the clothes. I have heard that it does take up less space, but does it really take up a significant amount less space than folding the clothes? That would be amazing especially this time of the year when you think about packing hoodies, sweaters, and other wintery items that are thicker and bulkier. Because of that, you want to save as much space as you can.

You brought up a great point with the different things to pack depending on where you're going and what season you're traveling in. Packing cubes are a helpful option. You can do a combination of rolling and folding. If you are talking about bulky items, then another great option includes the air-sealed bags to put your thick items in and then the bag will suction out the air to make as much room as possible.

Now where can people go for more tips for these winter getaways and beating that cold weather?

I'm going to tweet out some tips on my Twitter account @travelgirlsteph and also on our website travelgirlinc.com. And another thing to avoid packing is a magazine because these days you can subscribe to most magazines including Travel Girl online and it's one less thing to worry about putting in your bag.

Awesome and thanks for joining me Stephanie.

Well, thank you Brynn and safe travels to you.