Picture this: You’ve had your dream vacation planned for months in advance. You’ve bought your tickets, planned out your itinerary, and have been diligently counting down the days. Finally, the day arrives, and you touch down at your dream destination… only to be met with harsh rain forecasts for most of your time there.
There’s nothing more disappointing than rain during your vacation. It only takes one thing that’s completely out of your control to derail the plans that you’ve been perfecting for months. Traveling around your destination becomes that much harder, and say goodbye to any outdoor activities you had planned. Still, there are ways to enjoy your trip. Here’s how to make the most out of a rainy vacation.
Turn it into a rest day.
If you wake up during your vacation on a rainy day, don’t despair yet! It may be a sign to take it easy and recharge before you start exploring again. We often push our bodies to their limits when we travel, but it’ll only lead to us crashing horribly later. If it’s raining too hard for you to get out and explore your destination, then there’s nothing wrong with postponing your plans to tomorrow.
So what can you do in the meantime? If you’re staying at a hotel, then check and see if there are any amenities you can enjoy. Some hotels have spa services, fitness centers, or in-house bars that you can try for a good self-care day. Some also have playgrounds if you’re traveling with bored, restless kids. If you don’t have access to such amenities, you can instead stay in your room with a good book or TV show. A day off like this will leave you feeling recharged and ready for exploration the next day.
Look for indoor tourist destinations.
There are still plenty of indoor tourist activities that you can enjoy, so long as you don’t mind traveling a bit in the rain. For example, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the local history and culture by visiting art and history museums. You can also visit the local theater and check if there are any shows or plays that you can enjoy.
If you’re not too interested in the artistic side of your destination, there are still plenty of activities to consider. You can also do a bit of souvenir shopping by going through the local shopping centers or malls. Or, you can splurge a bit by going to an upscale restaurant and trying out all of the local dishes! There are also plenty of unique activities that differ from destination to destination, so take this as an opportunity to explore something new, even if it wasn’t part of your plans.
Enjoy some swimming activities.
If you’re already going to get wet, then you might as well make the most of it! There’s something extra fun about swimming in the rain, whether it be in a pool or at the beach. If you don’t mind the extra cold, then you can still do all of the water activities you’ve been wanting to do, such as boating, surfing, or kayaking!
Before you put your swimsuit on, though, make sure to keep your safety in mind, especially in the ocean. Rainy weather can make beach waves much stronger than usual, making any water activities much more dangerous. If the lifeguards or other authorities tell you not to swim, then you’ll have to save your plans for a sunnier day.
Go out anyway!
So long as your plans for the day aren’t closed due to the weather, what’s stopping you from going anyway? Traveling through the rain may be harder, but it’s certainly not impossible. Besides, it can make for a pretty interesting memory when you look back on your vacation! Just make sure your travel buddies are fine with continuing your day plans first. If they are, then it’s time to grab an umbrella and get going!
Again, it’s important to use and trust your own judgment before going out. If it’s a normal, rainy day, then there’s nothing wrong with letting yourself get a bit wet! But if your destination is caught in a thunderstorm or typhoon, then you’ll have to stay inside. No vacation is worth more than your and your family’s safety, after all.
