What’s the most important factor in surviving a vacation that’s ruined by rainstorms? Liking your travel companion or your group.
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When rainstorms, thunderstorms, and unexpected showers interrupt travel plans, it’s hard to recover. It can be a mental, financial, and even emotional drain—especially if you’re visiting a bucket-list destination.
Unfortunately, rain patterns are becoming harder to predict. According to NASA, rainfall is less frequent but more intense on a global scale. With more monsoon-like downpours than light showers, travelers need to prepare for some bad luck—or, at least, have a few backup plans in place.
Here’s how to make the most of a vacation that’s ruined by rain.
The basics: how to avoid rain when planning a vacation
Always, always, always look into seasonal weather patterns before you book a vacation. They aren’t set in stone, but they should give you an idea of whether you’re about to lock in a trip to Costa Rica or Thailand during monsoon season.
The rain factor is especially important when you’re looking at bundled travel packages and discount deals. Unsurprisingly, resorts and hotels offer attractive discounts during the off-season—and the off-season tends to correlate with the area’s worst weather.
On one hand, this is a great way to save some money while skipping town. It’s an option many budget travelers keep in mind. But don’t forget that flights are sometimes affected by heavy rains, and certainly storms. Even if you can manage a few rainy days at a beach resort or in a bustling city, what happens if your flights are delayed?
If you’re going to book a vacation during the rainy season in hopes of saving on room rates, book a longer vacation. You’ll have more flexibility when it comes to airport delays and rainy days that trap you indoors.
How to insure your trip against rain showers
Even if you avoid traveling to a destination during its rainy season, you might still face downpours and unexpected rainy days. If you’re worried about missing out on expensive tours, outdoor adventures, and other significant activities, know that you can now purchase travel insurance that’s specific to rainy days—or even heat waves.
Unlike a comprehensive travel insurance policy, rainy-day policies reimburse you for events and experiences that you’ll miss out on, meaning you don’t need to go all-in on a larger policy if you don’t want to.
4 ideas to make the most of a vacation that’s ruined by rain
Downpours are hard to work around, but you have some options depending on what type of trip you’re on. Here are some ideas to make the most of your vacation based on where you’re staying.
- City trips: Cities are the most forgiving when it comes to working around rain. In fact, you might find a few hidden gems if you’re rained out of your original plans, from weird museums to unexpected shows. It’s also a great time to indulge in nightlife, since we tend not to rise early on rainy days.
- Resort getaways: Dive into programming and spa treatments at your resort—even smaller boutique resorts should have something on the docket. If heavy rain sweeps through, you might even see added indoor activities for guests to enjoy, like movie nights. It’s also a great time to speak to the concierge about getting off the resort with a rain-proof tour, like visiting a rum distillery or doing a paint-and-sip class.
- Remote country escapes: Let’s say you slip off to a cozy and remote cabin near a national park—how can you stay entertained and happy? If you’re renting a home, reach out to the hosts for ideas and suggestions. They may have fielded similar calls before, so to speak. They can also point you to any board games, record players, and similar amenities around the rental.
- Adventures out in nature: Unfortunately, there’s no clear workaround if you’re out camping for the weekend and rainstorms sweep through the area. You might want to cut your losses sooner rather than later. Remember that rain patterns today, according to NASA, are fewer in number but heavier in terms of total rainfall. On the bright side, many camping grounds in rural areas have excellently wacky side quests and roadside attractions that are sure to make you smile, or at least have a sunnier outlook on how things panned out.