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Even the most experienced travelers can’t control weather while on vacation. My solution to this is to be extra prepared so unpleasant weather won’t ruin my sightseeing. Here’s what I bring on every vacation to be prepared for the rain:
- Raincoat
I’m talking a waterproof jacket here… not a windbreaker or a water-resistant jacket. The coat I brought with me to Italy was “water-resistant”, but after a torrential downpour in Pisa, it was evident that there is a very big difference between those two categories. I recently purchased a Resolve 2 Waterproof Packable Rain Jacket by The North Face and found it extremely handy on my last trip to Europe for not only combating the rain, but also blocking the wind. - Umbrella
I like to pack a mini travel umbrella that I can toss into my purse or camera bag. This is helpful if I don’t have my raincoat and get stuck in a light to medium rainfall. The perk of the mini umbrella is that it takes up very little space, and is light to carry around all trip. The con of a mini-umbrella is that they tend to not hold up well in strong winds. - Extra closed-toed shoes
I visited England, Ireland and Scotland in May/June and was quite concerned that I didn’t have waterproof shoes or boots to bring with me. I made sure I had somewhat water resistant closed-toed shoes, and a back-up pair of walking shoes (like these Keds) if I needed to let the first pair dry out for a day. Luckily, even after a full day of rain, I switched to the back-up pair and continued to enjoy my holiday. - Extra socks
I also like to bring an extra pair of socksin my purse or backpack. Sometimes if your shoes have soaked-through, simply changing your socks can help alleviate that terrible soggy feeling.
- Poncho/zip lock bags
Sometimes I will pack certain items in zip lock bags in my purse or backpack to protect against rain. I also carry a few plastic bags around because I’m a bit paranoid like that – you never know when you will need one! The ponchos I buy are usually folded up to the size of a deck of cards and are handy if you are carrying a large backpack or purse; you can easily wrap this around your item to keep it (and its contents) dry in a downpour.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but sometimes nothing will help you – especially when the rain is coming down in sheets and on an angle. In this case, I suggest finding a restroom with hand dryers (I’ve done this numerous times!) or head back to your hotel to change or blow-dry wet garments.
Do you have suggestions to keep dry on vacation? Share them in the comment section below!
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