Winter holiday driving advice – tips you need to know

It’s true that most people head off on holiday during the summer months. Endless sunshine and the guarantee of good weather are a huge draw for families and solo travelers alike. However, more people than ever are discovering how enjoyable and exciting a winter holiday can be.

Fewer crowds. Different activities to enjoy. Great food. Cozy nights in and crisp, fresh days in the winter air. Maybe you're driving to your winter holiday destination, or you're heading to the airport on winter roads, either way, you're going to need some winter driving advice. After all, the last thing you want is to get caught up in a car accident before you've even reached your destination. Click the link if you're looking for a car accident lawyer.

Read on some winter holiday driving advice.

Nami Island: Winter Sonata Adventure

On our fourth day in Korea, we rode a train to Gapyeong Station, the jump-off point to Nami Island. But on our way, I fell asleep on the train, and my travel buddy was too preoccupied on her phone. In a nutshell: we arrived an hour late, and we were all hungry. Getting lost in the middle of the frigid winter can be very challenging!

Good thing was, there were only a few tourists when we board the boat to Nami Island.

Searching for Seoul's Soul

And the soul-searching in Seoul continues...

Months before my winter escapade, a few people told me that there's nothing extraordinary about Seoul. It's just your typical first-world capital city filled with towering skyscrapers, western brands, and beauty clinics. No more, no less. So, I just kept my expectations low for this trip. Little did I know, this city offers more than what we always see on TV and on the internet.

Seoul Searching in South Korea

On our last night in Busan, I slept soundly even if my roommate claimed that our room was haunted. Ghosts and other paranormal entities were the least of my concern because I have a bigger and more sinister problem to face in the days to come - winter.

The following morning, we took a cab from our hotel to Nopo station since we still have lots of Korean Wons to burn (LOL), and from there, we rode a bus to Seoul. On our way to the station, we had a pleasant surprise. The snow was gently falling, and it was our first time to experience it! I can still vividly remember how I felt at that particular moment. The first five minutes was surreal and magical. Moments later, we hurriedly went inside the bus terminal and sought refuge from the biting cold.

My First Winter Experience: Busan, South Korea

Winter is fun to look at, but I was really hesitant to experience it because (i) I might not survive the bitter cold; (ii) I need to wear at least four layers of clothes; and (iii) I need a bigger luggage allowance. In short, it wasn't part of my travel plans for this year.

When the ground staff of Ngurah Rai International Airport told us that they were going to bump us off from our flight to Manila, we got furious. Upon seeing our disappointed faces, she reassured us that we'd be upgraded on a flight later that day, avail of a free one-night stay at their airport hotel, and the best part: a free roundtrip ticket to any regional destinations valid for six months!

I initially planned to fly to Kuala Lumpur and book another flight to Kathmandu but the cheapest was around PHP15k. Plan B was to book a trip to Singapore, and then book another flight to Bhutan, but it's even more expensive. I considered other options like Vietnam and Kota Kinabalu and explored its neighboring countries and provinces, but I was itching to try something new. Eventually, Korea came across my mind. Fast forward, I booked a flight to the Land of the Morning Calm.

My South Korean Adventure: An Overview

South Korea wasn't part of my travel plans this year. I wasn't ready to explore this part of the country, especially in the middle of their frigid winter. But, the tables have turned when we got bumped off from our flight to Manila from Denpasar last year. I had no choice but to avail their free roundtrip tickets to any regional destination before January 31st.

Since I have been craving for a new adventure, I chose Korea despite their harsh weather. Well, it turned out to be an amazing experience.

A Guide to Winter Sports in Asia

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Mention winter sports in a casual conversation and the chances are that the countries that will come up for discussion will include Canada, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, the United States and various Scandinavian countries. Yet there are many superb places to be found in Asia for winter sports.

One only need consider the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, in Russia's deep south and on the Black Sea coast, to recall that winter sports are enormously popular throughout the world, even in countries that don't get much, or indeed any snow or ice. The Jamaican bobsleigh team may spring to mind.

For winter sport enthusiasts looking for something a little different, here are few places in Asia that may be attractive.