Samantha Brown’s Expert Winter Travel Tips, Favorite Places to Visit

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Mon December 2, 2024

We all need a little advice sometimes, and winter travel is sure to bring up some questions about what to pack, what not to pack, and what we should consider as we enter the busy holiday travel season.

Samantha Brown, Travel Expert and Two-Time Emmy Award-Winning TV Host of Places to Love, shared her own expertise for traveling this winter, along with some of her favorite destinations to visit during the long season.

With her eighth season of Places to Love premiering this January on PBS, Brown has more than enough insider info to help travelers prepare for their upcoming trips, whether it be on an enchanting European river cruise or a frigid Midwest frolic.

Winter Travel Weather Concerns

Airliner on runway in blizzard, snow, ice, plane,

One of the biggest concerns travelers have about winter travel is the weather: more specifically, how it might impact their travel plans, and how to pack. Brown gives advice on both concerns.

“There's no way to know what the weather will be when you book your flight,” said Samantha Brown. “But about a week before you leave, start paying close attention to the weather. If you see inclement weather coming, create a Plan B sheet of two to three alternatives you may have such as a later or earlier flight option. And another really key thing to remember is if you will be driving in a mountainous area, understand from locals what the conditions are and if it might be safer to hold off on leaving that certain day. If you do take the risk, make sure you have some sort of emergency kit, just in case.”

Packing for cold weather can also be challenging, but Samantha always makes sure to pack a few different things, from a merino wool top, leggings and socks to winter boots. She also recommends a hydrating stick you can use for your face, lips and hands to protect against bitter cold weather.

Tips for Traveling to Europe in Winter

For those heading to Europe specifically, she recommends bringing along a waterproof jacket and boots due to wetter weather—“not just ‘weather resistant,’” said Brown.

Brown is godmother of AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna river ship and hosts around one river cruise each year. She also provided some information on what it’s like to sail in winter in Europe.

“Because of my partnership with AmaWaterways I’ve been able to sail on six cruises, including a Rhine cruise that sailed in December. Europe in the winter is such a delight as it’s calmer and more laid back. It feels like it’s just you and the locals and this allows you to savor your time more and really connect with the destination,” said Samantha.

“A lot of the food that we look forward to while in Europe seems geared more towards colder weather as well,” she continued. “Hungarian Goulash, Vienna’s Tafelspitz, Raclette in Switzerland and then there’s the café culture that allows you to warm up in a cozy café and stay as long as you like.”

Traveling Within the U.S. in Winter

Having traveled extensively in winter across the U.S., Samantha Brown recommends one important thing for when a traveler visits somewhere warm in or around the U.S. this year: bring a coat along.

“If you’re flying somewhere warm, always bring a jacket for cold weather and pack gloves and a hat,” she said. “You never know the weather you could be returning to, and you don’t want to be totally unprepared for a snowstorm while coming back from a trip to Puerto Rico.”

(As someone who didn’t pack a coat after returning from a cruise and was welcomed home with an icy snowstorm one winter, I fully concur with Brown’s advice. Don’t just leave your winter coat in your car at the airport: it’ll only be frozen stiff upon your return.)

Samantha Brown’s Favorite Winter Weather Destinations

“I LOVE cold weather destinations,” said Samantha. “I love snow and the new outdoor activities it brings like skiing, snowshoeing. I still go sledding with my kids and I just bought ice skates for our family trip to Lake Placid in February. These places still see crowds but there’s a festive energy about it that I love!”

With the love of winter on her side, Brown has four favorite destinations that stand out for a winter holiday—and the destinations might just surprise you!

Vienna, Austria

Brown describes Vienna as “An urban winter fairy tale.”

“The winter is Vienna’s Ball Season, tickets are available to all and there’s nothing quite like getting dressed to the nines and dancing to a full orchestra. The city itself is glorious with a little snow and if you get cold you can visit palaces from the empire turned museums like Belvedere Palace, to 1,441-room Baroque Schonbrunn Palace. My favorite is the Austrian National Library located in the Hofburg Palace. Its Grand Hall knocks your socks off and the books are organized by size.”

Valais Region, Switzerland

“I’m not sure how I can pinpoint just one destination in Switzerland to enjoy in the winter but here it goes,” Samantha said. “With the exceptional train system it’s easy to enjoy many destinations, and on Lake Geneva you can start in the beautiful city of Geneva itself, then hop on the train to Corsier-sur-Vevey to visit Chaplin’s World as in Charlie Chaplin. Take part in any winter activity imaginable in the tiny mountain village of Nendaz. You can also head to Martigny, home to BarryLand where you can learn the history of and interact with Switzerland’s National Dog, the St. Bernard. You can even help take one for a walk!”

Madison, Wisconsin

While the capital city of Wisconsin might at first be a strange winter favorite for someone who’s traveled the world, Brown says “There’s just something about when a lake freezes over and creates an entirely new space that is simply mesmerizing.”

“Madison is a nice-sized city with a lot going on with food and culture,” she explains. “Stay at the Edgewater Hotel right on the lake and watch locals walk across it and university students cut a hole and jump into it. A must is to go to a Wisconsin supper club, an old-school dining experience that begins with an old fashioned.”

(As a Wisconsinite, I agree with all of this. Wisconsin is one of the only states in the nation still in love with supper clubs, and, like many northern places, we also love when our lakes freeze over—don’t be surprised to find people driving their trucks across a well-frozen lake here for some winter fun.)

Traverse City, Michigan

Brown also shares her love for another Midwest city: Traverse City, which she describes as a “lovely small city with a fantastic food and local wine scene.”

“Then there’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore which transforms in the winter—you can snowshoe, cross-country ski and go sledding,” she continued. “Make sure you stop by Leelanau Cheese for award-winning Raclette.”

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