Travel Trend: Fire and Ice Vacations

With infinite vacation options and inspiration coming at us in all forms — e.g., social media, email blasts, ads — it can be difficult to decide where to begin when planning a holiday. We want to cram as much as possible into our limited vacation days but we don’t want to visit places too far from each other so as to avoid missing out on anything due to extra travel time. A new trend made its way on to the travel scene and combines the best of both worlds: cold snowy scapes and hot, sunny beaches.

Known as “fire and ice vacations,” these cold/hot holidays may seem like a nearly impossible feat considering most destinations largely experience one climate that only really varies with the seasons. But there are a handful of destinations that let travelers squeeze in a cold winter holiday plus a hot summer getaway, so long as you’re willing to put in the planning.

The best destinations for dual-climate experiences start in New Zealand, where the southern island boasts relaxing beaches as well as skiing, glacier walking and other cold-weather activities. A similar dual climate exists on the northernmost and southernmost tips of Japan: The former features mountains, hot springs and snow for winter sports, while a four-hour flight takes you to the southern beaches. Other regions that offer these two vastly differing climates and thus expand the opportunities for activities are Chile, Southern Spain and even Hawai’i.