The weather forecast is becoming the most important part of travel planning.
The idyllic image of a perfect summer vacation is being increasingly threatened by a new and unpredictable reality: extreme weather. The relentless headlines of 2025—from raging wildfires in the Mediterranean to record-breaking heatwaves in the American West and devastating floods in Asia—are forcing a fundamental reassessment of how and when we travel. The concept of a “dream destination” is becoming fraught with risk.
This isn’t just about a rained-out beach day; it’s about a new era of travel defined by caution, flexibility, and a deep awareness of our planet’s changing climate.
1. The “shoulder season” is the new prime time.
The traditional peak travel season of July and August is becoming the season to avoid in many parts of the world. The risk of encountering extreme, life-threatening heatwaves in popular destinations like Southern Europe or the southern United States is now a major deterrent. Stories of tourists being evacuated from Greek islands due to wildfires or suffering from heatstroke in Italy have become all too common, Time Out Worldwide reports.
As a result, smart travelers are shifting their plans to the “shoulder seasons” of spring and fall. These periods now offer the pleasant weather that summer once promised, along with the added benefit of fewer crowds and often lower prices.
2. They are choosing destinations based on climate resilience.
Travelers are now actively considering a destination’s climate resilience before booking. This means looking at long-term risks like sea-level rise for coastal areas, drought conditions for resort areas dependent on water, and the general stability of the local climate. A beautiful beach resort is less appealing if it’s in a region known for increasingly powerful hurricanes, according to The Conversation.
This new risk assessment is pushing people toward destinations that are perceived as more stable and less prone to climate-related disruptions, fundamentally changing the map of desirable travel spots.
3. “Cancel for any reason” insurance is now a must-have.
In this new era of unpredictability, standard travel insurance is often not enough. Most basic policies will not cover you if you decide to cancel a trip due to a bad weather forecast or the threat of a wildfire. As a result, savvy travelers are now opting for more expensive “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policies.
This is the only type of insurance that provides the flexibility to back out of a non-refundable trip due to a growing sense of risk. It represents a significant new cost in the travel budget, a necessary expense to protect against losing thousands of dollars, as mentioned by EscapeArtist.
4. Last-minute booking is replacing long-term planning.
The old wisdom of booking your vacation a year in advance to get the best deals is being replaced by a new, more cautious approach. Many travelers are now waiting until much closer to their departure date to book their trips. This allows them to monitor the long-range weather and environmental forecasts for their intended destination and to pivot if necessary.
They would rather pay a little more for a last-minute flight than risk booking a non-refundable trip to a destination that is in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave or is choked with wildfire smoke.
5. “Climate havens” are becoming the new hotspots.
As traditional warm-weather destinations become riskier, a new category of “climate haven” destinations is seeing a surge in popularity. These are places known for their mild, stable, and less extreme weather, especially in the summer. Locations like the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes region, Scandinavia, and even parts of Canada are becoming the new summer hotspots.
Travelers are now prioritizing comfort and safety over the guarantee of scorching heat. They are seeking out destinations where they can enjoy the outdoors without the constant threat of a climate-related disaster, a major shift in the geography of travel.
6. On-the-ground behavior is changing to adapt to the heat.
Instead of just hoping for the best, travelers are now actively planning their daily itineraries to be more resilient to extreme weather, particularly heat. This means adopting a siesta-like schedule in hot destinations, planning all outdoor activities and sightseeing for the cooler hours of the early morning and late evening.
The hot, middle part of the day, from noon to 4 p.m., is now reserved for indoor activities like visiting a museum, taking a nap, or relaxing in an air-conditioned cafe. This is a more mindful and adaptive approach to travel that acknowledges that the weather is no longer a predictable backdrop.
7. The “staycation” is making a major comeback.
The combination of high costs and the unpredictability of the climate is leading many to rediscover the joys of traveling closer to home. A regional road trip or a “staycation” exploring your own city or state eliminates the risk of a major weather event in a foreign country ruining a very expensive trip. It’s a lower-stakes, more flexible, and more sustainable way to take a break.
Here in California, for example, many are skipping international flights in favor of exploring the diverse landscapes of our own state, from the mountains to the deserts.