Travel by Mood -Choosing a Winter Destination That Fits How You Feel

Winter travel doesn’t always begin with a destination — it begins with a feeling. A desire for warmth, quiet, inspiration, or rest. When you travel by mood, you’re not chasing peak season or checking boxes. You’re choosing a place that supports the season you’re in.

Finding serenity in every mood: Cozy up by a warm fire with a good book, embrace tranquility through yoga, or enjoy a joyful stroll on a girls' trip with a friend.

This winter, instead of asking Where should I go? try asking How do I want to feel when I get there?

Below, you’ll find a short Travel by Mood quiz, followed by destination recommendations — each paired with places to stay that bring the feeling to life.

Take the Travel by Mood Quiz

How should you travel this winter? Answer the questions below and note which letter you choose most often.

1. Your ideal winter morning on vacation looks like:

• A. Coffee by the fire or watching the weather roll in

• B. A quiet walk with no agenda

• C. A museum, gallery, or historic site

• D. Sleeping in, followed by gentle exploration

2. Your preferred travel pace in winter is:

• A. Cozy and unstructured

• B. Minimal and reflective

• C. Curious and engaged

• D. Slow and restorative

3. When you return home, you most want to feel:

• A. Reconnected and warmed

• B. Clear-headed and grounded

• C. Inspired and enriched

• D. Rested and renewed

4. Choose a winter evening ritual:

• A. Wine by the fire or listening to the rain

• B. Reading, journaling, or long conversation

• C. A thoughtful dinner followed by a walk

• D. Early night, deep sleep, quiet mornings

✨ Your Results

• Mostly A’s → Cozy & Romantic

• Mostly B’s → Quiet & Reflective

• Mostly C’s → Cultural & Curious

• Mostly D’s → Slow & Restorative

Scroll to your result below.

Cozy & Romantic

You’re craving warmth, intimacy, and shared experience.

🇺🇸 Jackson, Wyoming

Jackson in winter feels like a true retreat. Snow softens the landscape, fireplaces glow, and days unfold quietly against the Tetons. Evenings naturally draw inward — shared meals, warm drinks, and unhurried conversation.

Where to stay:

• Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa

• Hotel Jackson

🌍 Tofino, British Columbia

Tofino in winter is romantic in a wild, elemental way. Storm watching replaces sightseeing, fires burn steadily inside cedar-scented lodges, and the Pacific feels vast and hypnotic.

Where to stay:

• Wickaninnish Inn

• Middle Beach Lodge

Quiet & Reflective

You’re drawn to stillness, perspective, and space.

🇺🇸 Big Sur, California

Big Sur in winter is powerful and contemplative. The coastline grows dramatic, the roads quiet, and the landscape encourages stillness.

Where to stay:

• Post Ranch Inn

• Ventana Big Sur

🌍 Bath, England

Bath feels introspective in winter — stone streets glowing at dusk, steam rising from ancient baths, and a pace that rewards wandering without urgency.

Where to stay:

• The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

• No.15 by GuestHouse

Cultural & Curious

You travel to learn, observe, and engage.

🇺🇸 Washington D.C.

Winter brings Washington, D.C. into focus. Museums feel expansive and unhurried, monuments take on quiet grandeur, and the city rewards thoughtful exploration.

Where to stay:

• The Jefferson Hotel

• The Hay-Adams

🌍 Florence, Italy

Florence in winter feels wonderfully human-scaled. With fewer visitors, art and architecture become experiences rather than attractions.

Where to stay:

• Hotel Lungarno

• Portrait Firenze

Slow & Restorative

You’re ready to reset — body, mind, and rhythm.

🇺🇸 Ojai, California

Ojai in winter is restorative without being sleepy. Wellness takes center stage, and days unfold gently.

Where to stay:

• Ojai Valley Inn

• Su Nido Inn

🌍 Provence, France

Provence in winter returns to local rhythms. Villages feel lived-in, markets personal, and beauty reveals itself quietly.

Where to stay:

• La Bastide de Gordes

• Crillon le Brave