Vacations in the rain

Today’s article, about how to manage when the climate doesn’t give a hoot about your vacation plans, was prompted by two separate events:

1️⃣ My recent adventure in a very wet Zacatlán, Mexico (photo above was taken in nearby Puebla one recent rainy October night)

2️⃣ The news that on 20th Nov, in Spain, Cádiz and nearby coastal towns will take part in a tsunami/earthquake drill. This is designed to test how the region’s population and emergency services will respond should an earthquake the size of the Lisbon 1755 catastrophe ever hit the peninsula.

(While there’s no imminent threat, it’s good to see that these things are taken seriously. Even while we as individuals might be doing as much as we can to care for our planet, without massive change at industrial and governmental levels, we all know we’re going to be seeing more and more severe climactic / geological events.)

So maybe Tlalóc or Chaac (the Aztec and Maya rain gods) decide to drop in on our vacation uninvited. What do we do then?

Personally, I always fully believe it’s going to be sunny and warm no matter the season or location so I’ve had to learn to methodically prepare myself before I travel.

Maybe you’re thinking this is a little odd for a British person who clearly has to have grown up with an umbrella glued to their hand. Maybe you’re thinking that this weirdo should be well versed in grey skies, rainy days, and changeable weather patterns?

Well, maybe I should, but still, rainy days take me by surprise every single time.

And I don’t think I’m alone, I reckon that most of us imagine that our vacation will be spent under blue skies, bathed in dappled sunlight, feeling a pleasant warmth on our skin.

Sadly, it doesn’t always work out this way. So let’s take a look at how to manage and mitigate the rain.

📲 Weather apps - use them before you travel to ensure you pack accordingly. Don’t assume that because you’re visiting somewhere like Sevilla or Mérida that it’s going to be sunny because even these cities can be hit by severe rain storms. You can also ask about current weather in FB local travel groups, too but if you do, be prepared to wade through hundreds of people telling you about their experience last year rather than yesterday 😉.

🧳 Pack smart - so you’ve looked at the app and now it’s time to pack. If you know it’ll rain, bring spare shoes and trousers, rain coat, and if you have space, an umbrella. Of course, unless you’re going super remote, you’ll most likely be able to pick up an umbrella once you’re at your destination if you can’t fit one in your bag.

🎒 Another super useful item to carry is a waterproof bag protector, I have one and it is invaluable when I’m out adventuring.

My European Gore-Tex raincoat did not stand up well recently against a 4-day storm in Mexico. I ended up wrapping a plastic tablecloth around me until I could get to the shops to buy a $50 peso poncho, which protected me better than my jacket.

☔️ Alter your expectations - so if this won’t be a beachy/outdoorsy trip, what will it be? Read blogs, and ask at the hotel reception, to figure out what can you do instead. For sure there will be museums and galleries you haven’t thought of, and maybe you’ll find a class to take or a day trip to somewhere that won’t be rainy (I always use GetYourGuide and Viator to find trips and classes. And yes, these are affiliate links). It really is about expectations and attitude.

☕️ Hole up in coffee shops/bars - you may be surprised at how much fun this is and how much it makes you feel ‘like a local’. There’s nothing like sitting with a hot cup of coffee (ok, or a glass of wine) in front of you, watching the rain through steamed up windows. The same goes for meals - spend longer in restaurants, embrace the Spanish idea of ‘sobremesa’, wherever you’re travelling, and sit and relax after lunch, accepting you’re not going anywhere until the rains let up.

🛌 Start your day later - relax in bed without feeling guilty that you’re not out exploring. This is a vacation after all. The rain is actually helping you chill out!

⭐️ Find indoor activities - it might not be your usual vacation idea of fun but you could head to a local spa if you’re travelling without kids. Or if you do have kids or teens with you, consider trampoline parks, climbing walls, cinemas and even supermarkets - it’s always interesting to see what they look like in other countries, right?

And my favourite of all:

☔️ Embrace the rain and go out anyway - there’s something so special about being outside when everyone else has decided to stay inside. In a city like Sevilla, you get the generally busy streets to yourself, in bigger cities like Madrid, the streets are noticeably quieter. If it starts raining while you’re already out, take shelter where the locals do - under shop awnings (photo below was taken by me recently in Puebla while I waited out a storm I was absolutely not prepared for).

🐄 And if you’re in the countryside, you’re probably going to be all alone with the splendour of nature so lean into it. We’re animals, and nature is our home too.

I say, embrace the rain since we can’t change it, once you’re wet, you’re wet. Enjoy the peace, take photos of reflections in puddles, let the rain fall on you, smile, laugh and even dance in the puddles. Why not, right? You enjoyed it as a kid, why wouldn’t you enjoy it now?

⚠️ In particularly adverse weather, some places might close to keep citizens and visitors safe (this has been happening more and more in Spain, for example, after the awful flooding in Valencia last year). Please keep this in mind.

That’s all great, you’re thinking, but then I go back to my hotel room and I have wet clothes. That’s no fun.

Yeah, you’re right, it’s not super fun but it is manageable even if you’re not staying anywhere with a tumble dryer.

🥾 Shoes can be dried by stuffing them with newspaper. Talcum powder can be useful as it removes some mild damp and any damp related odours. Removing the insoles also helps them to dry out quicker.

👕 Clothes can be dried by hanging them up and hoping for the best. Better yet, take clothes to a laundrette if you have the time - 20 minutes in an industrial dryer will work wonders.

♨️ If you’re lucky you’ll have access to a radiator. I remember spending a long time in a café in Berlin drying out my shoes on a radiator while I warmed up with a coffee.

Have you got any other great wet weather travel tips?

🇲🇽 And, of course on an entirely unrelated but equally important note, don’t forget that I’ve joined forces with the awesome Lupita Overland Tours to lead a group tour in Mexico in Feb 2026. We’ll be travelling from Chiapas to Quintana Roo visiting archaeological sites, towns, waterfalls, cenotes, rivers, lagunas and so much more.

→ If you might like to join us, check out the full itinerary and details here