10/22/2026
🌎 This week’s hot topic: Climate change and travel
Climate change is increasingly shaping what happens once we arrive, from low river levels and melting ice to extreme heat, flooding and shifting seasons. These changes affect transportation, accommodations, activities and access to some of the world’s most popular destinations.
As I enter my 35th year in the travel industry, I’m seeing more reasons than ever to plan with flexibility and local insight. The traditional “best time to go” is evolving, and travelers may need to rethink when they visit, where they stay and what they can realistically expect.
Here are just a few examples:
🚢 European river cruises: Drought and dangerously low water levels on parts of the Rhine and Danube have forced cruise lines to adjust itineraries, swap ships and arrange buses or hotel stays when sections become impassable.
🧭 Expedition cruises: Changing sea conditions, melting ice, storms and unpredictable weather can affect routes and landing sites. Shore excursions may be changed or canceled when conditions become unsafe, making flexibility especially important in remote destinations.
🐘 African safaris: Severe flooding has damaged roads and camps in some regions, limiting access to wildlife areas. Heavy rains can also create thicker vegetation and cause animals to spread out, making sightings more challenging.
🏛️ Europe’s iconic attractions: Sizzling temperatures are changing sightseeing plans. Even the Louvre has shortened its hours during heat waves to protect visitors and staff. That museum afternoon may need a rethink.
☕ European cafés: A sidewalk café sounds lovely until you’re sitting in sizzling heat with little shade. Moving indoors may not offer relief either, since some traditional cafés and restaurants don’t have air conditioning. Planning meals for cooler hours and choosing shaded terraces or air-conditioned dining rooms can make a big difference.
🏨 Hotel comfort: Properties in places that rarely needed air conditioning now face growing pressure to install or upgrade cooling systems. “We’ve never needed it before” offers little comfort when temperatures soar.
✈️ Airlines: Extreme heat can affect aircraft performance, especially during takeoff. Because hot air is less dense, airlines may need to reduce passenger loads, limit fuel or cargo, adjust departure times and make other operational changes to ensure safe takeoffs.
🔥 Tours and activities: Heat waves are prompting some tours to be shortened, rescheduled or canceled, particularly walking tours and outdoor activities with limited shade or cooling. Travelers should build flexibility into their itineraries and confirm plans closer to departure.
🏔️ Nepal: Retreating glaciers, flooding and landslides are creating additional challenges for mountain communities and tourism, affecting roads, trekking routes and access to some destinations.
🌿 Cooler destinations and “coolcation” demand: Interest in Norway, Iceland, Patagonia, Finland, Switzerland and Alaska is growing as travelers seek relief from the heat. Switzerland offers refreshing alpine air, mountain scenery, lakes and higher-elevation escapes, while Alaska provides long summer days, glaciers, wildlife and cooler temperatures. This demand, along with longer periods of comfortable weather, is creating opportunities to extend tourism seasons.
What does this mean for travelers?
It means looking beyond the traditional “best time to go.” Timing, hotel amenities, local expertise and flexibility all deserve a closer look. It may also mean choosing destinations where the weather is more comfortable and outdoor activities remain enjoyable.
I just spent July in Norway 🇳🇴, the perfect summer “coolcation,” with refreshing temperatures, stunning scenery, long daylight hours and plenty of comfortable outdoor activities.
After nearly 35 years, I’m still learning and adapting how I plan for my clients at Island Travel Boutique LLC. The destinations we love are changing, and thoughtful planning matters more than ever.
Would you change your travel dates or choose a cooler destination, such as Norway, Switzerland or Alaska, to avoid extreme heat?
