coolcation

plural coolcations

1. informalA vacation spent in a place with a colder climate to avoid unpleasantly hot weather.

   More holidaymakers are opting to spend their summer vacations on “coolcations” in the Nordic countries as traditional tourist hotspots in southern Europe endure successive waves of extreme heat as a result of climate change.

   2026 July 25, Mari Novik, Stephanie Stacey, “Heat spurs demand for Nordic ‘coolcations’”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2

   3 more examples

   For the vast majority of folks, summer holidays used to be about following the sun, seeking the heat—watching the mercury climb and hitting the sands. With the intense, record-breaking temperatures of recent years, however, many are considering traveling in the opposite direction: booking "coolcations" in temperate destinations, which also benefit from being less crowded.

   2023 December 30, Sarah Allard, “The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2024”, in Condé Nast Traveller, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2024

   The emerging trend for “coolcations” means that more tourists are heading to Scandinavia to avoid the Mediterranean’s searing temperatures, droughts and wildfires. While diversification may be a good thing, simply flying north instead of south isn’t.

   2024 May 28, Rachel Dixon, “Be a better tourist! 28 ways to have a fantastic holiday – without infuriating the locals”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 14 Jul 2024

   The word is “coolcation,” and in an industry that has never met a trend it couldn’t slap a portmanteau onto, the term refers to the growing number of travelers who are avoiding the heat of traditional summer spots in favor of chillier climes. In Europe, as heat waves close the Acropolis in Athens and spark wildfires in Spain and Portugal, coolcations are driving tourists to Nordic countries. But in a region that takes pride in environmental and social sustainability, the development is prompting as much concern as celebration.

   2025 August 20, Lisa Abend, “In Norway, Are ‘Coolcations’ Taking a Toll?”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Aug 2025