While we may be approaching the winter months in most countries around the world, that certainly doesn't mean that tourism numbers are going to dwindle in the majority of destinations. In fact, some people actually prefer to head away to these cold locations, if only for a change of pace from the stereotypical hot holidays that we so often see advertised on the television and online.

Either way, though, whether you're interested in hot holidays or cold ones, there are negative connotations attached to both. This isn't going to be an attempt to detract you from either, and it's quite the contrary - we want you to go out and experience the world for everything it has to offer, regardless of whether you're going on a caravan getaway in your own country or you're flying halfway around the planet.

We just want to ensure that you know about the biggest red flags that you're going to encounter, prior to you actually encountering them. Some of the entries you'll read will probably frighten you a little bit more than others, but we can virtually guarantee that all of them are solvable in one way or another.

For us, personally, it doesn't matter where we're going because the list of possibilities really is endless. The aim, solely, is to make sure that everyone heading away doesn't fall into the same traps that so many have before them. These aren't going to be 'travel hacks' or 'things nobody knows', it's just common knowledge things that need to be taken into consideration.

20 HOT: Busy Beaches - How Frustrating

Aside from the frustration of getting sand in between your toes, the most annoying thing about going to the beach is probably how crowded it can be. If you want to just sit back and relax for the day, that's going to be really difficult to do when kids are kicking a ball around directly next to your head.

Of course, they're completely free to do as they please and we've done it ourselves back in the day, but you're probably better off heading to a rooftop pool or your own hotel pool if that's the kind of vibe you're going for.

19 COLD: Icy Walkways - Be Careful

It's something we all take for granted even when we're walking down the street in our own village, town or city, and when we're on holiday, it's probably the last thing that we'd think about. Still, icy footpaths are a real danger, especially if you can't notice it whilst you're in the process of walking.

This is particularly dangerous after you've had a drink and while we know that the majority of folks here wouldn't dream of walking down roads like this on their own just to try their luck, that doesn't go for everyone. Some people give it a go, and they wind up regretting it.

18 HOT: Bugs - Go Away Mosquitos

Nobody likes being stung, bitten or even being visited by bugs at the best of times, but it's even more frustrating when you're trying to relax on your holiday. There are only really a handful of things you can do to combat this which is even more annoying in itself, but you still need to give yourself the best chance of having a great time.

There are certain sprays and suncreams that can be used to keep them away, as long as you're willing to stump up the necessary cash. Even if you aren't, it's just a case of building some kind of tolerance, because otherwise you could be in for a bit of a rude awakening.

17 COLD: Cold Weather Clothes - Too Much Stuff

The suitcase allowances that come with both cheap and expensive holidays are always going to cause some friction, mainly because if you feel like you've packed too much, then you probably have. With cold holidays, especially if you're going skiing, that can be even more of an issue than usual.

The reason for that is you may want to try and get a cheaper baggage allowance when in reality, that probably won't be possible. You often need to fit so many different items into your bag purely because of how many extra layers you need to wear, which probably isn't going to be a problem if you're heading over to the Maldives.

16 HOT: Sunburn - Unfortunate Reality

It doesn't matter whether you've forgotten to put it on or you just didn't top it up enough - because sunburn is going to get you one way or another. It's a harsh reality that so many people face when they least expect it, and it can seriously impact what kind of holiday you wind up having.

If you're stuck with a bad sunburn on day two or three then you probably aren't going to be too eager about going outside, unless there happens to be some kind of random tropical storm that comes your way. Whatever the case may be, just make sure you've got some factor 50 ready and waiting.

15 COLD: Flight Problems - Delays, Delays

Flight delays are a big part of the airport process, and it's something that everyone who travels (at some stage) will probably have to deal with. Instead of moaning about it you just need to deal with it, especially if you're going away on a cold holiday.

The reason we say that is because most of the time, if that's the type of getaway you're planning, then in all likelihood you're going to be going during the winter months. By default, courtesy of the weather, more flights (especially if they are budget airlines) will experience complications that could hinder your plans.

14 HOT: Sweat - Ew, Ew, Ew

Sweating is hardly an enjoyable experience for anyone, but it can be especially annoying if you're trying to enjoy a nice, relaxing holiday. If you're sat in the sun by the pool all day then it's something that you're probably going to expect, but the same can't be said of walking five yards outside of your hotel.

If you aren't great in hot temperatures, then it's pretty simple, either don't go on holiday to roasting destinations or just plan accordingly ahead of time. You'd think that these are things we wouldn't have to say out loud, but you would be surprised.

13 COLD: Unpredictable Weather - What’s Next?

We've arrived at another entry that should probably go without saying, in the form of weather changes. From the snow to the wind to the rain to the downright cold temperatures, you never can be too sure what you're going to be dealing with - especially if you're on either a skiing holiday or in a European city.

You can go ahead and check all of the weather apps you want, because we can virtually guarantee that they aren't going to be 100% accurate. Sure, they will be some of the time, but do you really want to take that chance?

12 HOT: Dehydration - A Difficult Reality

The above image may be a little bit overdramatic, but you can see where we're coming from, right?

Dehydration can be sprung on you at any time, even if you're feeling completely fine one minute and then you aren't the next. There are so many complications associated with it that you really should try and avoid it the best you can, with the number one piece of advice being for you to avoid overdoing it in anything you may be doing when away in a hot destination.

Once again, these are really obvious pieces of advice that we're putting out there, but you'd be baffled by the number of people that still don't seem to possess the ability to follow simple instructions.

If we sound snobby, then we apologise, but we just aren't big fans of people getting ill.

11 COLD: Dry Lips - Get That Chapstick

Whether you call it lip balm or chapstick, it doesn't matter, because having dry lips sucks no matter which way you define it. If you haven't had the misfortune of dealing with dry lips throughout the course of your life then we truly do envy you, because we wouldn't wish it on our worst enemy.

Well, we might, but that's beside the point. As long as you have some chapstick handy then you should be absolutely fine when it comes to dealing with it, although initially, you may have to deal with some discomfort while you get used to it.

10 HOT: Busy Tourist Spots - Very Crowded

Whether you're going to the markets or to a few museums and shops, popular tourist spots will almost always be very busy during peak times - especially if they're inside. At least when you go to the beach there's a virtual guarantee that you'll get a spot somewhere, but the same kind be said of everywhere else.

If you're on your feet then you could struggle with walking around, too, which is an activity that few would like to engage in when they've paid hundreds of pounds to relax.

If you want to walk for miles and miles on end, then perhaps a trip to Bordeaux, Budapest or Prague would be more up your street.

9 COLD: Adjust Your Expectations - No Warm Weather Here

This entry is really quite simple: if you go on a cold holiday, then please don't expect it to be anything remotely like a hot holiday. They are completely different experiences, and that'll become painfully evident to you from the minute you step off of the plane.

You need to do a lot of things yourself by comparison, especially given that most tourists tend to go for all-inclusive deals when they go away. You're still going to have a great time, but you need to be able to manage your expectations instead of just booking somewhere for the sake of it.

8 HOT: Irritable - It’s True, It’s Damn True

We really enjoy sitting and basking in the glory of the hot sunshine, but it can be a bit of a mood changer. The increased temperatures can directly impact your ability to do certain things, and if you're on holiday with other people, that could lead to some real friction.

Obviously, it all depends on what kind of person you are and how you deal with instances such as these, but the point remains. Sure, being freezing cold isn't exactly ideal either, but at least you get to cuddle up to the people that you love in the process, right? You can't take your skin off, folks.

7 COLD: The Flu - Prepare Yourself

You can get the flu when you are located somewhere hot, and that's something you should know even if you flunked out of school. Alas, as a direct comparison, it's much more likely that you're going to be under the weather if you spend a lot of time somewhere cold.

If you're more susceptible to that kind of thing than the average citizen, then it might be a good idea to either wrap up warm or budget what hours of the day you spend outside. When it gets to night time, you're probably better off sitting in front of the fire (or turning the heating on if you happen to be staying in a hotel instead of an Airbnb).

6 HOT: More Liquids - Pack Heavy

It's truly astonishing how many people don't understand how the liquid bags at airports work. All it takes is a quick Google to actually figure it out, and even when that's been done, people still insist upon dragging their feet once they eventually get to security.

Anyway, if you're going away on a hot holiday, then there's a good chance that you'll need to pack more liquids than you would for, yes you guessed it, a cold holiday. From mini sun cream to different kinds of lotion, you'll probably have to try and make some more room for it all.

5 COLD: Bringing You Down - Pathetic Fallacy

Just like the sun can cause you to get a little bit irritable, the cold weather and dull atmosphere that comes with that is more than capable of causing you to get depressed or down.

Perhaps if you're heading somewhere around Christmas time it wouldn't necessarily be quite as bad, but that isn't always the case. Some people can only afford to go away at certain points during the year, and therefore, this can prove to be a real risk.

If it gets too bad then you should always consider cutting your holiday short, or at the very least, just focus on doing things that will actually make you happy throughout the days you're there.

4 HOT: Hotel Specifics - No A/C, No Vacation

Air conditioning is absolutely vital for a hotel that you stay in abroad because otherwise, there's a very good chance that you won't even be able to sleep. We always say that you can do a lot of things to make you more comfortable when you're cold in bed, but when it's the other way around, you can't take your skin off. Fact.

So while you may be able to cheap out on certain hotels for cold holidays, that isn't the case when you're away in somewhere tropical. It needs to have certain amenities that some destinations just won't have, otherwise, you could find yourself being stuck in a real pickle.

3 COLD: Less Daylight - Night Time At 5

If you're going somewhere that has a lit up skyline then this won't be too much of an issue, but it's still worth noting. A lot of the time you'll probably jet off on holiday to a destination where it stays light until around 8 or 9pm, but sometimes, it could be much earlier than that.

Walking around in the evening is a scary prospect for some people and that's no joke, especially in major cities and tourist destinations where thieves can be quite regular visitors. We aren't saying this to scare you, but just to throw a few warnings out there.

2 HOT: Footwear - So Much To Think about

When you go on a cold holiday there's a good chance that you'll pack a maximum of two pairs of shoes, regardless of how long you're going for. It's a solid amount, you can bring wellies if there's a lot of snow and water to deal with, and it saves room on packing.

With hot holidays, however, you have to pack for everything. From regular flip flops to beach flip flops to casual shoes to nice shoes for going out and beyond, there is an abundance of options - and that's just on the male side of things. It's a whole different ball game if you're a female.

1 COLD: Restrictions On Attractions - Not Much Open

This kind of thing goes for attractions, but as well as that, there are probably even some shops that won't open under certain conditions. Take Cornwall in England for example: a large portion of the tourist spots there aren't even in business throughout the winter months, because the money stems from the summer.

That can be said for many other destinations, too, and it's something that isn't likely to change any time soon. So when it comes to doing your research ahead of finalising your trip, you really need to ensure that you've checked out all of the specifics beforehand.