Many of us like to escape the cold weather this time of year to vacation at a warm destination such as Florida, South Texas, California, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

I used to live in Philadephia, which sees its fair share of cold weather. There have been times when my husband and I have flown out of our airport, and the temperature was 0 degrees and snowing. Then we’d fly someplace warm, like Florida or Southern California, and the temperatures were 75 degrees and sunny.

It’s such a big transition to go from cold to hot temperatures.

And I’ve found it’s difficult to remember what to wear in various temperatures when you’re not currently in them.

When packing, that leads to an important question, what should I wear on a plane for a warm climate?

This post will give tips on what to wear when traveling from cold to hot weather.

Not only will these tips help you feel more comfortable on the plane, but you’ll also feel aptly dressed for your destination.

Most of all, these tips will keep you from overpacking too many bulky cold-weather items.

7 Must-Know Rules: When Traveling from Cold to Hot Weather

#1. Check the Weather

Before heading somewhere warm, check your destination's weather forecast and temperature!

It’s easy to assume it will be hot where you’re heading, but lately, the weather has been very unpredictable.

Checking the weather for the next ten days will help you plan accordingly.

In addition, it’s hard to remember what temperatures feel like when you’re not in them. So check articles like this, What to Wear in 60-Degree Weather, as a little refresher.

#2. Wear a packable down jacket or vest

Taking a substantial, bulky wool coat can fill an entire suitcase if you're leaving someplace cold. Instead, choose warm yet lightweight down jackets that may be packed in a suitcase or carry-on and take up very little space.

You can choose a coat or opt for a long-sleeved shirt or sweater paired with a down vest to get to the airport.

#3. Leave the hats, gloves, and scarves at home

Avoid wearing bulky accessories such as hats, gloves, and scarves if possible. They will also take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and you won’t need them once you arrive at your destination.

If it’s bitter cold and you still need some accessories, choose lighter-weight ones that won’t add a lot of bulk to your suitcase.

#4. Choose shoes WISELY

When leaving cold weather, you may be tempted to wear heavy boots to the airport. However, I recommend avoiding them if possible and opting for shoes that may be worn in both destinations. You also want to choose shoes that are comfortable for being on the plane.

Shoes that work for all of these situations include flats, slides or mules, sneakers, booties, and loafers.

#5. Dress in layers

Dressing in layers is my favorite way to transition from cold to warm weather because it allows you to adapt to whatever temperature you feel.

You’ll be able to peel off layers when you are on the plane and arrive at your warm destination. On the trip back to cold weather, you’ll be able to add layers as needed when you land.

Start with a tank or tee, add a mid-layer such as a sweatshirt, sweater, or button-down shirt, and the top layer can be a wrap, vest, blazer, jacket, or coat.

#6. Wear a wrap instead of a coat

Wraps have become my go-to staple for all airline travel, no matter the time of year.

In the instance of going from cold to warm weather, a wrap may be worn instead of a coat while you’re in the cold.

Then you can use it on the plane as a blanket, folded and used as a pillow, or just a light layer if needed.

#7. Plan to wear the same outfit on travel days

This is one of my favorite travel tricks!

Rather than adding a lot of bulk to your suitcase by packing an additional outfit for traveling home, plan to wear the same outfit you wore to travel to your destination.

I usually pack an additional pair of clean underwear, bra, tank top, and socks for the outfit but wear the same pants, tops, shoes, and jacket for the trip home.