THE HUNGER GAMES ARE HERE AND NOT GOING AWAY

After a sleepy year of pandemic malaise and quarantine, there was a noticeable shift in the force starting in February. I know not the origin of this major shift in my pandemic professional life, but I am grateful for it. The phone and emails have started to pour in, the inquiries, the conversations surrounding the joy of travel, and the bookings. And while many of us have experienced the “hunger games” effect of finding a vaccine appointment, I can tell you without a doubt, this effect is now entering the travel world. You are ALL hungry for travel and the demand is palatable. It is my hope that this blog post will answer the many similar questions I have been fielding. I also hope that you will be inspired to start booking your travel now, because if you do, the odds will forever be in your favor!

WHY IS TRAVEL TURNING A HARD CORNER?

Let’s do the math! First, thousands of people cancelled their trips in 2020 and most of those cancelled trips were given travel credits towards future travel. These travelers are the first to re-book and got the stone rolling down the hill. Their money is tied up in some fabulous location and they want to go! Next, and I can only speak to the US right now, our country is now rolling out 3 vaccines, and so by the summer it is predicted that more than half the US will have their shots, and thus, feel safer traveling. In anticipation of this change, people are booking their summer, fall and holiday travel NOW (I even have bookings for 2022). From my own experience, I have been busier these past ten weeks than probably my busiest time period in 2019.

Lastly, because we have been socially distant and confined for a year, the pent up demand is real. As reported today in the Wall Street Journal, Betsy Cole, 81, stated, “I’d rather travel than do almost anything,” Betsy has booked a flight to Boston to see family and friends in late spring and hopes to visit the British Virgin Islands for a sailing trip later this year. She also booked two international trips for next year. She looks forward to camping in the Sahara and riding a camel in Morocco, as well as enjoying time on the water in the Greek Isles. There are many Betsy’s out there!

WILL PRICES GO DOWN? CAN I EXPECT A BARGAIN?

The very simple answer is NO! Simple supply and demand economics shows us when demand is up, prices will not go down, and if anything, you may experience the opposite. While I have not seen noticeable price increases, prices are holding where they were pre-pandemic. Also, let’s think about what my industry has suffered the past year: a 75% global unemployment rate and loss of revenue. The industry has suffered greatly and if you love travel, please welcome the pricing with open arms, as the hotels and other suppliers need your dollars for recovery so they can continue to provide great service, accommodations and experiences.

WHERE CAN I PLAN TRAVEL?

I am heading to Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro this October! These destinations are doing a great job welcoming travelers back!

Each day, we are seeing more and more borders opening to travelers. In addition to travel throughout the US, you can travel to so many wonderful places including Iceland, Guatemala, Kenya, Tanzania, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, most Caribbean islands, several countries in South America…. the list goes on and continues to grow.

CAN I FEEL SECURE THAT MY MONEY IS PROTECTED IF I BOOK FUTURE TRAVEL NOW?

For the most part, YES! A great travel advisor will know the cancel policies and can present destinations that will not put your travel dollars in jeopardy. More than ever, cancel policies are EXTREMELY liberal and advantageous to the traveler. Because no one can predict the future, travel providers are offering enticing cancellation policies so you can feel comfortable planning.

DO I HAVE TO BE VACCINATED TO TRAVEL?

Many countries are not requiring it right now, but as more and more open, they are requiring proof of vaccines. Because children can’t receive the vaccine, most countries allow them to travel with a negative PCR test. I have heard several complaints about this requirement and here is my answer to that:

There are many countries where tourists travel that require vaccines (this Kenya, Tanzania, etc). The Covid-19 vaccine is simply another vaccine that is required to travel to certain countries. As the vaccine is a voluntary choice, so is travel. If you want to travel, then please consider the vaccination.

TRAVEL ADVISORS ARE MORE IN DEMAND THAN EVER!

Clearly I advocate that all travelers use an advisor, it saves you time, money, and brings peace of mind. Because of the more confusing travel landscape, people are working with professional advisors more than ever. And once they have a positive experience with a travel advisor, they will continue to book their travel with their advisor because it makes the most sense.

All this is to say? If you want to travel? Please plan sooner than later! You will have more options, better pricing, and get to anticipate your travel for longer, which is part of the fun!!!

THE HYPER-SPEED STATE OF TRAVEL