The pandemic may not be over, but travel is coming back. Sure, it’s not back in full yet, but all signs point to a boom in travel coming later this year. And you’re going to want to make sure you’re not caught unprepared.
Look, we’re not going to tell you the pandemic is all over and done with and it’s time to go back to normal—whatever normal means. But we are telling you that people are starting to book vacations for later this year and into 2022 and that interest is increasing by the day. Trips are starting to fill out, as people get optimistic about the future and make concrete plans for travel.
So if you’re wanting to travel at your earliest safety and convenience, there are a few things to keep in mind. Which is why we’re here. In this article, we want to get you up to speed on what’s happening in travel and answer some questions about what a post-pandemic vacation may be like. Because soon enough, planes will be filling the skies again and we’re going to be experiencing a travel boom the likes of which we’ve never seen before. It’s time to get ready and make sure you’re not late to the party.
When is the best time to start planning a vacation for after the pandemic?
Right now. Is that too curt? How about, as soon as you can? The reality is that people are starting to plan right now and every flight, hotel, and tour has only so many spaces to accommodate. As well, the pandemic has made space even more precious, so even when flights and tours go back to normal levels, there will still be accommodations made for physical distancing and other precautionary measures. Thus, if you’re serious about wanting to head on a vacation later this year, you should start planning right away. Inquiries and bookings are only going to increase, so if you have a dream for a perfect post-pandemic vacation, now is the time to plan.
What is the most popular method of travel for post-pandemic vacations?
Perhaps predictably, having spent the past year mostly home has made people want to treat themselves on a future vacation. Thus, luxury accommodations, private-guided touring, and all the swanky ad-ons you could hope for are on the table for many travellers. It makes total sense why this is the case. If you didn’t travel in 2020, you can use some of the money you saved towards a longer and more luxurious vacation in 2021 or 2022.
Furthermore, people are focusing on intimate touring options. Personal transfers are all the rage, as the idea of sharing a shuttle bus with people you don’t know isn’t so attractive right now. Private guides ensure that you get personalized attention on a vacation as well as plenty of room to space out. Even if the threat of the virus will have mostly subsided by the time you head on vacation, we’re sure that the new habits of keeping your distance and favouring empty spaces will continue. Self-drives are also popular. They allow you to move at your own pace and keep to yourself while travelling, which again prioritizes spacing and privacy. Notice any patterns in these travel styles? Premium consideration and intimate touring options are going to be increasingly popular over the next few years.
What are the most popular destinations for travel bookings?
The most popular destinations for current bookings are places that have already opened up to tourism or have shown an ability to mitigate the spread of the virus, setting up great travel conditions for the near future. As well, destinations that are home to bucket list landmarks are increasingly popular, as people have spent the last year wanting to check some of the big places they haven’t seen off their bucket list.
Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa are the most popular destinations across Africa. They’re all among the most popular spots in Africa in normal times, so it’s no surprise to see them continue to attract the most attention, even now. They’ve all opened up to foreign travellers and have intensive safety standards in check. Travellers are attracted by the prospect of seeing the pyramids without the crowds or heading on a safari in Kenya or South Africa without having to share the savannah with other travellers. The wide open spaces of game parks make it easy to physically distance and the fewer the people, the greater chance for a private experience with animals like elephants and lions.
In Europe, Greece and Italy lead the charge. Greece just reopened to foreign travellers and the prospect of spending the year cruising through the Cyclades or seeing ancient ruins in Athens is more appealing than ever. Italy hasn’t opened its borders to American travellers yet, but it has stabilized after being hit hard in the early days of the pandemic. People are booking early to be the first to see the ever-popular sites across the country, from Venice to Rome to Naples, once border restrictions are lifted.
As always, warm destinations also remain popular. The Maldives is ideally suited to accommodating travellers who want plenty of space to relax on white-sand beaches and swim in the waters of the Indian Ocean. Resorts in the Maldives are all located on private islands, which means privacy and seclusion while enjoying the pleasures of paradise. Costa Rica is also popular, as people can enjoy the beach resorts on the coast as well as cloud forests and mountain slopes in the mainland that are far from the crowds.
Thailand is also popular, as it combines many of the elements of these other destinations: popular landmarks, sunny beaches, and an ability to mitigate the spread of the virus and allow travel to continue in safe ways. Lastly, Australia has also seen a lot of interest, with bookings for the end of this year and into 2022. If you’ve seen the news in the past year, you’re likely aware that Australia has closed its borders to all non-Australians. Borders still haven’t opened up. But what has happened since that border closure is the virtual elimination of the virus within Australia, which means that once borders do open later this year, the country is going to be a safe haven that appeals to almost every kind of traveller.
What do I have to consider about travelling right now?
You may be thinking, “But aren’t there a lot of health and safety measures to consider, as well as border and transit issues?” You’d be right. Travel is more complicated now than it was prior to the pandemic and there are more hoops to jump through to book a vacation and get to your destination. The lucky thing is that you don’t need to figure out all these things on your own. You can rely on a travel professional to handle all these steps and do the heavy lifting for you.
By working with a Goway Destination Specialist, you will have help at every step of the travel journey, from the moment you send us an inquiry about a trip to the moment you touch down after your dream vacation. We have a team of professionals whose job and passion is to figure out all these ins and outs of travel and make life as easy for you as possible. If you have questions, our team of experts have answers. Need helping choose a destination? Want to find out which borders are currently open, and which will open in the summer and fall? Need to know whether you have to have proof of vaccination or simply a negative PCR COVID test to get into a country? Want to know what current travel protocols are like? We have the answers to all these questions.
We’ve put in place flexible booking conditions that offer peace of mind for anyone hesitant to step into the future of travel. With Goway, you’ll have 24/7 assistance in destination, and constant help before and after your trip. We’ve spent much of the last year helping our travellers who either had to postpone vacations or come home early when borders started closing, so we’re pros at this. We know that there’s a lot to think about when planning a vacation and we want to make it as seamless for you as possible.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months. That first post-pandemic vacation may be the best vacation of your life. So if you’re wanting to head on a celebratory vacation the moment restrictions are lifted, get in touch. Don’t delay. Plenty of other travellers are already planning their trips, so beat the rush. Make sure that next vacation is a special one and go globetrotting with Goway.
31 Mar 2021, 8:17 p.m.
