As vaccines begin to roll out, 2021 is starting with a more hopefuly note in reference to travel. More than half of Americans (52%) are planning to travel by summer 2021, as long as their destinations isn’t in quarantine, but travelers are making some changes. Realizing that life can’t be taken for granted, more people are looking to book that dream trip they have perhaps been putting off. Travelers will want more meaningful and impactful travel, strengthened by a deeper appreciation for what’s most important in life.
Travel Trends 2021
- Travel Closer to Home
Many people are going to drop that overseas trip and stay closer to home. They are also mentioning smaller, less crowded destinations. For example, for escorted tours, we are seeing an increase in reservations for Fall Foliage tours, National parks tours, Alaska land tours, and Hawaii tour vacations. River rafting and camping vacations are also on the list with Tour West and Western River. For those that are booking Europe, our top searched destinations are France tours, Italy tours and Germany tours lead the way.
Related post: When Will Escorted Tours Resume
For vacation packages, Las Vegas, Jamaica, Mexico and Bahamas currently top the list of trips being booked for late summer & fall. Many hotels now offer the option to cancel up to 48 hours before travel and be able to reschedule your trip to another date without losing any money. This allows you to plan ahead without risk. Select vendors also offer an optional cancel for any reason plan. - Shorter Trips
We are also seeing clients book one week trips or long weekend getaways, vs. a 2 week family getaway. We are seeing an increase in reservations for 3 and 4 nights cruises. Royal Caribbean Cruises, NCL Cruises, Carnival Cruises and several other companies now have policies in place where you can reschedule your trip up to 48 hours prior to travel if you don’t feel comfortable traveling.
Travelers are also booking hotels for a good old fashion road trip. After all, road trips are not just about the destination, but the journey, too. Whether you love the thrill of mountainous views, or if nothing beats the smell of fresh sea air as you drive down the coast, a road trip is a perfect way to experience the wonders of nature from the comfort of your own car. - Using a Travel Agent
After a situation like this, many travelers were left on their own with hours of hold time to get through to an airline, cruise line, or tour company. Travel agents, which cost no extra money to use and take advantage of their expertise, handle all of the re-booking and details for you. We are here to not only protect traveler’s investments but also to take some of the stress out of an already difficult situation. We anticipate that this will bring to light the value of a travel agent and that more consumers will book with them in the future. - Travel Insurance
Only around 30% of our clients purchase travel insurance. Several companies offer cancel for any reason insurance which would have provided guests a portion of their money back vs. future travel credits that most companies are offering. We anticipate an increase in travel insurance purchases. - Travel Deals
Customers will expect travel deals more than ever. There will no doubt be some good deals in the coming months, but please make sure to book with only reputable companies. Saving $50 may seem like a great deal, but not if the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. - Family reunions
After families have been kept apart, reconnecting with family is important. There has been an increase in family reunion requests. Whether is looking into the best cruise line for family renions, renting large villas to stay together in one place or setting up a private group tour with your own driver and guided. There are ways to travel safely and spend time together.
The decision to travel is a personal one. Of course we recommend following the recommendations of the State Department and CDC. Travel and tourism is a highly resilient industry that has come back from natural disasters, 9/11, SARS, recessions & more. Travel amplifies life. Travel will continue after the coronavirus outbreak!
Related posts:
When Will Cruises Resume 2021
How To Use Future Cruise Credits
