It’s been quite the year. And as we enter the final months of 2020 (doesn’t it feel like this year has lasted 10 years already though?), one thing is becoming very clear. People are tired of being home and can’t wait to travel again – even if the time isn’t quite right yet. In fact, according to a new study from Hilton, 94 percent of Americans who travel are missing it right now and plan to do so once restrictions and limitations are lifted, and 66 percent plan to make travel a priority and take bucket list trips.
If this sounds like you, then the question of “should you start thinking about your 2021 trip now” is something to consider. Because, while you may not be ready to travel now, you certainly may be ready next spring, or next summer, or even next fall. And there are some definite benefits to thinking ahead right now when it comes to travel, and potentially booking that 2021 trip now.
Looking Forward to Something Happy – I think most, if not all, of us have learned that we need to treasure those special moments in life that bring joy, and studies show that travel does just that. The same Hilton study noted above found that around 134 million Americans say travel has given them lifelong memories, while 90 percent say travel has created some of their happiest moments. Other studies consistently show that merely having something to look forward to can improve our mood dramatically. And if we ever needed a mood-improver, it would be now! Having that trip booked – even if it’s not for a year – gives us something to look forward to, and that in itself is a very good thing.
Save Money – Booking far in advance has a couple of financial benefits that many folks don’t necessarily think of. First, prices are often lower than they will be later (especially now). While destinations may offer incentives to book over the coming year, those promotions later will often be with higher pricing than what you’d get now. And as travel begins to really open up, you can bet that prices will increase as well. When you combine lower pricing with the ability to make payments along the way, booking months – or even a year – in advance, can be a financial benefit!
Time to Plan – There can be a number of things related to travel that require some advance planning, and having plenty of time to do them is far better than trying to do it all last minute. Traveling out of the country and need to renew your passport? There’s currently a backlog for processing passports, as their offices were closed for several months, so you’ll want to allow plenty of time for that to be taken care of. In addition, as states and countries continue to deal with the pandemic, there will likely be varying requirements for travel to most destinations, and you’ll want to have plenty of time to make sure you have everything you’ll need.
Generous Cancellation Policies – You may be concerned about booking far in advance when things are still so uncertain, but one thing that has come out of the travel challenges of this year, is that most destinations are being quite generous with cancellation policies. Whether it is full and complete refunds without penalties – often as late as 24 hours in advance – or travel credits that are good for several YEARS, destinations recognize that planning travel and the challenges that that entails at the moment, requires flexibility and they are happy to help. Not every destination offers the same type of cancellation flexibility, so it is important to read that fine print and/or have your travel agent explain your options before you book. Which brings me to……
Use a Travel Professional – Booking a trip months or a year in advance can often seem daunting, and especially now with so many things changing regularly. It can be hard to keep up with everything, and it’s stressful thinking about all of the details that you’ll need to think about. While having a trusted travel agent to help has always been beneficial, as travel becomes more complicated, the value of a travel professional is immeasurable. Whether it’s sifting through available destinations and options to find the right one for you, making sure you get the best possible price, working with you to ensure you have all the correct paperwork you’ll need, answering questions, or being there to help if you need to change or reschedule – at no time has working with a travel agent been more valuable.
There’s no doubt that 2020 has not been kind, and will definitely be a year that we won’t forget, as much as we’d like to. Still, 2021 offers the chance to create some special memories that will last a lifetime, and there’s no better way to do that than to travel. When you’re ready to have something wonderful on the books for next year, let me know!
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