Top 3 Travel Trends of 2021
New Year, New Travel Trends
We can all agree that travel in 2020 didn’t pan out the way that we expected. But as we plan now for travel later there are so many new destinations and experiences to be excited about.
Travel in 2021 will still be different than any way we’ve traveled before
Masks will continue to be mandatory on airplanes and other modes of transportation.
Countries will have specific rules and protocols for entry including COVID tests, quarantine, and border restrictions.
Hotels and resorts are expanding their offerings to include on site testing and in some cases discounted stays if you test positive and have to stay at the destination for an additional 14 days
Cruise sailings may be positioned until July and most will require mandatory vaccines for crew.
Top 3 Travel Trends
Bucket List Trips- Life is short, take the trip. Bucket list trips are a popular trend for a few reasons. People want to travel while they are healthy enough to do so, we’ve all been home for so long and are ready to escape, since all of our travel was cancelled we have some excess vacation funds (and days) that are burning a hole in our pocket. For 2021, I say go big or go home and my colleagues at SmartFlyer are certainly in agreement. This 24 day around the world by private jet flight is nothing short of amazing. Picture yourself on a private jet with just 47 other passengers country hopping to Peru, Chile, Fiji, Australia, Cambodia, India, Tanzania, Jordan, and Morocco. If you’re looking for something a bit more down to earth then a luxury safari in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, or Tanzania could be a good choice. Personally, I’m loving planning on getting as many clients on train journeys as I can this year. I think it’s a fabulous way to see a destination and once you board you can unpack and get settled in for your whole journey.
PRO TIP- Bucket list trips are in high demand and will sell out quickly. Start thinking about your “must do” trip in 2021 and start planning it here. Wanderlist is a free planning tool that lets you collect and share travel dreams.
Sustainable Travel- What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear sustainable travel? Eco travel? Green travel? After seeing the pictures of animals frolicking freely, and canals color correcting I decided it was time to take a deeper look at how I, as a travel advisor can encourage more sustainable travel. What I learned from my Virtuoso Sustainability Community is that I already had. Sustainability is in fact travel that protects the planet but it’s also travel that supports local economies, and travel that preserves cultural heritage. Norway, Peru, and England and Wales are all excellent choices for sustainable travel. In Norway you can embark on an 8 day sustainability focused expedition cruise. In Peru you can take a 12 day journey that connects travelers with local artisans. And in England and Wales you can venture out on a 3 day walking tour of historic footpaths overnighting in smaller scale accommodations and dining at village eateries.
PRO TIP- You don’t have to go far to participate in sustainable travel. On your next domestic trip make sure that you are staying at locally owned and operated accommodations, dining at restaurants outside of tourist areas, and supporting local businesses like guides, boutiques, and artists.
Extended Out of Office- We all have those pesky vacation days from 2020 that just won’t go away. But you don’t need a vacation day for a work from hotel experience. Trade in your home office for a room with a view and check into a hotel property for an extended stay. Hotels are launching life-enhancing programs like personal trainers, meditation, and cooking and cocktail classes so that you can have something to look forward to after a day of Zoom calls. If you need to get your staff back together this year for meetings then hotels can also provide a work bubble where the team can all safely work together. There are some gorgeous new properties opening this year and the one that I’m most excited about is Ambiente in Sedona. The 40 guest atrium “pods” blend into the landscape for a seamless harmony between accommodations and nature.
PRO TIP- If you’re not ready to check in to a hotel for a month then start with a staycation or a nearcation to ease yourself back into hotel stays.