How to Plan a Vacation in 2021

2021 travel survival guide: 

How to Plan a Vacation in 2021

Pack a Plan B to deal with lockdowns at your destination

If you're planning to travel somewhere soon, here's a little advice: Don't listen to the advice.

It's dated and maybe dangerous. The rules for travel in 2021 have changed. Ignore the talking heads. You don't need travel tips for next year – you need a survival guide.

Happiness Is Planning An Adventure

 

I read somewhere that it’s scientifically proven that planning a vacation increases happiness, even if you don’t actually GO on the trip!

Weird huh!

So even if you aren’t ready to go yet, or are having financial difficulties that means changing plans, you can still enjoy the process of planning a trip, until the time comes when you’re ready to put it to action!

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

"Anything can happen when you're traveling"

But anything doesn't have to happen to you. If you take a few precautions and plan ahead, you can avoid most problems. You'll need the right insurance and a backup plan – and you have to book with the right companies.

So how do you travel in 2021?

Here's a travel survival guide for next year:

Be careful. "Do thorough research to make educated decisions. The world is not off-limits, and local economies need your support more than ever. But it’s crucial to be responsible and educate yourself on all guidelines, restrictions and health procedures required along the way." In other words, 2021 won't be the year for a spur-of-the-moment trip. Not with the pandemic still with us.

Plan ahead. "This is key. We're jamming two years' worth of travel into six to nine months – assuming things start picking up in the second quarter of next year." During peak times flights will be full, hotels fully booked, and car rental companies sold out of vehicles. If you don't plan, you'll be stuck with another staycation.

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Know how COVID-19 affected your destination. If you think coronavirus did a number on you, then you should check your destination. "The thing most people are probably not thinking about is how badly the shutdowns have hurt the economies in places that depend on tourism. It's had an impact on crime in a lot of destinations." Official tourism sites are good resources since they usually list current travel restrictions for those destinations.

Read the fine print on your travel insurance. Most travelers don't know that their medical insurance won't work overseas unless they make special arrangements. "Most health insurance companies will not provide coverage outside of the country, which can leave a traveler with a hefty bill in the event of a medical emergency" . I recommend looking for coverage that treats COVID-19 like any other sickness and does not exclude the pandemic.

Expect more lockdowns. Do you have a plan in case you get stuck somewhere? Your travel survival guide for 2021 should include one. "Travelers should consider trips that can be planned around staying with friends and family with the option to then lock down in hotels later. Tip: Sign up for hotel and airline newsletters so you can find the best rate for lodging and transportation if there's another pandemic lockdown.

Know when to go – and when to stay. If there's a vaccine next year, it will not be an instant cure. Some parts of the world will recover faster than others. "When planning to travel, it's best to visit areas with low COVID-19 activity. This will make it less likely you'll infect someone else – or become infected yourself – during your travels." 

So how do you find out if a place is safe? Start with its State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel advisories. And if there's a travel ban, that's a good sign that you should wait.

Have a backup plan. Before the pandemic, a lot of travelers took a vacation without a Plan B. Don't do that in 2021, have a backup plan." That includes a checklist of what to do if you run into trouble, from emergency contacts to direct numbers for your travel insurance company. And if your destination shuts down, know what you'll do to salvage the vacation.

Surviving 2021 will require not just new skills, but the right frame of mind as well. Hit the road with a 2019 attitude and you might regret it, say travel experts.

"Traveling in the near future will require flexibility as we continue to navigate this pandemic, Pack your patience."

The best of travel in 2021

The best airlines and hotels: the ones with flexible policies.  "Make sure you have an easy out with anything you book, Situations and conditions are changing rapidly." For example, carriers like Qatar Airways have a well-deserved reputation for being transparent and free of onerous fees.

The best travel insurance: "Cancel for any reason." You can cancel your trip for any reason. "You'll be reimbursed for up to 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if cancellation must occur. Cancel-for-any-reason insurance is a little pricier, about twice as expensive as regular insurance. But if you have to cancel because of another outbreak, it's worth it.

The best plan: One made by a professional. Experts say your travel survival guide for 2021 should include a professional travel adviser. An agent can help you navigate the uncertainty of travel next year. Whether you're traveling out of state or out of the country, a pro can make sure all of your paperwork is in order. "You may need to have negative test results in hand to enter certain states or countries. Other destinations may have mandatory self-quarantine periods upon arrival."

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Now… take a deep breath, and just RELAX.

This is a very exciting yet anxious moment, as you will be worrying if you’ve forgotten anything.

Try not to worry! You’ll be FINE and everything will work out.

Have an EPIC Trip!