The pandemic isn’t over yet, but destinations and travel businesses want us all to get back out on the road and in the skies. Does that mean they’re desperate enough to give us all great travel deals and vacation discounts?
This was one topic of discussion at the World Travel & Tourism Council’s annual Global Summit, which took place in April at the beautiful Moon Palace Cancun resort. This was the first major international, in-person tourism conference since the pandemic started, and it attracted hundreds of big wigs from the world of travel and tourism.
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I joined my good friend and fellow travel journalist Meagan Drillinger (who runs the travel blog Drillinjourneys) to make this travel video in which we talk about some of the realities of travel today, and the possibility of travel deals was a key takeaway.
Bottom line: if you’re asking about getting big travel discounts nowadays, the answer is a strong “maybe.” I have friends who snagged super cheap flights to Mexico, Puerto Rico and California during the pandemic in the early months. But every time I tried, the discounts were nonexistent. And now, as the world slowly starts to recover and more destinations and attractions are open, the discounts will surely exist, but in a limited manner.
The reason why it won’t necessarily be that easy to score a deep travel discount on your next vacation is pent-up demand. So many people have been forced to stay home for the past year or so, and so many people are absolutely stir crazy and ready to plan their next family vacation, friends’ getaway or romantic escape. Since not every destination is even open yet, that means there are increasingly more travelers looking to book travel during a time when there is limited supply. The result: scarce discounts.
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In fact, I heard from one Mexico hotel operator who said that his company has actually raised rates at its hotels, because the demand was so high. Airfares are on the way up on many routes, too.
So how can you still get good travel deals?
Many of the strategies for getting good prices on travel aren’t that different from non-pandemic times, since many travel tips are universal. Others are unique to the strange times in which we are living.
• Be flexible about your travel dates. The more flexibility you have regarding when you travel, the more likely you will catch a better travel deal. This doesn’t just mean that you should look at flying on Tuesday instead of Wednesday; it also means you should consider traveling during off-peak or shoulder seasons, when there are traditionally fewer travelers going (the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holidays are likely to be especially heavy this year, for example, since so many people couldn’t celebrate out of town in the previous year).
• Consider alternate destinations. Some major destinations will likely become ever more crowded, even as hotels aren’t operating at full capacity. If you have a long-term wish list of dream vacation destinations, consider looking lower down on your list, at places that aren’t quite as popular. Now could be a perfect time to investigate those options.
• Pay attention to what’s reopening. If a specific hotel, nation or tour is just starting to open, they may offer special deals to entice travelers back. Consider booking in advance, before their opening date, or else right afterwards. You can consult with a knowledgeable travel agent who can help you stay on top of what’s opening and when, or else look to multiple sources online and even contact a tourism office, hotel or tour operator directly to inquire about reopening dates and whether there will be any travel deals offered.
• Consider booking way in advance — but be careful. I recently spoke with a tour operator who said that pent-up demand is so strong for some bucket-list adventures and vacation destinations, as well as for some cruises, that travelers are reserving their trips well more than a year in advance. So if you really are set on a specific type of vacation, consider looking way into the future and planning in advance. However, pay close attention to cancellation policies and also insurance options. Since we’re not fully out of the woods yet, you don’t want to be stuck if you must cancel.
How do you find the best travel deals nowadays? Please feel free to send your questions and comments — and also please follow my travels on Instagram and check out my travel videos on YouTube!
COVER IMAGE: Photo credit: arbyreed on VisualHunt.com