Plan Now for 2021 Travel

Is it in poor taste to be planning your next great vacation now? The short answer is no. The travel industry has been devastated because of this pandemic. This includes the people working in the industry. Therefore, the sooner we get back to vacationing, the faster the industry will recover. 

But before we go any further, I’m certain you regard, with respect, the millions of people directly or indirectly affected by this health crisis. I, like you, am grateful for the men and women fighting on the front lines of this pandemic. But this article is looking beyond the horizon to a brighter vacation future ahead. The vaccines are here. But what percentage of the population will get vaccinated? Will you take one? When? And furthermore, will the vaccines work to stop the spread? These are the key questions in determining exactly how and when consumer confidence in travel is restored. In the meantime, let’s get planning and take advantage of deals being offered for future travel.  
 
Planning and booking a vacation these days has a couple of extra steps and a few additional considerations. Obviously, please take a vacation as soon as YOU (and your party) feel comfortable and please follow the CDC and local government guidance and travel responsibly. 

So where do you want to go? “Place” evaluation is important now more than ever. Start your dreaming by asking yourself what you want to see, how you want to feel and where you want to be on your next great escape. Once you have a general idea in mind, begin seeking destinations that may be a good fit. Consider how you’re going to get there, where you’re going to stay and what amenities, services and activities are available. Once you narrow down to a few options, pick up your smartphone and talk to expert residents in those places.   

Call Or Email The Place
Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply call (or email) that place and get specific answers for free? YOU CAN! But, before you do, have some answers ready to provide whoever’s on the other end of the conversation. 

Have Your Information Ready
Essentially, have your specifics ready to provide. These are the “5 w’s”. Here’s my short list with a few example answers...
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• Who Are You - A family of four (two adults and two kids under the age of 15)
• When Are You Thinking About Visiting - Spring of 2021
• Where Are You Coming From - Northern New Jersey
• How Many Nights Are You Thinking - Three to Five
• How Are You Arriving - We are driving
• What Is Your Comfortable Budget - Luxury, Moderate or Value 
• What Type of Vacation Are You Thinking? Lots of outdoors, lots of activities, museums, waterpark, beach, etc.

Have Your Specific Questions Ready
Obviously, every place you visit has plenty of things to see and do for most vacation goers, but I suggest you garner answers specific coronavirus questions such as the following: 

• How is this place mitigating the chances of contracting COVID 19 while we are there?
• What is the status of restaurants, public spaces, etc. 
• Are the shops open? 
• Do residents respect and follow the local health guidance?
• Are the recreational businesses open? Mini golf, museums, theme parks, watersports, etc. 
• What reservations need to be made in advance of your visit?

How To Contact A Place
Most “places” in the United States (and others) have official tourism bureaus. These are called Convention & Visitors Bureaus or Chambers of Commerce. They can be found online by typing the name of the place you’re considering plus the word official plus the letters C-V-B. 

They all have options for contacting them. I suggest you call them during regular business hours. Remember, they too are dealing with staffing issues during this pandemic so give them a few hours (or up to one business day) to respond. In most cases, they will honestly answer your questions based on real-time, on-the-ground knowledge. In addition, they can point you in the right direction for additional information.

I have always been a big fan of these organizations and they’ve been around for a long time. They are usually funded by the taxes collected from visitors such as “hotel tax”. They may also be funded by membership by local businesses. Doing a little recon in advance will go a long way to saving you and your family time and money!

Save travels and stay vacated!
Erik

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