It’s time to get back out and do a little traveling and experience the world again. (sort of).
As we start to enter the 2021 holiday season, a lot of people are anxious to travel, particularly to see family. It’s difficult to think of spending yet another holiday away from our loved ones. But with news of major airline cancelations, layoffs, and COVID-19 still an issue with only around 57% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated, the question is HOW does one travel safely this season?
This past summer was a bit chaotic for the travel sector, especially for airlines. It’s a safe bet the trend will continue. Flexibility and patience are going to be your best attributes for handling it.
Planning ahead is the smartest thing you can do this year. According to the travel search engine Kayak, “flight prices for the holiday travel season are up across the board compared to both 2019 and 2020,” says Giorgos Zacharia, Kayak’s president. It’s best to buy early if you’re committed to traveling by air.
It is good advice for any year but choosing to travel off-peek days is another winning strategy for 2021. Scheduling your travel dates two or three weeks ahead of Thanksgiving could mean less of the unexpected with fewer travelers. Perhaps staying at an AirB&B or other longer-term vacation property at your destination will help make a longer stay more accommodating for you and the loved ones you’re visiting.
Adding on travel insurance is, likely, the second smartest thing holiday travelers can do this year. Because of the unpredictability of this year’s holiday travel season, buying a “cancel for any reason” policy could come in handy should the unexpected occur. A Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option that covers a “fear of travel” reason should you or anyone in your traveling party decide that it’s not worth the risk to take the flight. Limitations will apply so understanding the policy will be key.
Getting out and experiencing the world and making memories with family is what is so important for so many. With a little bit of planning and patience, the 2021 holiday travel season can be a welcomed chance to get back a little bit more normal in our lives.