Why Now Is a Great Time to Book Travel Plans for 2021

With most of the world stuck at home right now, many people have had to put their travel plans on hold. This provides the perfect opportunity to organize a vacation for 2021. In this time of uncertainty, people can still look ahead to a world where travel and mobility are again a part of regular life. Although it may be tempting to plan a summer or fall vacation this year, your best bet for a higher end international trip is to give yourself a bit more time and focus on traveling in 2021.

Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To

This is an uncertain time for many, and it can be challenging to maintain high spirits. A great way to motivate yourself right now is with something to look forward to in the future. Planning a trip can be a fun activity for an extended family or friend group to coordinate together while physical distance separates them. In addition, you could use this as a boredom-reducing project for your own household. Sit down with your family or roommates to plan the perfect 2021 vacation. If you have children, include them in the planning by allowing them to help select a destination or asking them to assist you in figuring out a realistic travel budget. Focusing on a manageable project can help people out of the doldrums. 

Take Advantage of the Opportunity to Research and Plan

A great vacation begins with careful planning, and this is an opportunity to thoroughly research your travel options. Once you have selected a destination, look for travel articles, vacation guides, and blogs. Although search engines are a great starting point, make sure to use specific phrases to optimize your results. Instead of searching for “vacation,” use specific keywords such as “historical site,” “destination spa,” or “cultural attraction.”  

After you have a general idea about what you want to see and do on your vacation, take some time to look for hotel discounts and destination coupons. Many companies are offering once-in-a-lifetime deals right now. You may need to pre-pay in full, so make sure you familiarize yourself with refund and change policies for everything you decide to reserve. Many discount sites offer better deals if you book all elements of a trip at one time, so look for multiple discount packages. Local and regional tourism and chamber of commerce websites often have unique deals. And remember to be flexible. Many tourist destinations have been particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 crisis, so they may have new policies in place. You can help these companies and the communities that rely on them by being understanding. 

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Now more than ever, people have realized how important comprehensive travel insurance is. There are a few different types of travel insurance, and each can be a vital safeguard for your vacation and your peace of mind. Trip cancellation insurance offers trip protection that covers you if you need to cancel or interrupt a trip for a covered reason, and you should make sure that your coverage includes cancellations or interruptions for injury, illness and weather-related interruptions. Some policies also include coverage for acts of terrorism, auto accidents on the way to the airport or train station, natural disasters, and jury duty. Your policy will refund the difference between the refund you received from the travel vendor and the amount you actually paid for the trip. This valuable trip protection ensures that interrupted travel plans do not become a financial nightmare. For travelers who want to be able to cancel due to worries over the Coronavirus or travel bans related to a pandemic, they will need to purchase a travel insurance plan with an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade. 

In addition to travel cancellation insurance, travel medical insurance provides short-term medical coverage for unforeseen sicknesses and injuries. For longer trips, travel medical insurance for travelers can cover you for up to one year. Travel medical policies cover medical expenses, but they have the added bonus of helping you locate doctors, hospitals, and foreign-language medical services if you become sick of injured while traveling internationally. 

Additional Considerations

Although this is a unique opportunity to research, plan, and schedule a perfect vacation in 2021, keep in mind that there are many people currently hoping to cancel, postpone, or reschedule current travel plans. Try to avoid calling airline and hotel chains, instead utilizing internet resources to plan and book your travel plans. Many companies are prioritizing phone calls based on previously scheduling bookings. If you have airline miles or hotel rewards, considering using them now since there are many additional deals. And remember that many tourist destinations will be the hardest hit economically during the COVID-19 crisis. Plan a fun trip and help be a part of the economic recovery for your favorite travel destination today.