If you thought travel would return to normal this fall, think again. The craziness you’ve seen this summer—high prices, overbooked hotels, and long lines—could be here for a while.
“There’s always a demand for travel,” says Jessica O’Riley, spokeswoman for Travel Iowa. Reservations in his state remain strong during the traditional shoulder season, with camping and cultural events high on the list of his visitors.
How pent-up is the demand? New research suggests people are as excited as ever to travel, despite inflation, a weak economy and a lingering pandemic.
A recent survey on Americans’ travel intentions in the winter and early months of 2023, conducted by travel insurance company World Nomads, showed that 67% of travelers will book vacations, noting that there is nothing in the current environment that will derail their plans. But there are limits, says Jon Whitby, the company’s chief marketing officer.
“Americans are always eager to travel,” he added. “But they are more cost-conscious and focused on getting the best value for their money.”
So how do you book a fall vacation? Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming fall travel season, from when to book to where to go.
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Don’t wait to book your fall trip
High prices, oversold flights and an unstable security situation have kept many travelers out of the summer. This may interest you : Music in four ways strengthens social interactions. They hope things calm down this fall. So now what?
“I think if you wait until everything is quiet and calm, you’ll probably be waiting forever,” said Kathleen Peddicord CEO of Live and Invest Overseas.
Is it worth waiting for the deal? Maybe, says Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler. Airline prices peaked at the beginning of summer and have started to fall, so it might make sense to wait for more deals. But it is risky.
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“Many domestic fares are more expensive than at any point we can remember,” Potter added. “Then it might be time to think bigger and go somewhere abroad. We are increasingly finding some of the cheapest flight offers on international tickets.”
But airline ticket deals can be elusive. And remember, airlines are trying to make up for two lean years. If you find a cheap rate for a fall trip, don’t wait. Book as soon as possible. Because chances are, there are thousands of other travelers who are thinking the same thing. “If I can wait just a few weeks, I’ll pay less.” You might – or you might not.
Stay flexible
Because it is impossible to predict what will happen next, tourism insiders recommend booking a trip that gives you more options, just in case something goes wrong. On the same subject : In the pipeline: Rall’s plumbing business celebrates 50+ years of ‘treating people right’.
“We encourage you to book flexible reservations where possible,” said Kelly Catherine, director of sales for Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria. “And consider travel insurance.”
How useful is insurance? It depends on what type you have. A more expensive “cancellation for any reason” policy would allow you to cancel your vacation and receive a refund of 50% to 75% of your prepaid non-refundable expenses.
“The insurance will also help with any weather-related issues,” said Colleen McDaniel, managing editor of Cruise Critic. “Fall is prime hurricane season in the Caribbean.”
Some destinations won’t slow down
The hard truth for fall travelers is that travel can’t slow down in some places. For example, some urban destinations such as Chicago or Los Angeles, which are recovering and rely on a mix of business and leisure travel, are not worth waiting for. On the same subject : Local artists celebrate the return of the Corn Hill Arts Festival. In addition, some activities are even more popular in the fall than in the summer. Chris Coleman, CEO of RV Talk, said October is their busiest month.
“November is much less crowded, especially towards the end of the month,” he adds. “And the foliage is typically always spectacular.”
His advice? Go camping in late October or early November, when the weather is still relatively mild. “Rent a cabin or book a hotel room, buy groceries, and spend time in a national park,” he says.
So, where’s everyone going?
If you are a contrarian, you probably want to avoid popular places. And those are? In Europe, countries like Italy, France, Greece and Spain will see more American visitors this fall than ever before, says Angie Licea, president of the Global Travel Collection. Up-and-comers such as Portugal and Croatia are also at the top of their customer list. “We will see a lot of tourists in Europe through Thanksgiving, maybe even until the end of the year,” he adds.
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In North America, Mexico is in high demand. The ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao – are also the sought-after places to visit this year. They are located outside the hurricane belt, making them ideal fall destinations.
In the United States, western states such as Colorado, Wyoming and Montana are popular places to visit this fall, according to Licea.
The experts were wrong about fall travel
Remember how the pros told us to wait until fall to travel? But this year, that advice was wrong. Reservations remain strong, and prices for some travel products are stubbornly high as the fall travel season begins.
It is difficult to predict when things might return to normal. The earliest we can see a return to normal would be early 2023. A worse economy could still bring some deals at the end of 2022. But if he tells you that you know, don’t listen. No one knows.
Pro tips for your fall vacation
“Don’t delay,” advised Laura Burdett-Munn, managing director of luxury tour operator Journeysmiths. “There’s still availability, but I think it’s unlikely we’ll see many last-minute deals.”
► Add a day pillow – just in case
If you’re on a tour or cruise, you’ll want to borrow a page from your summer playbook. Add a one-day cushion between your departure and when your cruise or tour begins. “Adding a one-night cushion for any travel delay will ensure that a flight delay doesn’t disrupt your travel plans,” explained Melissa Da Silva, president of Trafalgar.
The new COVID subvariants could severely disrupt travel this fall, warned Ross Caldwell Thompson, CEO of Covac Global, a medical evacuation membership program. His advice: Have a Plan B to get there and back if an airline cancels your flight. “This could include the use of trains, buses or private hire vehicles,” he said.
What surfaces should be cleaned during the COVID-19 pandemic?
High-touch surfaces in these healthcare settings should be identified for priority disinfection, such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation areas, counters, bathroom surfaces, toilets and faucets, personal touchscreen devices , personal computer keyboards, and work. surfaces.
How long can COVID-19 survive on surfaces? Data from surface survival studies indicate that a 99% reduction in infectious SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses can be expected under typical indoor environmental conditions within 3 days (72 hours) on common non-porous surfaces such as and stainless steel, plastic and glass. .
What solutions can be used to disinfect surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic?
For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and the most common EPA disinfectant should be effective.
What is the recommended surface cleaning method to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
In most situations, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low. The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can also reduce the risk of infection.
What are coronavirus diseases?
Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal.
What is the origin of the coronavirus disease? To date, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 that caused the COVID-19 pandemic has not been identified. Scientific evidence so far suggests that SARS-CoV-2 probably resulted from viral evolution in nature and jumped to people or through an unidentified animal host.
Are there different types of coronaviruses other than COVID-19?
The coronaviruses did not just appear recently. They are a large family of viruses that have been around for a long time. Many of them can cause a variety of illnesses, from a mild cough to severe respiratory illnesses. The new (or “novel”) coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is one of several known to infect humans.
What other illnesses are caused by coronaviruses?
Coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
What are coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some coronaviruses cause cold-like illnesses in people, while others cause illnesses in certain types of animals, such as cows, camels, and bats. Some coronaviruses, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals and do not infect people.
When does Japan open for travel?
Finally, Japan is moving towards reopening to tourists in the summer of 2022. Tour groups made up of international travelers have been able to enter the country since June 10, while the number of arrivals allowed per day is increased to 20,000.
Can I enter the United States without a negative COVID-19 test? This means that starting at 12:01 AM ET on June 12, 2022, air passengers will not need to be tested and show a negative COVID-19 test result or show documentation of recovery from COVID- 19 before boarding a flight to the United States. regardless of vaccination status or citizenship.
Can I travel during the coronavirus disease pandemic?
Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling internationally. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from serious illness and slow the spread of COVID-19. People who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines should follow additional advice after travel.
Can I travel to Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Make sure you are vaccinated and up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to Italy. If you are not up to date with the COVID-19 vaccines, avoid traveling to Italy.
Is there a travel advisory level 4 for COVID-19 at this time?
There are no Level 4 COVID-19 Travel Health Alerts at this time.
Who are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19?
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop serious illnesses.
What are some symptoms of Omicron BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19? At this time, the symptoms from BA. 5 appear to be similar to those caused by other Omicron subvariants. Common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue.
Which groups of people are at increased risks of severe illness from COVID-19?
Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at the highest risk. Severe disease means that the person with COVID-19 may need hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or may even die. People of all ages with certain underlying medical conditions are also at greater risk for severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Who is at greatest risk of infection from COVID-19?
Currently, those most at risk of infection are people who have had prolonged unprotected close contact (ie, within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) with a patient with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of if the patient has symptoms.
Does obesity put you at risk of serious illness from COVID-19?
Being obese increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. People who are overweight may also be at an increased risk.⢠Being obese can triple the risk of hospitalization for a COVID-19 infection.⢠Obesity is linked to impaired immune function.
