Are you prepared to travel in 2023?

Are you prepared to travel this year? The first quarter of 2023 is almost over and it’s been awhile since I checked in with you. Life has gotten so busy and in a good way. Most of the world is reopened and the travel restrictions and requirements of the past 3 years have been lifted. As result, 2023 is the year that travel fully bounces back. But it’s still crazy out there, and with the great resurgence in travel, there are certain things you should know to make the planning process smooth and seamless.

When sitting down to plan your vacation, of course you should work with your trusted travel advisor. However, keep in mind a few things.

Have a plan

So you know what country you want to visit. Take a look at a map at the region to which you want to travel. Your travel advisor will help you come up with the perfect itinerary, but understand the geography of the place you want to see. Also, have a set of clear dates during which you can travel. Please do not tell your advisor you can travel anytime between May and August, for example. Narrowing it down will save a lot of time and back and forth.

Plan early

Because travel is experiencing a complete rebound, destinations are filling up fast. Want to visit Positano this summer? Forget it. It’s almost impossible to get a room at this date anywhere in the city – it’s been booked up for months.

Also, airfare is at an all time high and rates will just keep going up. The earlier you book, the better the fare.

Be clear on your budget

Everyone has a budget, even the wealthiest of people. Figure out how much you are realistically willing to spend. Take into account that we are not working with pre-Covid pricing anymore. We are not even working with immediate post-Covid pricing. What you paid 3, 5, 10 years ago, – that is no longer relevant. In January 2023, it was estimated that overall travel costs are roughly 26% more than last year. They’re 4% more than what travel costs were the same month in 2019, Airfare is up 34% from this time last year. This suggests that travelers are back in full force — perhaps to make up for lost travel during the pandemic.

Buy travel protection

When budgeting for your trip, budget for travel protection. Your trip is an investment, why would you not protect it? Travel protection will assist you in areas such as trip cancellation, trip delay (i.e. including if your flight is delayed), baggage delay, baggage loss, and medical. This last point is important. We all think we’re infallible and nothing will ever happen to us, and chances are it won’t. But stuff happens. On a recent trip to Egypt, one of my clients tripped and fell on her first day in Cairo and broke her femur which resulted in surgery over there. She’s home and on the mend, but insurance paid for her upfront costs as well as the cost to get her home.

Be flexible

In order to fit your budget, you may want to consider adjusting your plans a bit – such as reducing the number of cities you visit or the number of days of your stay (that should be a last resort – no one wants to shorten their vacation). Also, consider alternate airports when departing. Even driving one or two hours further to another city can save you significant money in airfare.

Be patient

This means if your flight is canceled, you may need to fly out the next day, on another airline, or even from another airport. It means that if one of your tours or activities is unavailable, you may need to pivot and try something else. None of this the fault of the gate or reservation agent, or the customer service representative, so please don’t think about unleashing your frustrations on them. Consider it part of the journey. After all, you’re still going on vacation.

I can’t wait to help you with your 2023 and 2024 travel! Click HERE to schedule your free consultation and let’s get started.

Happy Travels!