7 ideas for your post-lockdown holiday
As travel specialists but more importantly as travel lovers, it has felt especially strange only having taken one trip already this year. We have kept our spirits up and our travel dreams alive by starting to get ahead with our planning for a getaway once the lockdown is lifted and borders reopen. As in the day to day things that many of us are now taking stock of, it’s also been a really good opportunity to think a bit differently about our personal travel plans; what we think is important; where we dream of visiting and how and what we can plan now, despite the unknowns, to get ahead.
Are you nervous about committing to travel in the current situation? Does the opportunity to plan ahead now seem appealing but a little daunting and unclear?
Our 7 simple steps below have been very useful in considering our own travel plans and we wanted to share them with you. We hope you find them useful.
1. Choose the perfect destination
Whilst this may seem like an obvious one, choosing a destination with year - round good weather means you will be ready to travel as soon as the world reopens, no matter what the season. If you are hoping for a late Autumn or Winter trip, then South East Asia, the Caribbean and South Africa, along with the islands of the Indian Ocean should be considered. In fact, there’s no end of possibilities from the long - haul destinations.
This may be an unplanned travel sabbatical, but it does give you the perfect opportunity to decide what kind of holiday you really want and what kind of destination you wish to travel to. It may also be the perfect time to dust off your travel bucket list, get compiling your shortlist and maybe even think about your future travel in a different way.
Whether it’s wine tasting in Franschhoek, South Africa, visiting the tea plantations of Sri Lanka, trekking across the Al Hajar mountains of Oman or relaxing in a beautiful spa hotel in Mauritius, the chance to build a travel plan which isn’t just your traditional fly and flop is really appealing.
2. Think differently about your holiday
If lockdown has left you needing some more adventure in your life or crying out for different things out of your travel experiences then now feels a good time to look at the options.
If you normally just fly and flop, then maybe try a little adventure with a bespoke tour designed around your wishes and preferences could be a welcomed change.
Post lockdown, a little culture could be just the tonic. A stylish weekend could reset your luxury focus. An eco - resort could tick your sustainability wishes towards being environmentally responsible. A luxury wellness and spa resort could help reset both your mind and body. A gourmand getaway can literally feed the soul. A desert island dream could let you just escape. A safari or nature tour will expose you to amazing wildlife.
However, if being cooped up has left you needing to fuel the adrenaline junkie in you then the world’s best dive sites, national parks, jungle trails, rivers and mountains can all be arranged around your luxury stays in the top resorts
3. 2021 will be a big year
With just about everything being cancelled this year, next year may see events, carnivals and national holidays come back bigger and better. Working with a travel expert or designer will mean that you have access to a lot of information about which events are taking place across the globe.
Think about planning your dream trip to take in a world class event, a national holiday, a cultural festival or even a show or concert in an unusual setting. We have found that some of our favourite trips have included a special event that we have planned our holiday around. The food festival of Dubai, the film festival of Taormina, the Venice Carnival or Tomatina in Central Spain are just a sample of the events that have missed their 2020 fun. We think they will be aiming to make up for that in 2021.
Once travel restrictions are lifted it will be an opportunity for some countries to show the world that they are back and open for business. They won’t miss the chance to make their events spectacular.
4. Be flexible in your planning
With not all travel restrictions being lifted at the same time and quarantine measures possibly still in place, have a number of options in mind and keep close to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice and guidelines for travel, safety and immigration statuses on each country.
Not all countries will lift their restrictions at the same time, but you may want to dust off your passport as soon as you get the go ahead to travel again. If that’s the case, then it’s certainly wise to consider a few alternatives before finally booking so that you can take advantage of the situation as soon as it eases.
If you are more flexible on time but a little more determined to make your first trip after lockdown to a destination of choice, then you may need to exercise a little patience as you wait for some borders to reopen.
We will be able to advise you on when your favourite destinations are due to reopen and what measures are still in place.
5. Review your budget
We all generally have an idea of how much we will spend on holidays each year. Whatever the numbers, unless you have been really lucky this year to have got a holiday in early, then your budget may still be intact. Will you carry your budget over to next year or use some of it to top up and scale up your holiday plans?
2020 has been challenging for anyone that ordinarily enjoys one or more foreign adventures a year. If like us, you’re hoping that 2021 will bring plenty of opportunities to think about and experience different things, then 2021 could be a truly big year for travel.
Planning your budget now could mean you make the most of the travel opportunities, deals and offers as they get published and scale up your experience.
Think about upgrading your hotel expectations, budgeting for a special occasion trip of a lifetime, organising a bespoke tour or adding dining experiences, shows, events and excursions to your plans.
2021 could be a big year for travel and if planned and budgeted right a big year for post lockdown travel memories.
6. Sustainability
Prior to the restrictions on travel, sustainable and environmentally responsible tourism was gaining slow but steady popularity. Once the restrictions are lifted, it may be the time to think about how you can enjoy your time away and make a difference.
Great planning now can combine culturally diverse destinations and wonderful experiences but also give a bit back to the environment or the communities and habitats hosting your trips.
Many of the best hotels have used this time to reset their environmental credentials in some way. From the rise of fully sustainable eco-resorts in idyllic natural settings that combine wellness and amazing dining options to give you the ultimate pamper and feel good experience. Unique and innovative solutions are being adopted by many such as deep - sea water air conditioning put these at the cutting edge of environmental technology.Helping to preserve and respect indigenous communities alongside protecting natural resources could be just the tonic you need to feel great about your first holiday after lockdown.
7. Book with a travel professional
There are many advantages to using a travel expert to book your trip. They are often able to source exclusive deals and will have up to date information about the best places to stay and visit along with the status of the travel and borders situations across the world.
Perhaps most importantly in the current climate, they offer well researched advice and guidance, have a good level of relevant and genuine information from the destinations themselves and provide a level of protection and reassurance in times of difficulty.
In the current travel restrictions, they are busy moving or re-booking peoples travel plans, helping clients get home and advising on the current hotel and airline policies. All of this means you get the best level of help in any situation, taking some of the stress away from you at a time when travel seems all a little daunting and unclear.