THE 5 BEST TRAVEL TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL ADVISOR
1- PACK YOUR PATIENCE: It may sound cliché but never have you ever needed to heed this advice more! People are traveling more now than they have in the last 3 years but airport, airline and resort staffing has not returned to normal numbers yet. Lines will be long. Ubers, hard to get. Hotels sold out. Service is slow. Not because anyone wants it that way but because there is too little supply and way too much demand. We are advising clients to arrive at international airports 3 1/2 hours prior to departure and for domestic, 2 1/2. The airlines will not hold your flight because TSA took too long. This is just the harsh reality of air travel right now.
2 - CHECK YOUR PASSPORTS: The current turn around time for new passports is 12 weeks and not much less for renewals. Even paying the expedited fee will only speed it up to maybe 6 weeks at best. We recommend expediting if you are traveling this year. If your passport does not arrive within 10 days of your trip, we can recommend one last ditch effort to attempt a rush on it but ultimately if it does not arrive in time, you do not travel. (Out of the US, anyway!) Also be sure your passport does not expire within 12 months of your travel dates. Some destinations require the passport be valid 6-12 months after travel and this rule can change at any time so even if you are going somewhere that does not have a 6-12 month validity requirement, their rules can change a week before you depart and then we have an issue!
3 - BUY THE TRAVEL INSURANCE: This sounds like a no brainer but believe it or not, some people try to save the money. We always counsel our clients to purchase insurance but it is technically optional. If nothing else, get it in case your passport does not arrive in time! (We have blogs on this entire topic so feel free to peruse those for more information)
4 - PLAN EARLY: 2021 and 2022 coined the phrase “revenge travel” and it is causing vacation pricing to skyrocket for 2023 and beyond. While the term may sound silly, ‘revenge travel’ refers to the idea that there will be a huge increase in travel as it becomes safer and things open back up. Many Americans and those around the world had their vacations altered or outright canceled last year, so they are all looking to satisfy their travel itch at the same time. The term is also retribution against COVID-19 and how it is losing its power to control our lives, including canceling travel plans. If you wait until the last minute you will pay much more than you want or should and your options will be extremely limited. We are currently taking requests for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2023, but are no longer accepting new clients for Spring Break 2023.
5 - USE A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL: Of course this feels self serving and as if we are stuck on repeat since so many of our blogs and social media posts mention using a travel professional, but we don't even care if you use our travel agency. Just find a professional travel advisor (that is preferably a member of ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors) and let them help. Between researching destinations, managing schedule changes, advising on topics like these above and knowing all of the current travel protocols, there has never been a time where you need this assistance, guidance, advocacy and support more than now!