Why Now Is the Best Time to Book Future Travel

With many people not able to leave their homes and travel restrictions all over the world, you may be thinking why should I bother evening hoping for a vacation. You may also be at the point in your quarantine where you just need something to look forward to. Something to get excited about. Booking a trip during such uncertain times can seem pointless at the moment. But we at STW believe now is the best time to book future travel – with some conditions.

Before we get into why now is the best time to book future travel, we wanted to share a couple of things to consider when you start the planning process.

First and foremost, you need to assess your comfort level. Safety takes a top priority and everyone has their own comfort levels, needs and health considerations to think about when looking at planning a vacation. By discussing with your travel companions and learning what a healthy, fun vacation looks like…you should be able to settle on a trip that will leave everyone excited.

Maybe international travel is out of the question this year. Maybe you would rather embark on a road trip, rent an RV for the first time, or take a cross country train ride, there really are so many options that can fit within anyone’s comfort range. Do what works best for you and your travel companions.

Do your research. When you finally decide on the type of trip you want to take before you choose your destination make sure you look into what current travel policies they may have in place. Some states have self-quarantining polices or travel restrictions that you will need to adhere to. Most travel agents or advisors will be able to provide you with this information however, you will always want to do your own research so, that you know ahead of time – what you are getting in to. Who knows, maybe travel will be un-restricted and all will be well. Also, we suggest checking weekly since updates are constantly evolving.

So, now that you have taken the time to assess your comfort level and do some research, let’s talk about why now is the best time to book future travel.

Booking policies are more flexible than they have ever been before. Many of the top airlines, cruise lines, resorts, etc. completely understand the internal debate one may have when committing to any future vacation. So, because of this, they have made their booking policies much more flexible and consumer-friendly.

• Airlines: book now, change flight later with no fees
• Cruises: relaxed cancellation policies and booking options into 2022
• Resorts/hotels: flexible cancellation policies (some are offering free cancellation up to 24 hours before a trip) plus, book now – pay later options

Related: Book Now – Travel Later – Hot Deals

Suppliers are now becoming smarter about helping customers through these uncertain times. But, always be sure, no matter how great the deal sounds to check all the terms and conditions to ensure your protection.

Other steps you can take to be sure you are protected

• Invest in trip insurance
• Consider self-insuring for less expensive trips
• If you have miles, use them to allow for even easier flight cancellations

And to really make sure that you are prepared for your future travel, consider hiring a travel agent or advisor. They will save you time doing all the research for you, negotiating the best cancellation policies, and supplying you with the many options available to protect your future vacation.

Bottom line

If you are one of the explorers that had to put your travel on pause, we are right there with you. However, there is no reason to continue the wait-and-see approach for planning. Now is the best time to book future travel and we are here to help you!

Are you booking future trips now, Where are you looking to go? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy planning,

Sara