New pandemic travel trends
Not long ago I wrote what we could expect in terms of traveling this year. This time I’d like to present some concrete holiday trends predictions which we are likely to see as soon as traveling is possible and safe 😉 What will there be a high demand for? Dying to travel again and looking forward to holidays? Let’s take some time to reflect upon our chances for an exciting holiday in the difficult 2021 😊
Into the wild
Wilderness makes maintaining social distancing feasible, hence it’s no wonder that spending time outdoors is a clear 2021 trend. Admiring nature out and about in the fresh air (preferably literally “fresh”, i.e. unpolluted 😉) is the essence of the Norwegian idea of friluftsliv, i.e. living outdoors. It makes the hard months of the pandemic a little more bearable, doesn’t it? Any outdoor activity, such as climbing, cycling, trekking, fishing, sailing, a safari, or simply a beach day is simply a relatively easily available option during a time when many places are still beyond our reach. A peaceful seaside, lake, mountains or less popular towns in some islands off the beaten track can be both our chance and reality this year – camping and glamping will be an amazing adventure! ❤️ Patagonia or the Australian outback offer such wilderness that we can safely treat them as 2021 wellness.
Social distancing
Isolation holidays may be a necessity. Avoiding crowds and staying in small hotels or private bungalows in secluded locations? Better safe than sorry. The goal of limiting contact with other people in common areas such as corridors, canteens, or lounge rooms, as well as breakfast served in the room, masks and disinfectants as standard hotel room equipment, is to maintain social distance. Most likely, special hotel services will become increasingly popular. For example, a hotel in Zurich offered small apartments with the so-called covid service, i.e. meals cooked by professional chefs delivered via room service, ordered with an iPad. Moreover, the cost of stay included around-the-clock health monitoring, and even in-room coronavirus testing. Norway came up with innovative Birdbox cabins for two guests at a time, located in pristine areas with minimal footprint. Although these examples are rather extreme, they actually show how flexible the sector is, and how dynamically it can react to changes. Let’s hope that such services soon won’t be necessary, but for now it’s great that we have such opportunities, and so those of us who suffer from fernweh can feel looked after. Isolation holidays are (hopefully) a temporary solution, for – after all – traveling is not really about staying away from others. The question is: are we really so keen on social distancing after such a long time? 😉
Longer holidays
How about a longer holiday and exploring the area in depth? ❤️ Due to fewer flights, traveling further and staying there for a longer time (often avoiding crowded transit areas), longer holidays seem like a good option now. After months at home many of us are craving some exoticism and variety, and thanks to our growing optimism we may consider Peru, Ecuador or Thailand. Since such holidays are more demanding, they require more planning in order to feel safe and not to overpay.
Workation, i.e. working while on holidays, is one consequences of the growing popularity of longer trips. In this case, we are not away from work, but rather away from our workplace 😉Working while on a holiday can be a captivating experience. In fact, many such holidaymakers work more efficiently on workation than in the office. However, in this case it should be stressed that holidays understood as time off work are anachronistic – the goal is to be away from home, and to experience the local atmosphere.
Individual experience
Everyone is different and has their own preferences, also in terms of holidays. Never before have clients’ expectations played such a huge role. The sense of comfort and safety is crucial, but at the same time we don’t want to give up on what we love the most. An individual look at travelers’ needs is an incentive to come up with an individual offer for a wide spectrum of consumers, including those who often feel excluded for various reasons (the LGBTQ+ community, plus-size holidaymakers, people with disabilities, the blind or the deaf). Many families with children who don’t feel like staying in all-in hotels go for individual travel agendas coupled with a complex organization. A personalized offer characterized by attentiveness, in which we make final decisions, picking accommodation and style of traveling, becomes a remedy for today’s difficult times. Longer, family-focused holidays allow us to enjoy a holiday on our own terms – a crucial factor for parents. Going away with our loved ones equipped with a ready-made, flexible agenda gives you freedom and fun. Experiencing traveling together is priceless, especially nowadays.
Road trip
The will to travel the world is typically fuelled by curiosity, exposure to new experiences, and openness. At the same time those factors often depend on one’s perspective and to what extent one is keen on life on the road, rather than the holiday destination itself. Consequently, road trips are bound to gain popularity. This trend may translate into new destinations – perhaps ones we would not normally think of – and slight modifications to our bucket lists. Travelling in a recreational vehicle (RV) will probably be popularized, together with travelling by car. Point-to-point holidays, i.e. trips during which we visit one place and return home, may be replaced by holidays during which we will be visiting several places at a slower pace, and actually enjoying the journey – a substantial part of the whole experience.
Revenge travelling
Let me conclude this post with a new, quite funny term: revenge travelling. The goal of revenge travelling is to (exceedingly) compensate for the long months spent at home 😄 Some people (especially those suffering from severe wanderlust) are even planning to travel more than before the pandemic, so that they can make up for it 😉 Travel bubbles encourage some people to travel and show how governments can successfully cooperate in difficult times. Short weekend wonders may also prove to be safer and allow you to remain in your comfort zone – we can minimize the risk of disappointment, and simultaneously escape the mundane everyday reality (if for a brief moment). These days being able to travel has become a luxury, so when we manage to combine it with relaxation, the result is a genuine relaxury.
What exactly will 2021 bring us? Who knows! 😉 Still, the situation should not discourage us from dreaming and planning. With some flexibility, we can actually benefit from making reservations well in advance. You may call me a dreamer (…but I’m not the only one!), but I do look forward to better days, which – I hope – will come soon. And, of course, I am really looking forward to making all our holiday dreams come true.❤️