8 Tips for Summer Travel in 2022
Ready to get away from it all for a little while? Whether you’re traveling for a weekend getaway or a month-long, epic international adventure, there are several things you should know about traveling this summer. Unfortunately, creating travel plans isn’t quite as easy as it was in the pre-Covid era. Booking flights, staying within your budget, and navigating airports can all come with their fair share of challenges. However, this shouldn’t stop you from going! There are several simple ways to prepare for your trip, from building an itinerary with online organization tools to adopting a new strategy when it comes to packing your bags.
In this article, we’ll review some of the things you’ll need to know before you plan your next adventure. We’ll also look at a few strategies for saving a bit of money without sacrificing the comfort and quality of your trip. After all, the experience is supposed to be a relaxing one!
Book Flights as Far in Advance as Possible
It’s no secret that flight prices are on the rise in 2022. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of fuel and the plethora of staff shortages for both airlines and airports, it’s currently necessary to expect the unexpected. To ensure you’re getting the best deals on airfares, it’s a good idea to book sooner rather than later, so you can get a reasonable price on a more reliable airline. While there are still plenty of budget airlines out there that will be happy to sell you on a low, last-minute fare, the odds of flight cancellation for these types of tickets have increased substantially since the start of 2020.
For increased peace of mind when it comes to flying, you may want to consider upgrading your fare so that it includes the option of canceling and refunding your flight at no additional cost. While this will increase the price of your flight, you’ll also have the peace of mind that comes with being able to change your plans as the date of your trip approaches.
Check Covid Restrictions For Your Destination
If you’re planning to book a trip to an international location, you’ll need to check on the destination country’s covid restrictions relative to your citizenship and entry purpose. While many countries have opened their borders and dropped all restrictions (Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Ireland- to name a few), there are still many other countries that aren’t quite ready to let the tourists through the gates just yet. Your ability to enter the country may depend on your vaccination status, as well as your ability to show a recent negative covid test. In June 2022, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan will welcome foreign tourists for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Create an Itinerary Online
An itinerary for your travels helps to keep all your plans on track by serving as a central resource for all critical travel information, as well as a timeline for mapping out where you’re staying and what you’re going to see. To ensure your itinerary is accessible from anywhere in the world, it’s a good idea to create this document online, with the help of an online organization tool like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Bublup. Your itinerary essentially makes it easy to stay organized both before and during your trip, and storing it online means it’s one less thing you have to worry about printing and packing.
Book Refundable Fares
If you’re worried about having to change your plans before you travel but still want to get the best deals on hotels and airfare, it’s a good idea to choose refundable and free-cancellation when you book. Everything from your airfare to your hotel and bus tours can be booked without worrying about losing your money. In the event that you aren’t able to travel due to changing border restrictions or catching covid, you’ll quickly be able to claim a refund. And while we hope that isn’t what happens, there’s still a decent shot that it might.
Pack as Light as Possible
Depending on how far you’re traveling and what airfare or bus tickets you’ve purchased, you can save a considerable amount of money by simply packing less. Baggage fee prices are continuing to climb, particularly when you need to pay them at the airport. If you do need to bring an extra checked suitcase or overhead bag, booking in advance online can save you as much as $50 per bag. Packing a lighter bag also makes it easier to carry all your essentials as you transit from one place to the next.
Reconsider Renting a Car
Rental cars have reached their highest ever price this year, due to part shortages in manufacturing facilities, staff shortages within rental companies, and the rising price of fuel. If there’s a way to avoid renting a car for all or a portion of your travels, then you might be able to save a considerable amount of cash that can go towards other fun travel-related expenses, such as restaurants, event tickets, and hotel upgrades.
Save Key Locations on Google Maps
Google Maps offers a feature called “saved locations” to all users with a Google account that makes it easy to keep track of where everything is within a certain city or country. To make it easy to map out your trip, consider saving all the relevant locations you’ve added to your itinerary, from your hotel and preferred attractions to the relevant airports and bus stops. All of your saved locations will appear as blue pins on your phone’s Google Maps app, which makes mapping out where you’re going each day a simplified process.
Expect the Unexpected
If you’re ready to plan your next adventure, there are plenty of incredible destinations out there waiting for you this summer. While there are a handful of hassles that come with traveling right now, you shouldn’t let them stop you from taking the vacation you deserve. By preparing for the unexpected hiccups that come with traveling right now, you’re setting yourself up to succeed.
