Vacation Planning Strategies

I'm still holding out for last quarter 2021 because of the second point, also to try and use a credit, but I am not holding my breath. I have advocated Point 3 is possible and as the least likely to create anxiety and frustration, but seem to now be at Point 1 as I am not sure that my long term plan for Jan 2022 will happen. Though I am typically a long term shopper, particularly for flights, I have learned that booking too far ahead leads to changes by the airline that mess up my plans....so even before Covid, I was intending to go to a 5 month plan rather than my normal 8-13 month plan. Now, post covid, I will be retired, so have the opportunity to take advantage of last minute deals and steals. As I have a list of semi planned penciled in trips, I can most likely still do a last minute trip with some research previously done. If not, I have the luxury of time and can research on the ground.

I could plan a trip in three months or less in the before times, and I expect to do so when the time comes that I feel ready to travel. The places I tend to go are not booked up in the times of year I travel, and I don't really expect that to change. I won't be rushing to Rome, Venice, or Florence for example--I would expect the rebound to be quite robust in places like that. I think I can probably recreate the ill-fated trip I had planned for 2020--northern Greece--and not find any appreciable difference, except I'll be wearing a mask on the plane (I'll do that from now on--I can't count the number of times I got sick from a nearby passenger on a plane), and I may have to present a vaccine passport or take a test. I'll probably pay more for the privilege of being miserable on a plane, as I don't expect the airlines to learn anything from this experience and pack us in like sardines again. I assume my miles are now worth less, so I likely won't get the upgrade I had secured for last May, alas--I am healthy and I can afford to travel, so I am indeed grateful.
Now is the time to start considering places that are less traveled--there is so much out there to see and enjoy, and so little time.

Usually, I would book my flights to Europe at least 5-6 months in advance, and then start booking the lodging shortly thereafter. Post-COVID, I'm likely to book airfare nor more than 3-4 months in advance so that I can be sure the flight will happen and have less chance of schedule changes. I've always booked refundable lodging, so that won't change. I will probably hold off booking European travel until 2022, just to avoid disappointment. However, I'm fortunate to be retired in September 2021, so if a good deal comes up with only a few weeks' or months' notice, I can take advantage of it. At lot depends on when the countries I'm most interested in open their borders to American tourism.

We rescheduled a Switzerland tour from last Sep to this and had the tour company's air dept reserve flights months ago. While we might have been able to find cheaper flights on our own If we'd waited, the tour company won't charge for the flights until final payment for the tour is due. Last year the date for final payment slid as they adjusted to hopes some tours might go. We're ready if the dam breaks and protected if it doesn't.

I'm the same as Kathy, I typically book flights 6 months out if it's international. Hotels I'll book as soon as I've confirmed the destination and dates always with the ability to cancel. Even preCovid I would do that. I seem to recall if you prepay when booking with Hertz you paid less but if you canceled there was money loss. I got burned by that once a twice and no more will I prepay for travel.

The exception to that is tours and admissions. I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year with those. My current plan is Rome for 8 nights in October 2021. I would normally stay a few nights in a different city but my gut says for the first international trip to keep it as simple as possible and I'll plan on only sleeping in Rome.

I am prepared for the fact that trip may not happen and I have domestic trips loosely planned as a backup. As well as a winter trip to Costa Rica depending on covid of course.

I'm hoping by mid-July to be able to lay more concrete plans down like Museum admissions, tours & flights. If it seems like things are opening up & stable I may pull the trigger on flights sooner. Right now I'm not comfortable committing to more than a hotel I can cancel.

I'm unsure what to do about 2022. I think it will be way busier. I'd hoped to do 1 week in France & 1 week in Italy in spring of 2022. I'm inclined to say I won't start booking that until Oct 2021 but I am concerned that the demand will outweigh availability. Right now I'm monitoring.

I'm a solo traveler so it is fairly easy for me to pull the trigger last minute if need be. I don't prefer it though.

Allan, we are OK with being in the second wave of tourists, so not planning anything other than having an idea of several places foreign and domestic where we want to go. I am confident we can make quick plans on the spur of the moment if miraculously travel suddenly opens up. If we miss some bargains, so be it. I'd rather do that than chase refunds as in all the horror stories we've heard here. But I think there's less likely to be a sudden opening-up, than a piecemeal, conditional situation, that will make planning irrelevant.

My strategy is not to plan at all, and certainly never that far in advance (have no idea what's going to happen months from now, let alone a year from now). I don't need more than a week to plan anything, so no loss of time trying to hedge and guess based on so many unknowns. I think this is a perfect time to reassess planning habits...the ground has shifted seismically so perhaps over-planning (as if things were normal and predictable) is not such a good strategy? For me, the key is flexibility and not putting pressure on anything to happen on any pre-determined timeframe.

I think one issue that a lot of people have is having money, perhaps non-refundable reservations, and airline points tied up in vouchers that constantly need to be shifted to a new "placeholder"...that is a pain for sure. I had to do that for one domestic flight, and that's all I'm willing to do (and only because no other choice).

I’m with Agnes on this one. I’m not planning because nobody knows how this pandemic is going to play out. Yes, the vaccines are a positive, but there are too many other variables to make planning, whether it be late this year or next, anything more than guesswork. And having refundable money out there is no guarantee as we learned with our food tours through Eating Europe. Basically, even though we followed the rules on cancelling our refundable booking they basically said, we don’t have the money so here is a voucher (useless for me).

Interesting. I hadn't heard of that happening but it is definitely something to consider.

I'm only doing domestic travelling this year, mostly to National Parks. As for 2022, I haven't made any plans yet and don't feel comfortable doing so until we get closer and see how things are going. I do anticipate a travel surge, but I don't think it will be as bad as some people are saying. For one thing, a lot of people took a big economic hit during the pandemic and have priorities other than taking trips. Also, I've read several articles about how airfare may be very expensive for a while post-pandemic. Some of the low cost carriers may never come back. London and Paris will probably be very crowded, but of course they were already before the pandemic.

This is a struggle. I love to plan, so I am trying to balance planning with being able to flex quickly. I do have Germany ready to go in September, but only with flights (with miles that can be reinstated) and a first destination (nothing paid yet) booked. I can quickly make decisions if necessary - or cancel everything and wait. But I really WANT to have it all planned (lol) so am trying to find a new balance.

Like you, Allan, I had Scotland 2020 all done - and actually booked flights (with miles) for June 2021. At some point, I decided it was too early so I cancelled and put it back on the schedule for June 2022. Nothing lost - not even much time (which I have plenty of). I know NOTHING but I do think a year will make a big difference. So at some point I will re-book those flights (early because that gets me the best combo of miles and flight times) and then see how it’s going. So I will probably be working on those flights as soon as they open.

But for changing strategies: I am making sure, as I research lodging, that places have free cancellation. I almost always book direct but am double checking that versus, say, booking.com to be sure I have flexibility. And for now, I will probably stick with booking on American because that is what flies from my city and even if I only had a voucher, I know I can use it.

Sometimes I read about people waiting for travel to “get back to normal”. I don’t know if that’s a legit hope but I do think it may take years. So I just need to be able to flex with that also, as I plan. Go to the places on my LONG list that fit with what is workable for me - which will be different than for other people. So I may need to prioritize my travel in a different way than I have so far. And that’s ok. I have had many of the U.S. national parks on my list for “later”. I have just moved them up and moved other destinations down. For now.

I am still processing the feeling of having both my shots, and my closest friends and 2 of my daughters also mid-process or completed. I haven’t changed any of my daily life, but I didn’t expect the feeling of having my load lifted somewhat. And that’s good!

P.S. Maybe I will see you guys on Mull in 2022!

Those with 'credits' may want to revisit refund options.

Those with free cancellation bookings may want to revisit these regularly. In fact, screen save, or get confirmation by email that it was free cancellation when you booked - and what the final date to cancel was. Some places are changing their cancellation dates and policies, so you want proof for what was current when you booked.
The other day, our Canadian news agency reported that Air Canada was in discussion for some bail outs. One of the key stipulations what that they had to allow refunds for people holding credits or needing to cancel under covid rules. In early covid days at least, they refused refunds and Cdn government never dictated that they 'had to' - like the US airline situation. You may recall non-Canadians with now useless Air Canada credits. So if that is you, you may want to keep an ear to the news and maybe you can salvage something. I'll be sure to post if I get news.
Certainly, now isn't the time to throw more money on something. Other than possibly booking some hotel nights - and most likely with an international company - I won't be buying anything 'refundable'.

No strategy for this year, but if travel to Europe opens up late in the year, I’ll get my flight and worry about lodging when I get there, if need be. We can always stay in small towns where few tourists ever go. For now I’ll be happy with domestic travel and hope the airlines don’t continue to change flight times every couple weeks.

Nearly the entire population of the United States will be visiting national parks and beaches this summer. Good luck.

To be really safe and prudent we may want to reschedule international travel to 2030.

P.S. Maybe I will see you guys on Mull in 2022!

Travelmom, if we follow our 2020 itinerary we'll be spending 2 nights on Mull in June. My hometown is named after Calgary Beach on Mull and I've always wanted to go see it. I've discovered that that a lot of Calgarians make the pilgrimage if they're going to Scotland.

Two trips last year got upended, but flight prices in January were too good to pass up ... for a departure on Sept. 21, 2021. At this point, we’ve got a round trip flight booked, and a 1-week stay at a B&B in southwestern Tuscany. The remaining 4 weeks of the 5 week schedule aren’t nailed down. By June, when the vaccination record for the USA is known, and the tourism acceptance for Italy is determined, we’ll know whether to proceed with reservations and detailed plans. Options are being considered, but not totally seriously right now.

By June, if not sooner, we’ll either start finalizing the plans; lodging, number of nights, and where in Italy, bicycle rental details, cooking classes; or scrap Italy, collect refunds, and redirect trip arrangements to a place where we can go. Maybe Alaska.

We pushed our fall 2020 cancelled trip to the first week of October 2021. I did that last summer when it was a sure thing the trip was not happening. Same hotels, and I only got $2k in vouchers fir all my tours, so rebooked those. The only thing I’m waiting on is finding out if we will be allowed on. As soon as Italy gives the Okay, I’m booking my flight.

Going forward, I don’t know how far I’ll wait to book my flights. As long as there is no change fees, I’m not too concerned.

But I think there's less likely to be a sudden opening-up, than a
piecemeal, conditional situation, that will make planning irrelevant.

Makes sense. Not only certain countries opening up sooner, but certain countries easing restrictions for returning travellers. I suspect Americans will be travelling sooner with less restrictions when returning home than we in Canada will.

I am still working full time at a job that is scheduled out nearly a year ahead. Plus, I enjoy the planning stage of a trip the most. I usually plan a year in advance. I had a flight to Europe in May 2021 that I have delayed until July and I fully expect that it will need to be delayed again.
I have changed my planning strategy for this year and next. I have explained to my employer that whenever it is possible for me to go, I am going and they will just have to figure it out. I did not use more than half of my vacation in 2020 so I have earned some flexibility.

must be a very understanding employer

I enjoy the planning stage of a trip the most. I usually plan a year
in advance.

I always wondered if I plan plan a year in advance because I'm anal or because it's half the fun. Probably both.

I am only claiming the “It’s half the fun” part. Lol!

And I will have 4 nights on Mull next year early June, if all goes well. :)

Nearly the entire population of the United States will be visiting
national parks and beaches this summer. Good luck.

I'll second that, Mike. kblur9, if you are planning to explore any of the most popular parks, I sure hope you either have booked or are in the process of booking your accommodations. Even pre-COVID, we've made our fall (Sept) reservations in or near the Utah/Arizona parks 8-12 months in advance and sometimes haven't been able to snag our first choices of rooms. Mandatory, timed-entry, pre-reserved shuttle tickets for accessing Zion Canyon has thrown a new-ish challenge at that one: LOTS of confused posters about those on TA. The NPS implemented this last season to try and manage the size of the mob.

If what I've been seeing just for Spring Break bookings is any indication, it's going to be particularly challenging year for the parks already experiencing over-visitation numbers.

We’re not attempting Europe until summer 2022. I’m going to start checking airfare as soon as it’s available. (Maybe this summer). Try to lock things down. My husband and I have had our first dose of the vaccine already and I’m hopeful our kids will be eligible late summer/early fall. I love planning and already know where we’ll be going and for how long. I’ll plan to book museum reservations early too.