Discounts on
travel abound, but is it worth booking travel now when there’s currently no
vaccine for COVID-19, nor any guarantee you’ll be able to travel safely?<o:p></o:p>As countries
gingerly tread border openings, and wanderlust builds up, people are
increasingly looking forward to time away with loved ones and ticking off
bucket-list adventures. Even better if everyone can stay well and give some
love to the community and the environment. BONUS: less or no crowds!<o:p></o:p>If you have
been dealing with the disappointment of a cancelled trip (as I know many of you
have been/are), it can help mitigate the disappointment and introduce new hope
if you start planning a new one. You don’t necessarily even need to know
yet&nbsp;when&nbsp;you plan to travel. Pick your dream destination and
being the planning process.<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1552733407-5d5c46c3bb3b?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80" alt="green palm tress" style="width: 100%;" class=""> <o:p></o:p>With that being said, the lead time for planning has extended as travellers mull over
longer, themed, and DREAMED OF itineraries. Along with this is a demand for privacy and
space, and higher expectations for cleanliness and well-equipped health
facilities. So settling on a date and locking in your plans is worth
considering. Particularly if you have your heart set on something very specific.<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1532996152552-eaffc4edfc1a?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80" alt="Machu Picchu" style="width: 100%;"> <o:p></o:p>Adventurous
souls are looking to take on epic adventures and reignite their love for
travel, choosing quality over quantity.&nbsp;It’s about the journey, not the destination
is the premise of Find Your Happy Travels, so this is my jam.<o:p></o:p>The new
reality of travel is that you have to be aware of your risk tolerance, advised
of current restrictions and public health guidelines, ALL the details of
booking and insurance policies…my head is exploding just writing this!<o:p></o:p>Let me try
and break this down into bite-sized pieces…&nbsp;<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Poppins, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: normal;">BOOKING POLICIES ARE MORE FLEXIBLE &amp; CONSUMER-FRIENDLY THAN EVER</h3><o:p></o:p>Many airline,
hotels and cruise lines understand it’s difficult to commit to a trip in the
age of Coronavirus. There are just SO many unknowns.<o:p></o:p>Airlines are
saying – book now and you can change the flight for free later. Many have
shifted to temporary policies that allow you to book new flights now through a
certain date and you can cancel for a full refund later, often to make changes
within the next year.<o:p></o:p><h3 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal">PICK THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS</h3>Booking hotels are typically relatively easy since many
properties have fair cancellation policies allowing you to cancel from 24 to 48
hours before check in. Hotels have updated their change and cancellation
policies to be as consumer-friendly as possible. Carefully read the
cancellation information before booking.<o:p></o:p><h3>SELECT THE RIGHT TOUR PACKAGES &amp; GUIDES</h3>It can be challenging to navigate the deposit
and payment cycles when booking tour packages and cruises. Often you have to
pay for much, or even all, of your trip in advance, with steep cancellation
penalties depending on when you pull the plug on the trip. You risk losing
significant cash when cancelling within those date ranges unless you have a
‘cancel for any reason’ travel insurance policy. Travel policies are changing
quickly to address issues relating to Coronavirus. Read the latest details on
the supplier’s website or call to get the most up-to-date information before
booking any package. Or hire a travel professional who is an expert.INVEST IN TRAVEL INSURANCEEspecially when booking pricey vacations, you will want to
purchase trip insurance which includes ‘cancel for any reason terms. This has
often been wise to do in the past anyhow, but it’s crystal clear now that we
just never know what surprises are lurking around the corner. <h3 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal">BE READY TO LOCK IN DEALS</h3>You can absolutely expect to see some deals ahead for flights,
hotels, rental homes, cruises and more, especially during the off-season or as
things begin an initial ramp-up period. If you have already planned, you will
be ready when the time is right to book with confidence. Look for
deals with long windows. Many of the deals I’m seeing apply to travel through
to 2021. Many package deals and cruise lines are offering free upgrades –
rooms, drinks, WIFI, enhanced dining, free day trips and no gratuities. Some of
these perks can easily save you $2,000 on a trip for two.<o:p></o:p><h3 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal">DON'T BE AFRAID TO START OVER</h3>You may postponed a trip and can now start re-planning
the same trip at a later date. BUT, may the trip you originally had planned no
longer fits your interest, budget or the current realities of the world. There
are still many options to consider, and many people are now going all out and
splurging on the vacations they have always dreamed of.<img src="https://ttand.imgix.net/image-1594269393917.png" style="width: 100%;"> <h3 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal">BOTTOM LINE</h3>If you are
one of the many who has put travel on hold in favour of a wait-and-see
approach, I am right there with you. But there’s no reason you should continue
to put a hold on vacation planning. Now is THE best time to start researching
those dream trips, watching for flight and other great deals. Depending on your
desired destination and other preferences the time to re-book may have already
arrived.&nbsp;Keep in mind countless travellers are all re-planning and
re-creating postponed trips just like you are. Don’t worry if you’re not ready to make
reservations today. You can research now and just be ready to pull the trigger
when the time is right.<o:p></o:p>The advice I, and many of my
fellow travel advisors have to give is, PLAN NOW, TRAVEL LATER. Bookings are
coming in for as early as March 2021. Book refundable options, be aware of
cleaning policies, consider domestic travel or close to home first, opt for socially
distant places, take advantage of deals, and assess your own comfort level with
risk prior to booking. <o:p></o:p><h5 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal">Next week: 5
Steps to Planning Your Travel Bucket List</h5><h5 style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;line-height:normal"> </h5><h4><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;letter-spacing:.4pt;mso-ansi-language:
EN-CA;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Questions about
post-pandemic travel? Find my answers to 10 frequently asked questions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/findyourhappytravelscovidquestions" target="_blank">HERE</a></h4>

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