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 | | Daily reported coronavirus cases in the United States, seven-day average.The New York Times |
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Last summer the travel industry got a meaningful bump as vaccinated sightseers left home — in some cases for the first time in over a year. There was optimism in the industry that the trend would continue through the winter months. Omicron changed that. |
The variant, which emerged right before the holiday season, led to a wave of travel restrictions set by countries across the world, and many people canceled their winter trips — especially international ones. |
But the crest of the Omicron wave is reviving hopes for a brighter year ahead, and the travel landscape is quickly changing. For a look at how we might think about vacations in 2022, I spoke to my colleague Ceylan Yeginsu, who covers travel for The Times. |
How do people feel about traveling now? |
We know a lot more about Omicron than we did a month ago. Also, a lot of people have recently had Covid because Omicron is highly contagious. So there's this new confidence and relief that, "OK, this isn't so bad." And people are thinking, "I've got my vaccines, maybe I have had the virus and I have antibodies, and now I'm ready to plan a trip." |
So travel operators and search engines are seeing a sudden surge in demand. People are looking to take bigger trips because they're seeing a window to travel. They are worried that the next variant might be more dangerous and things might close down again. So they're looking to travel during the spring, even toward the summer, and they are hoping they can take bigger trips both domestically and internationally. |
There's been a lot of talk of the virus becoming endemic. Is that playing a role? |
People are just so fed up; we're entering the third year of this virus, and if we go from pandemic to endemic then people might be comfortable taking bigger trips — these bucket-list trips that they've always wanted to go on and that they've saved up for. The focus here is international. And it's not just European cities: It's bigger trips like safaris, and adventure travel, and exotic islands. So there's a lot of cautious optimism, but obviously, we don't know what will happen. People are very optimistic about the summer, but they're just not so sure about next winter. |
How should Americans be thinking about travel this year? |
I think you first have to look and see what risks you would be comfortable with. Are you OK with the idea that you might get Covid in another country and that you might have to quarantine? Or that you may have to go to a hospital? If the answer is no, then I think you need to look closer to home. |
If you're thinking of traveling internationally, you should check the status of the virus in the destinations you are going to, to see if the hospitals are overwhelmed. What restrictions are in place? What is their health care system like? Currently, because of Omicron, many hospitals are overwhelmed in many countries. So it's really important to weigh the pros and cons and assess your comfort level. |
I think my advice would be to proceed with caution.And, if you can, book at the last minute because then the chances of the rules changing will be slimmer. My biggest advice would be to get travel insurance, because that way, if things do change, you get your money back or you can rebook for another time. |
Earlier in the pandemic there was a glut of good deals. Are there any left? |
Because demand is much higher now it's harder to get deals, but they still exist, especially last-minute deals. (Here's how to snag them.) |
At the same time, more and more people are actually booking their travel through travel operators and tour agents because they can get more information about the pandemic and the risks. They feel it's safer and more secure to do it through an agency than by themselves, because sometimes you can miss the fine print for things like health insurance or refund policies, and the whole process can be quite stressful. |
What are the travel trends you're seeing now? |
We just put out our "52 Places" list, which is our annual list of places to go. And we did it differently this time. We looked at places that travelers can go and contribute to positive change. So, basically, places that are taking steps to battle climate change or conserve wildlife or empower local communities. That's something we're seeing a lot of interest in. |
But another big trend this year is family travel: reuniting with family in other places. Lots of families still haven't seen each other for years, and now that people feel more confident traveling during the pandemic, they're willing to go further to reunite with their families and loved ones and friends. |
There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding travel in 2022, so vacationing nearby holds a lot of appeal for those who want to avoid the headaches of testing and travel restrictions. For inspiration, we asked readers for their favorite local destinations. Thanks to everyone who wrote in. |
"We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my local travel recommendation is Jenner-by-the-Sea. It's where the Russian River meets the ocean, creating an enclave that draws scores of seals and pelicans and other birds. Spending our days hiking, photographing wildlife and enjoying the stunning Northern California coast has been a balm in these troubled times. After our first weekend, my husband and I knew regular trips to Jenner would be key to maintaining our sanity through this pandemic." — Isae Wada, San Rafael, Calif. |
"The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in northwest lower Michigan are a great summer destination. Small-town charm (Glen Arbor especially) along with old-time fishing villages (Glen Haven, Leland) and surprisingly good wineries (Sutton's Bay, Mission Peninsula — Madonna's family winery included) due to being on the 45th parallel all add up to a great destination for those in the Midwest, or anywhere for that matter." — Brian Wahl, Pleasant Ridge, Mich. |
"Spend a day in Baltimore. Go the Baltimore Museum of Art, have lunch at their gourmet restaurant, stroll in the Sculpture Garden (only open in good weather), then visit the Walters Art Museum and enjoy Mt. Vernon Square, a slice of Europe. Have dinner at Helmand Restaurant — delicious Afghan food. Take the train. It's beautiful!" — Constance Vidor, New York City |
"Front Royal, VA! It's the head of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, surrounded by mountains, with lots of hiking of all levels in the area. The area is also home to dozens of wineries, distilleries and breweries with amazing views and excellent drinks. The town itself has a bustling Main Street with cute shops, excellent restaurants and events all the time. There are farmers' markets and pick-your-own farms scattered around too." — Kristi, Linden, Va. |
"The North Georgia Mountains — about two hours north of Atlanta. Several quaint small towns and wonderful outdoor space. Union County is home to Vogel State Park, numerous hiking areas with spectacular waterfalls, and access to the Appalachian Trail. In the summer we have lakes for water play. Cabin rentals allow for families to enjoy the area without being around a lot of people. Visit Blairsville, Blue Ridge and Hiawassee." — Judy Jolley, Blairsville, Ga. |
"Book a couple nights in Borrego Springs, Calif., in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Marvel at the stars at night, hope for desert flower and bighorn sheep sightings, hike the slot canyons, find peace and quiet and solitude — and it's citrus season, too, so pick some up on the way home!" — Gail Rosemeyer, Orange County, Calif. |
What else we're following |
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