People are looking to book their holidays for 2021

With the vaccine well on its way to becoming a reality and the hope that this will bring the pandemic to an end, people are thinking again of taking vacations in the new year. At the moment flights are very cheap but this is not likely to continue. It is important to make sure you protect your money when you book your holiday for 2021.

People are anxious to get back to some form of normality and that means more than just playing for that Intertops casino bonus. It’s that vacation overseas that many people are thinking about for 2021. Many travel agents are recommending that booking now while prices are low is a good thing as it is thought that when travel restrictions are lifted, prices will rise. However, is it safe to book flights at this time? Is your money protected if the holiday gets cancelled? Not everyone received refunds in 2020 or it took a very long time to get one.

To book now, or not, for that 2021 holiday?
Prices for flights and hotel accommodation is affordable right now. Many companies are offering low prices to encourage people to book. These prices are going to rise when the vaccine is widely distributed and restrictions fall away.

Mike Gooley, founder of Trailfounders said, “As restrictions lift, as they surely will through 2021, the pent-up demand will result in a lack of capacity”. He goes onto to say that “The shortfall in seats will give rise to a sharp hike in future airfares. We can hardly blame the airlines taking the opportunity to repair their massive losses.”

According to Gooley “Those booking now can take advantage of the current bargain prices, safe in the knowledge that so long as they book with a reputable travel organizer, who has refunded in full and promptly throughout, then their only risk is missing out”.

Extra cash to play with?
In 2021 many people are once again looking to vacation overseas. Some may have been hit financially by the pandemic but others may well have saved money by having their 2020 holidays cancelled and due to other restrictions. They could actually have more money to spend on a vacation in the coming year.

A few destinations look promising.

Dubai is becoming very popular especially since it is not necessary to enter quarantine after a visit there.

The Caribbean Islands also continue to be popular as they have experienced low levels of the coronavirus.

Australia, New Zealand, the Maldives, South Africa, African safari countries and the US are destinations that many people will be heading to, according to Travelsupermarket.

Rebecca Murphy from Expedia says “The Maldives, French Polynesia and Barbados are now popular as travelers are dreaming about visiting far-flung places when the time is right.”

Emma Coulthurst from Travelsupermarket says that “people have realized the benefits of more than ever this year of booking a package holiday and we expect the trend towards package holidays, rather than going DIY and booking a flight and package holiday separately to continue in 2021”. She goes on to say “Expect there to be 2021 offers available in the coming weeks. The industry wants and needs bookings as soon as possible and will continue to release good prices to stimulate bookings.”

How to save money on your booking
Flexibility is the key to saving money. It used to be that you could save money by flying at inconvenient times. But Jon Thorn at Skyscanner says “If you can be flexible with your destination or dates, you could bag an even better deal.”  You can also save money by mix and matching your airlines. Flying in with one and changing for the return flight.  

Signing up to receive airline newsletters and to get price alerts you can find some great deals. Also consider flying on days that are not popular is a good way to save money.

The issue of quarantine and its effect on bookings
Experts believe that people are going to choose vacationing in countries where they will not need to quarantine. Until the vaccine is well underway, quarantine is still likely to continue in many countries. According to Coulthurst “With the danger of countries being put on a quarantine list at short notice, many people this winter and into the first part of next year are likely to wait until the last minute to book to go to a destination.”

Is your money safe?
The question that worries most people is, will their money be refunded if their holiday is cancelled or changed in some way?

Travel insurance covers the cost of cancellation due to illness making travel impossible or needing to cut a holiday short if they become ill during the vacation. This insurance will cover medical costs incurred abroad and for lost luggage. However, most insurers will not cover you for Covid-19 related cancellations. Be sure to insure via a reputable insurance company and check these issues. 

Also, if you plan to book independently, be sure to book flights and hotels that allow you to get a full refund at very short notice. Always read the cancellation terms and it would be useful to look at how the company in question behaved towards their customers concerning refunds in 2020.

Credit cards are the safest way to pay. Never pay in cash or with a bank transfer. As already mentioned, insurers will not refund money for covid-19 cancellations.

Brian Brown from Defaqto points out that “If you believe Covid-19 might still be an issue next summer – and it’s unclear as yet if it still be will – you need to look for a policy which at the least covers you for cancellation if you or someone travelling with you contracts Covid-19 and can’t travel.” 

In order not to be faced with huge medical bills, it is important that the policy covers medical expenses if you are abroad and become ill with Covid-19. Don’t go for the cheapest policy and make sure that the policy covers all your needs.

Will vaccination be a prerequisite for travel?
It will be important that you check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office site to find out about the rules of your holiday destination. It will very much depend on the country in question. Some will require testing on arrival while for others showing a negative test result will suffice. However, it is fairly simple to get a Covid-19 test done independently and it may be a good idea to include this cost when budgeting your vacation.

Once vaccination is really underway, it may well be that proof of vaccination will need to be shown prior to being able to travel.

Source: http://bit.ly/2KI92mK