How Baby Boomers Will Travel Like Experts in 2021 and 2022

Traveling in 2021 and 2022 is going to look quite different. With airlines and destinations clamoring for your travel business, the courageous traveler can explore more places for less money. The days of myriads of tourists packed together in the Sistine Chapel or parades of tourists walking down Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras are gone for now. We are entering a new era of exploration, where we will all have a deeper appreciation of our ability to travel and see the world.

The pandemic has taught us that travel has become a more personal adventure and it’s more about exploring the possibilities of where we can go and what we will see. With the ability to work remotely, tourists are more likely to visit, stay, and experience the destination a little longer instead of just seeing the highlights and moving on to the next place. For destinations that offer a more personalized experience, this type of travel will see an increase. How about a tour through Tuscany or Bordeaux? Not ready to travel that far? How about exploring the wineries in Napa Valley?

What the Experts Say

As we travel more in 2021, we will see a shift toward more meaningful travel as the pandemic will continue to limit mass tourism and still affect the over travel industry. When we begin to travel more in 2021, we will be connecting more with loved ones by going on more personal trips. Experts predict that mass tourism will still be scaled back until the end of this year.

Vacations that focus on more intimate experiences like culinary tours and more personalized adventures are becoming extremely popular. This could be food tours, wine tours, bike tours or adventure tours. Travel advisors are busy looking for destinations for their clients where everyone can have a great time, still be safe and maintain social distancing.  

Travel to national parks has seen a large increase as many travelers are booking vacations to the national parks. The U.S. is home to 63 national parks and 423 national park sites, and it took a global pandemic to make many of us realize just how fortunate we are to have them.

While everyone continues to get vaccinated and some people still afraid to fly or fly internationally, and some borders still closed, we were forced to find solace in our own surroundings. This has led many of us to discover the healing power of nature for the very first time. As bucket-list trips across the world were canceled, Americans finally took the time to camp, hike, sightsee, and unwind in our own backyards — and in doing so we found that sometimes, the trip of a lifetime is just a drive away.

Get Out and Road Trip

There has also been an increase in the demand and sale of RVs. Purchasing or renting an RV is a great way to alleviate cabin fever and explore a destination while enjoying personal control of our environment. Camping has taken on a fresh resurgence along with exploring our national parks, state recreational areas, and local campgrounds.

As an alternative to flying, taking a road trip forces you to slow down and experience the journey. Small roadside stops in quaint local towns not only help the local economies but allows the passer-through to experience the local culture of the state. 

If you do not stop along the way, then the road trip is just a means to an end. Consider taking a back road or coastal route on your next long-haul drive and see more than just the passing highway. Get out, take a back road, and enjoy the journey.

Explore the Great Outdoors

Have you ever considered a camping trip? Camping has a great number of benefits for everyone both young and old that you and your family can enjoy while spending time in the great outdoors.

When you’re camping, you get a chance to get in touch with nature, encounter wildlife and see the stars away from the bright lights of the big city. There’s nothing quite like it. Make sure you and your family take the time to connect with nature while you explore the many benefits of camping.

Camping is great for children and families because it can help strengthen bonds between family members — brothers and sisters, parents and children and the list goes on. You will all return home feeling much stronger as a family group. 

While camping may not be for everyone, exploring the great country and the beauty it has to offer will be an important travel consideration for extended working getaways, adventure seekers, and curious travelers. There are many camping options, and you can find lots of fun adventurous campgrounds in the U.S.

It may be time to explore a “glamping” trip with your girlfriends. Glamping is ideal for adventurers who have a love for the rugged outdoors but don’t want to sacrifice on their modern conveniences.  

There are many popular glamping spots that provide access to gourmet food, hot showers, and comfy blankets. They also have perks like outdoor pools and hot tubs available for those who want to mix Mother Nature with a bit of pampering. A glamping trip would be perfect for a luxurious outdoor adventure. 

Experience an All-Inclusive Resort

If you desire a more pampered getaway, there are lots of great all-inclusive resorts for all types of budgets. An all-inclusive vacation is a one-stop-shop vacation – it is a vacation where everything is included.

All-inclusive resorts come in all shapes and sizes. When you book your all-inclusive resort, you can include your airfare along with your accommodations, so you only pay once for the entire vacation. Your all-inclusive resort includes your meals, drinks, airport transfers, gratuities, entertainment, and activities. 

Common exclusions include spa treatments, purchases at the resort shop, off-site excursions, and some premium activities. However, many all-inclusive resorts offer credits which can be used for spa treatments, excursions, and special dinners. 

Unlike many other types of vacations, an all-inclusive resort includes most of the cost of your trip into a single up-front price. There are very few hidden fees, and you do not have to worry about tipping. You can literally leave your wallet at home and still live like a king.

What About Cruising?

After more than a year stuck on dry land, cruise lovers may be itching to hit the high seas again on their favorite cruise lines. But with rules and regulations about cruising changing, it can be hard to pinpoint when you may be able to hop on board and sail away to paradise – and whether it is safe to do so.

Many cruise lines are instituting flexible options to keep their passengers safe and comfortable. For instance, Avalon Waterways is offering a Peace of Mind Travel Plan for all their 2021 (and potentially 2022) travel bookings. This affords their guests a level of comfort if they need to push out their sailing date by a few months. Many other cruise lines are offering the same type of reassurance, allowing guests to book now and change later.

While the large cruise lines in the U.S. will need to undergo a Conditional Sailing Order to test their safety protocol, the Center for Disease Control is keeping a close eye on how these large ship lines plan to protect their passengers. For larger ships, the trend will be shorter cruises, the elimination of buffet dining, and booking fewer passengers per sailing. They are also requiring the crew and passengers to get vaccinated.

Bucket-List Travel Considerations

Unfortunately, a lot of people wait until they’re ill, reach retirement, or have some sort of life-altering event to really think about all the amazing destinations they want to see before they die. I even know some people who are simply waiting for the “right” moment to travel.

Now might be the time to consider your ultimate bucket-list travel destination. With generous cancelation policies and rescheduling options, great deals on travel destinations, and the world beginning to open it arms and embrace travelers, checking off a destination or two might be just the thing.

With that being said, let me help you create your ultimate travel bucket list today. I want you to be able to look back on your life with happiness and excitement because you went to every place your heart desired.

You may now be able to take that one-week, jammed-packed itinerary and transform it into a two-week, leisurely destination exploration. Think of it as combining your 2020 missed vacation and your 2021 desired vacation together in two glorious weeks.

Final Thoughts

Are you thinking about traveling in 2021 and/or 2022? No matter how or where we travel in 2021, 2022, and beyond, it is an opportunity to explore destinations in a new and more intimate way. Whether it’s a last-minute getaway or a planned immersive stay, we are all looking forward to our next adventure.

Until then, stay inspired!

Cindy