Summer 2022 travel is not easy – here’s how to prepare – WWD

As lazy days at the beach give way to hectic travel adventures, this year’s quintessential summer vacation is all about flexibility.

Like “flying or driving?” What were the current trends? or “Hotel or Airbnb?” It has become a forum for some travelers to postpone plans or cancel them altogether. Instead of conjuring up images of sailing on the Adriatic, cycling through the Dolomites or shopping in Rome through Florence, many international flyers are imagining airport security lines, flight cancellations and overbooked seats on Mediterranean beaches.

Travel chaos abounds – but it hasn’t stopped eager holidaymakers. Instead of canceling your trip entirely, AskThePilot.com founder Patrick Smith suggests building in an emergency plan.

“The current situation at airports is a testament to people’s willingness to endure and the sacrifices people make for vacations,” Smith said. “The ongoing chaos and congestion is encouraging people to review the flexibility of their vacations and include time when things don’t work as planned. Flights are delayed. Flights are cancelled. Connections are lost.”

Flight times are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and it’s wreaking havoc on fast-travel travelers. “If you’re going somewhere for three or four days and you’re a day and a half late getting there, that can throw everything out the window. It’s important for people to build their vacations around contingencies. Have a Plan B and a Plan C. If a flight is delayed, we’ll do it. The flight “If it’s cancelled, we’ll do this. Maybe even change the destination at the last second,” says Smith.

It’s important to buy tickets that allow flexibility, according to Smith, and cancellations can provide opportunities to explore new cities. “Above all—be patient and don’t panic if things go wrong,” says Smith. “Hopefully, after the summer rush, the industry will begin to calm down. Staffing levels will improve and things will improve to a point hopefully around the holidays. (Smith has postponed his plans to visit Asia until the fall.)

Meanwhile, those who have not given up hope are pushing forward by plane, train, car and bus. And yes, “bleisure” stays that combine business and leisure are a thing. A spokeswoman for Enterprise Holdings said that and revenge travel more than two years into the outbreak are car rental reservations. Florida, Hawaii, California, New York and Nevada are top destinations for travelers. While fleet deliveries have improved significantly since last year, global chip shortages and other supply chain constraints are affecting new car deliveries, the spokesman said.

Beachgoers may be reluctant to dive off the coast given the media’s enthusiasm for reports of shark attacks. But those great white paint brushes aren’t just a click away. Last year, there were 71 shark attacks, including nine fatal ones, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. Last year, Florida had the most shark bites – 28 – followed in that order by Australia, Hawaii, South Africa, South Carolina, California, North Carolina, Reunion Island, Brazil and the Bahamas.

Although it’s more of a rigamarole than a string of summer escapes, Alastair Toman, CEO of Freehand/Generator, which oversees 15 properties in the United States and Europe, clearly has a vengeance. Gen Z and Millennials are leading the charge, with many heading out to celebrate the end of the school year, graduation or to make up for missed trips in the past two years.

Exacerbating the rise of summer vacations are families, many of whom choose to get together in condominiums and condominiums. Interestingly, many summer vacationers are embarking on city breaks bound for New York, Miami, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona and London. Part of the demand in European cities comes down to people being able to travel by train or car, Thomann says.

Togetherness is on the mind of many, Thoman said, noting that the properties are often rented by groups of friends who want to “have a good time together.”

Inflation, the spending crisis and the cost-of-living crisis have permeated the European market, and Toman says there are concerns about luxury properties. “Do people spend that kind of money on luxury vacations? It is a concern for our industry. The world is great right now, but how is it going to evolve in the next few months with the cost of living, inflation and more?

A less expensive road trip option. AAA predicted that nearly 48 million people would travel 50 miles or more from home during the Fourth of July weekend — an all-time record. The road rush was an indication of what people will do for the rest of the summer, AAA’s Andrew Gross said. “That surprised us because you don’t think we’re going to set records with these high gas prices,” he said.

He said people may be choosing “closer places” that allow them to get out of the city without racking up miles. For some, this equates to the most affordable route, and for others, it’s a way to avoid the hassle of air travel. “If you drive, you can choose as you go. You can choose the road and who sits next to you. You can’t discount that,” Gross says with a laugh. “And you can throw a lot more stuff in the trunk.”

Gas prices, however, can affect car travel, Gross said. Sixty percent of respondents to a March AAA survey said they would change their driving habits or lifestyle when gas hit $4 a gallon, and 75 percent said they would get $5. “Well, we hit both of those marks,” says Gross.

Despite the possible headaches, many are still excited about flying to Europe. To secure trips, travelers can book airline tickets and hotel stays with rewards points and miles and purchase travel insurance, says ThePointsGuy.com Global Features Editor Melanie Lieberman.

“We’re seeing people want to have a more immersive experience where they’re going. They’re generally traveling longer and staying in one place longer. Part of that, of course, is because travel is more complex. Once they’re where they’re going, people want to stay for a minute,” she says. There is a lot of excitement around. They are eager to get back there and meet the people and places they visit.

After nearly 300 million people flocked to the United States’ national parks last year, returning visitors and first-timers should plan ahead. Reservations are required through the US National Park Service for Glacier National Park, Yosemite National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and other areas. In fact, the hiker’s “run-run” ode—you must run whatever takes you into the woods—is perfect for summer vacationers. Some are trying to embrace streaming instead of renting checked luggage, sporting goods and buying essentials upon arrival. Remember when high rollers used to FedEx their luggage?

People have fallen out of favor with long weekends and short impromptu jaunts, for financial reasons and less likely to be delayed options, such as early morning flights, Lieberman says.

“We’ve seen a lot of schedule cuts as airlines everywhere try to make sure they’re able to staff and operate flights on schedule. We’re reminding people to expect congestion, delays and disruptions,” Lieberman said, adding that many vacationers are booking their trips by a day or two as a precaution. London Heathrow Air Routes have told them to stop selling some tickets for winter flights.

“What you see at Heathrow is indicative of what is happening in the industry. “The industry is trying to meet demand and avoid problems,” says Lieberman.

Some travelers, who have seen an increase in ridership, prefer trains for sightseeing.

Amtrak saw more than 80 percent of its ridership return for fiscal year 2019 levels nationally, with the Northeast Corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston popular. Service Extensions Travelers to Burlington, Vermont and Newport will be able to hop on a Seastreak ferry from Providence with a new partnership.

While travel is popular, the risk of Covid-19 remains, and there are still some places with testing requirements.

The Canadian government has reinstated mandatory random testing at four major airports for those entering Canada by air. When the United States lost its vetting requirement for international flyers, that certainly gave people some peace of mind that they could travel abroad without worrying about being arrested. “If we’re seeing a resurgence of testing, that has the potential to prevent some people from traveling abroad,” Lieberman says. “This is definitely something to watch.”