Travelers have a new world of options as borders around the globe reopen. You can choose to stay put at home, or travel across continents. 2022 offers unique opportunities for a bucket-list adventure. These destinations, which have been neglected for nearly two years, are ready to receive international visitors. Change is a catalyst for opportunity. So what are you waiting to do? This is the time to organize to make your 2022 vacation unforgettable.
Plan according to your passions
It can be overwhelming to choose what and where to go. There are so many great opportunities to travel. Here’s a tip if you are having difficulty getting started: ask yourself, “What are my passions?” What outdoor activities are my favorite? There are likely to be travel options for your passions. Are you a hiker? Do you prefer riding your bike around the world? You can also take trips that combine biking, hiking, and water sports such as rafting, so you can enjoy a little bit of everything. Do you love history? You can take a deeper dive into historic cultures and events with some of the great trips. Do you love wine and food? Choose a trip that offers amazing meals and wine tastings. There are so many choices, it’s hard to choose the right one. It’s worth doing some research. You can use blogs as well as travel guides or top 10 lists to plan your trip.
Book Early
The pandemic has created unprecedented demand for travel. This is the best time to book your trip early. If you plan to travel within the country (such as to one of our incredible national parks, or to regions that are known for their great outdoor adventures), expect hotels and tour operators to sell out quickly. Travel companies and airlines offer unparalleled flexibility to their customers. This means that booking early can be a win-win situation for travelers. You’ll have more options and less risk if you book early. You can lock in your plans early and then relax as you count down the days to your epic adventure.
Treat Yourself
An important lesson (among many!) The most important lesson we have learned in the past two years is that life is precious. We shouldn’t delay living a good life. You can’t take your bank accounts with you wherever you go. Life is meant for living. Get out there and start using your vacation days. Now is the best time to go big. There are many opportunities to see famous sites that will be uncrowded next year. This is a great time to check off a bucket-list location. Remember Mark Twains famous quote:
“Twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed in the things that you didn’t do than the ones that you did.” Don’t waste your time with the bowlines. You can sail away from safe harbor. Take advantage of the trade winds to your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Building connections – Old and New
You’re likely to be like many others and want to reconnect with your family and friends that you have been missing for some time. Maybe you want to increase your social circle and build new relationships. You can do both with travel. You can create opportunities to make meaningful connections with your loved ones and also open yourself up to new friendships. Traveling is often a time when we make new friends and strengthen our relationships. This is what you should keep in mind as you choose where and with whom you will travel in 2022. You have many options, whether you’re looking for a multi-generational family vacation or an private adventure along with old friends, or a solo trip of discovery. The road ahead is filled with exciting possibilities. Choosing the right travel companions can make your experience even more enjoyable.
Be active and get off the beaten path
We’ve all learned something in the last two years: the importance of fresh air, open spaces, off-the-beaten path trails and bicycle routes. 2022 may be the year you ditch the big resorts in favor of smaller boutique hotels, skip the tourist sites and choose to bike rather than watching the world pass by through a glass pane. You might be surprised at the intimacy and richness of small-scale, self-powered travel. Backroads has been pioneering this type of travel for over four decades. We are thrilled that so many people are interested in active travel and are signing up to be part of our journeys which make active travel easier than ever.
