Page 20 - AAA Now – AAA Central Penn – January/February 2022

TRAVEL
If Not Now, Then When?
By Sandy Fenton
Here we are – a new year filled with many wonderful travel and vacation options and opportunities, and yes, we still (unfortunately) have the COVID-19 pandemic hanging over us.
Here are some of the travel trends we can expect for 2022 and beyond:
• The massive pent-up demand to travel continues and many have already booked trips and cruises for this year and 2023. Americans love to travel, and we feel gypped and want to make up for it with longer and more expensive vacations.
We now know and accept that nothing is guaranteed and if you want to go somewhere or see a place you’ve been dreaming about, don’t wait. Contact a AAA trusted travel advisor today.
• Although many travel restrictions have been lifted or are relaxed, having proof of negative COVID-19 test and being fully vaccinated are still key to exploring our world.
• Strict new health, safety and cleaning measures will remain the norm throughout the entire industry. Contactless technology, plexiglass dividers, cleaning robots, hospital-grade air filters, electrostatic sprayers sanitizing surfaces, hand sanitizing stations, indoor mask wearing, social distancing and/or additional medical personnel are already in place, ensuring our safety on land, sea and air.
• Small, all-inclusive luxury cruising is more popular than ever. Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Seabourn are excellent choices, offering guests intimate, spacious, and luxurious cruise vacations with ports of call
all around the world. (World cruises have broken all booking records due to unprecedented demand.)
• High-priced adventure cruising featuring outdoor exploration in the most remote areas of the world continue to soar. Ask your AAA travel advisor about Silversea Cruises, Ventures by Seabourn, Viking excursions and Hurtigruten expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Galapagos, Iceland & the
Northern Lights, the Southern & Northern Polar Regions, Canada’s Northwest Passage and Alaska.
• In person muster drills are gone and now take place in the privacy of your cabin, and the all-you-can-eat buffet is still available, just different. Passengers are now served by crew members behind food stations rather than guest self-serve. Spending days at cruise line private islands, especially amongst the big cruise lines, are part of many Bahama/Caribbean sailings, i.e., Disney Castaway Island and Royal Caribbean at CocoCay.
• No one wants to be nickel and dimed, and the travel industry has listened. Many resorts are offering all-inclusive vacation packages and many premium cruise lines now have beverage and excursion packages for guests.
• Stress-free and less crowded travel experiences combined with meaningful excursions with local experts are in high demand at home and abroad. Private, after-hours small group access to iconic attractions that suffered from over-tourism (think Venice or Dubrovnik) are selling out.
• Longer river cruises. The traditional seven-night European river cruise itineraries are expanding due to consumer demand. Viking River Cruises, Crystal River Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises have several 14- to 21-night sailings on the Danube, Rhine, Mozelle and Rhone rivers. AmaWaterways launched a few 46-night “Seven River” sailings taking 144 guests through 14 countries on four ships and seven rivers, and they are selling out.
• Road trips and domestic destinations that can be reached by direct flights will remain popular choices for families, as will camping, RV, beach, lake, ranch, and golf vacations.
• Spa & wellness retreats are expanding with more on-site yoga instructors, nutrition experts, spiritual guides, medical personnel, and fitness leaders to help guests relax, heal and recharge.
It has never been more important to have a trusted and experienced AAA travel advisor. Changes will continue to happen, and sales, promotions and member benefits will sell out quickly. You need someone looking out for you!
”Let’s Talk Travel with AAA,” hosted by Sandy Fenton, is broadcast Saturdays 11:00 AM to noon on iHeartRadio’s WHP580. For more information, go to whp580.com and click on the link to “Let’s Talk Travel.”
20 I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022