If you haven’t started planning your travel for this year’s holiday season, you’re already behind. Despite the numerous uncertainties the pandemic has brought to the world, we know that peoples’ appetite for travel has not diminished, especially in the U.S. According to a recent holiday travel report by Sojern, a digital marketing platform for travel marketers, flight bookings for 2021 holiday travel have met or surpassed 2019 levels, and holiday hotel searches have increased far beyond searches in 2019. Additionally, data pulled from our sales team showed 30% more travel start dates, or the day a traveler physically leaves for a trip, for Q4 of this year compared to the total seen in 2019.
Now is the time to plan your holiday travel if you haven’t already. Our team at Seven Corners, a global travel insurance company, has put together the following tips and travel trends to ensure travelers are as safe and prepared as possible heading into this busy holiday season.
1. Plan early.
The best piece of advice I can give to holiday travelers is to start planning now. Our team does not anticipate there being any last-minute holiday travel deals coming up this year, so it’s best to book your travel now to lock in rates. This is especially true if you’re planning to travel internationally. International travel requires planning ahead now more than ever due to the many unknowns that come with the pandemic.
We’ve seen customers starting to plan earlier for international travel through an increase in the amount of time between the point of travel insurance purchased and the trip departure date. Pre-pandemic, the average time elapsed from insurance purchase to trip departure was just over two months. So far in 2021, that time period has increased to three months and six days. Time between the purchase of travel protection and the trip departure has also increased for domestic travel. In 2019, this length of time was two months, and in 2021, it increased to two months and 20 days. Travelers are becoming more aware of the importance of travel insurance when arranging trips and are planning for all aspects of their trip further out.
2. Keep COVID-19 changes in mind.
We know that COVID-19 has introduced new variables when it comes to making travel plans. For example, Hawaii, one of the most popular U.S. destinations right now, requires travelers to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering the state. If visitors are not fully vaccinated, they must provide a negative COVID-19 test administered no more than 72 hours before the final leg of their trip in order to enter and bypass a mandatory 10-day quarantine, per CNN. If you’re considering an international trip over the holidays, know that you’ll need to read your country’s specific requirements before departure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also requires a negative COVID-19 test result from all air passengers entering the U.S. Those entering the U.S. are required to get a viral test within three days before their flight to the U.S. If you’re traveling abroad, this means you need to schedule your COVID-19 test before you head back home. Your hotel may be able to assist with this and may offer testing on-site. If you test positive, you will have to quarantine in your current country until you test negative. This can delay your return and significantly add to trip costs. Travel insurance is especially important to purchase in this instance, as coverage can be provided for the quarantine period if ordered by a doctor. Be sure to check your destination’s specific COVID-19 requirements before leaving and returning home.
3. Check your passport.
should also be aware that it’s taking longer than usual to receive updated passports. The ripple effect of COVID-19 and the economy of scarcity along with worker shortages has created a massive backlog of between 1 and a half to 2 million passport applications, according to a Travel + Leisure article. In fact, the U.S. Department of State (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html) , which issues passports, reports that routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. If you’re planning to travel abroad for the holidays this year, and your passport is currently expired, you may need to stay closer to home.
Keep in mind that passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel, according to a Fastport Passport article. To avoid any unwanted frustration at the airport over the holidays, make sure you check your passport.
4. Start looking for travel insurance, particularly with CFAR and IFAR benefits.
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Whenever you plan a trip, it’s best to look for travel insurance that offers Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) or Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) benefits. CFAR allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason of their choosing, including change of mind or even fear of travel due to COVID-19. IFAR allows travelers to interrupt their trip once it has already begun in the event an emergency comes up and you need to return home early. This benefit is particularly important with the ever-changing travel restrictions for countries and states.
Both CFAR and IFAR reimburse you for 75% of your nonrefundable and insured trip costs if you cancel or interrupt for a reason not otherwise covered. With the uncertainty that COVID-19 brings, it’s a good idea to add these features, especially when booking in advance.
The pandemic has completely changed the nature of travel that we once knew. Despite the unknowns that still face the travel market, we want holiday travelers to feel safe and secure this holiday season knowing their trip costs and medical needs are covered, no matter where they decide to visit. Seven Corners offers Trip Cancellation products as well as products that provide medical coverage specifically for COVID-19, including Liaison Travel Plus, Liaison Student Plus and Wander Frequent Traveler Plus. We also offer our 24/SEVEN customer service guarantee that provides travelers with 24/7 access to our customer service team. The guarantee ensures that travelers have the tools to easily connect with Seven Corners’ assistance through an online account, mobile app or text/chat channels while traveling.
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