“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”—the Dalai Lama
This sage advice still applies to 2020 despite the restrictions we are experiencing from the coronavirus. While jetting around the world remains impossible now, those of us eager to travel will find ways to make it happen. Michael Johnson, Executive Vice President of Travel Edge tells us, “As information changes hourly and daily – the idea of naming locations you should or shouldn’t visit is not always reliable. We strongly suggest finding a Luxury Travel Advisor who is connected, educated and understanding of the rapidly changing world. While travel is on hold Travel Edge Advisors have been taking educational courses, webinars, and lectures to learn how destinations and properties are adapting to keep travelers safe as well as finding new ways to ensure all the luxurious details we’ve come to love about traveling are still present.”
Simply put, travel trends today have changed. Here are six that have emerged as intriguing ways to satisfy your passion for traveling until the world fully reopens. Don’t forget! There are still plenty of places to discover.
Staying Close to Home
As each state deals with varying levels of reopening, staying close to home has become one of the top trends. Unique experiences are everywhere, but we seldom take the time to discover them in our own backyard. Travelers who typically venture thousands of miles from home are booking stays at nearby resorts and luxury properties for a change of scenery. After sheltering at home for months, even a brief escape provides restoration. If, like us, you live in New York City, spend time exploring the Hudson River Valley. Stretching 150 miles north of the city to Albany, this bucolic region offers elegant country estates, farm-to-table dining, art galleries, miles of hiking trails and numerous historic sites.
Social Distancing
Practicing social distancing at a crowded hotel or resort is a challenge. As a result, many travelers are opting to book private vacation rentals. For those wanting the luxury resort experience, travel advisors work directly with properties to arrange bookings, so guests have more space within the resort as well as poolside.
Booking an entire inn or guesthouse for families or groups of friends is also now on trend. At the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in New York state, The Gray Barn will be offering groups of up to 10 the opportunity to rent the entire inn from Wednesday through Sunday during the months of July through October.
With many weddings and larger events canceled or postponed, the chic 500-acre private Cedar Lakes Estate in Port Jervis, New York has made its 18 luxury cottages available for all-inclusive extended stays. With no common areas, hallways, elevators or even a lobby, there is little chance of getting too close to other guests. All catering is done in-house, and the estate has huge gardens bearing fresh produce.
Nature Tourism
Convening with nature has become one of the hottest travel trends and for good reason. The mental and physical benefits are well-documented. Limited to domestic travel, Americans are rediscovering the beauty of our national parks. With sixty-two from which to choose, that’s plenty of nature to go around. Whether it’s the mist-shrouded Great Smoky Mountains, the brightly colored hoodoos of Bryce Canyon or the towering peaks of Mount Rainier, spending a few days exploring any of the national parks is not only healthy but therapeutic. Most parks have reopened with restrictions limiting the number of visitors. To guarantee entry, consult your travel advisor for reservations at park lodges. Alternatively, consider a less-populated state park or our national monuments which often draw fewer visitors. At the Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona, 500 square miles of stunning desert landscape displays an incredible variety of cacti.
Micro-Holidays
In lieu of epic, lengthy trips, many travelers are opting for micro-holidays, choosing 5 to 10-day splurges. Compact cities like Charleston, South Carolina are ideal for this type of travel. Book a room at the city’s most luxurious hotel, Market Pavilion, where divine guest rooms and countless amenities await. Sip cocktails at the rooftop bar, explore Charleston’s historic landmarks and dine each night at some of the South’s finest eateries.
For the ultimate, book the Presidential Suite which features opulent, full-sized accommodations with stellar views of Charleston harbor. The suite comes complete with a baby grand piano and full bar, and includes a deluxe breakfast, afternoon tea and, upon request, a private butler.
“Micro Traveling is a great way to experience the highlights of a destination – but closer to home,” says Johnson. Look to properties and experiences that are a drive away. Where a road trip sees you experiencing a new destination daily – Micro Travel is about finding a local luxury property that’s closer and staying for 5 – 10 days.”
Road Trips
As American as apple pie and baseball, road trips land on just about everyone’s summer vacation list and are making a big comeback among post-COVID travel trends. Whether you choose a route close to home or decide to tackle Route 66, great scenery comes as a guarantee. So, start loading up the car and hit the road.
If the tropics are your thing, head out on the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys. Stretching 124-miles, it connects Miami to infamous Key West. Straddling a vast expanse of turquoise sea, this iconic roadway leads to historic shipwrecks, quirky eateries and some of the best fishing holes in the country.
On the opposite side of the US, California’s Pacific Coast Highway tops the list for scenic drives. Spanning almost the entire length of California’s coastline, the iconic PCH meanders along precipitous cliffs, over dramatic bridges and up and down snaky inclines hugging the Pacific as waves crash the rocks in the distance. Along the way, fertile farmland gives way to charming seaside villages much like a road trip sampler. Don’t miss Monterey’s 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach and Carmel and the iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. Make the most of your adventure by renting a zippy convertible.
Glamping & RV’ing
People who have never camped before are now indulging in this travel trend. We’re not suggesting you sleep in a tent or drive an RV like Cousin Eddie’s in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. We’re glamping up the experience with a shot of luxury.
If you like the idea of spending time outdoors but prefer the comforts of a Sleep Number mattress, a hot rainshower and all the amenities of a hotel suite, glamping delivers. One of the best experiences in the country awaits at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana. Safari-like tents with rustic-chic furnishings, fine linens and ensuite bathrooms with deep soaking tubs up the luxe ante. For the ultimate in social distancing, reserve an entire camp just for your group. Accommodating 12 to 24 guests, you’ll have exclusive use of the camp’s Dining Pavilion and fire pit, along with your own private chef and butler.
Luxury motorhome rentals have also joined the new travel trends. Impeccably furnished with everything you could possibly need, these rolling homes away from home take social distancing to new levels. Used by NASA to shuttle astronauts to the launchpads, Airstream trailers top the list of cool motorhomes. Newer models offer spacious accommodations and top of the line tech features. Even luxe touring company, Abercrombie and Kent’s chauffeur-driven tailor-made road trips offer luxury motorhomes upon request.
New Travel Trends: Changing Travel for the Better
“Ultimately, we believe that the pandemic will change travel for the better by driving more awareness of overcrowding,” says Johnson. “We are hopeful that in an effort to avoid crowds travelers will disperse over wider areas. The benefit is cumulative – destinations off the beaten path will grow while at the same time alleviate the pressure put on areas traditionally overrun with tourists in peak season.
The travel industry has always been effective in inspiring clients to dream and now that COVID19 is better understood and cleaning protocols have been identified, we are starting to pivot to inspire confidence. We feel that travel is resilient, and the allure of the world endures, but that a sense of confidence is required before people start turning their dreams into reality.”