NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE
Yes, you read that correctly. Now is the time and today is the day to plan your next adventure.
We know it’s strange and maybe a bit uncomfortable to think about, but it’s true. And to be clear: We’re not suggesting right now is the best time to jump back on a plane, but we are saying that better days are ahead thanks to the vaccine rollout.
With so much still changing, there’s no doubt it’s tough to make travel plans six months to a year out. But if you can battle past the uncertainty, there are some advantages for planning and booking your future travel adventures right now.
BOOK NOW AND PAY LATER
This is a concept you are seeing more and more in the travel industry. Many hotels, airlines, and travel companies are offering payment plans where you can take advantage of today’s rates and pay overtime with affordable monthly payments. At Southwestern Travel Group, we work with our traveler’s budget and set up flexible payments that accommodate their financial goals.
OCCUPANCY IS ON THE RISE
Hotel occupancy is going up, and flights are fuller than they’ve been since 2019. For the first time since COVID-19 began, “system net bookings hit 2019 levels” during the month of April, said an American Airlines executive in the company’s first quarter earnings call. It is great to see the travel industry rebound. We are now also seeing what we’ve predicted over the past year: The pent-up demand is here. So don’t delay. Southwestern Travel Group is here for you and would love to discuss your next trip and help you take advantage of the travel deals and upgraded amenities—before they are gone.
TRAVEL IS CLEANER AND SAFER THAN EVER BEFORE
Hotels, rental cars, airplanes, and airports have all made strides to provide clean and safe travel environments. We’ve seen an increase in touchless technology across the board. Instead of using a key to open your hotel room door, hitting a switch to turn on your lights, or picking up a remote to turn on your TV, many hotels are shifting to mobile applications to manage these systems. Airlines have state-of-the-art filtering systems with HEPA filters, and the efficient circulation on commercial aircraft is actually much cleaner than the air in restaurants, bars and stores, or even your mother’s living room. So, regardless of which side of the aisle you are on, I think we can all agree that getting on cleaner airplanes and staying at cleaner hotel rooms are most definitely good things.
TRAVEL BRINGS US TOGETHER AND REFRESHES THE SOUL
Travel is kind of like summer break from grade school, but this time, it is way more fun. I always say that travel forces us to slow down, and we have less distractions and more time to engage in relationships and genuine conversation. We tell our stories, and we listen with intent and purpose to the stories of others. Traveling is by far the best way to connect with those you love and those you didn’t even know you loved yet. So, whether you take a weekend, a week, a month, or a year, we believe now is the best time to plan that retreat and just get out and do something different to recharge your batteries. Having a trip to look forward to always produces excitement, fun, energy, and focus. We don’t think about travel as if we are running away from our responsibilities but more along the lines of taking that much-needed time to refresh the soul, connect with people, and give ourselves a mental and physical reset. We think of travel as a tool for personal development and a vehicle for self-reflection and growth.
I don’t know about you, but after all of the emotional ups and downs from a global pandemic, I’d say travel just might be what the doctor ordered.
If you are not sure where you want to travel to next, let us suggest one of our upcoming mission trips.
Visit southwesterntravel.com/mission-travel to learn more about the mission’s experience.
Our team of travel experts is always here to help you plan your next adventure. At Southwestern Travel Group, our depth of expertise, knowledge of destinations, and attention to detail save you time, money, and headaches. As travel experts, we can handle any emergency that may arise when you’re on the road—everything from a missed flight connection to a hotel that closes unexpectedly—and we will go the extra mile. To book your next trip, contact us today at 800.222.4441 or [email protected].
