How to make summer travel plans that actually stick

After two years of cancellations, postponements and marathon sessions with the airline’s customer service, many travelers look forward to booking summer trips that actually take place this year.

“I had May 2020 completely out of work,” said Katharine Ng, an engineering program manager in Los Angeles. Ng planned to visit Europe and Morocco, but had to cancel and re-book by 2021. These new plans were eventually dropped because she was not yet fully vaccinated in May and travel restrictions were imposed.

“Luckily, canceling trips was easy due to COVID-19 cancellation policies,” Ng said. However, even though getting a refund was nice, it didn’t scratch the itch to take a real vacation.

Many travelers, twice bitten by bad summer plans, are shy to do it again this year. Even experts have given up trying to predict what turns the pandemic will take next. But no matter what happens, travelers can maximize their chances of success on summer trips with a few simple steps.

Book flights soon

Traveling is not just about coming back. It’s roaring again.

“We’re already at 2019 prices for airline tickets,” said Hopper economist Adit Damodaran, a travel booking app that tracks airline ticket trends. “We have already exceeded our initial price forecast.”

Prices are rising in part due to rising consumer demand, but volatility in oil prices may play an even bigger role. When the conflict in Ukraine caused some travelers to withdraw their trips to Europe, prices did not stay the same.

“In Europe, demand is declining, but prices have not come down with it,” Damodaran said. “In fact, they have increased. Airlines could be adjusting fares preventively for fuel price changes.”

Regardless of the cause, the cost of airfare is unlikely to drop significantly before peak summer travel. Therefore, booking sooner rather than later can help you avoid prices for this travel season.

Keep it flexible

The pandemic has led to consumer-friendly change: most airlines and hotels now offer more flexible booking options. And if there’s one thing we’ve been taught for the past two years, it’s that no trip, no matter how well-planned, is safe.

The best way to find flexible booking options depends on a number of factors, but a few simple rules apply.

• Avoid basic airline tickets, as they do not allow for changes or cancellations.
• Choose hotel rooms with free cancellation. Sometimes these rates are slightly higher than their non-refundable counterparts.
• Read the holiday rental policies carefully. Services like Airbnb and Vrbo generally allow hosts to choose the cancellation policy.

Hopper data shows that the number of basic economy bookings made on its platforms declined significantly in 2021 after airlines introduced more flexible options for other fares. Now, these low rates account for only 20% of total bookings, compared to almost 40% before the change in the sector.

Choose your destinations wisely

Even if COVID-19 cases fall during the spring and summer, it may be some time before all international travel restrictions follow suit.

“I was planning a trip to South Korea, but I couldn’t cope with a seven-day hotel quarantine,” Ng said, citing the country’s strictly enforced rules. Ng chose to visit Europe this summer, where such restrictions do not currently exist. She feels more confident that the rules related to COVID-19 will not suddenly change before or, worse, during her trip.

When choosing a destination, start with countries with restrictions that match your risk tolerance and work backwards.

Of course, these restrictions can be avoided by limiting yourself to domestic travel, but many travelers are eager to travel abroad.

You have a backup plan, or several

Even with all these precautions, anything can happen. Another increase, variant or military conflict could turn even the best plans upside down, so it’s important to have a backup.

First, after planning your main trip, consider making some fully refundable bookings for a second independent trip. These can be a cover to make sure you don’t have to book everything at the last minute during the high season. Just don’t book your plane ticket unless it’s actually refundable – most of the main cabin fares are reimbursed as vouchers with the same airline, which are not as good as cash.

Second, sketch out an idea for a third trip, with the intention of booking it at the last minute if your original plans fail. This step can help you avoid losing strength psychologically.

Finally, consider making several shorter trips during the summer instead of a long trip to a single destination. This approach not only protects against possible specific target blockages, but could also help offset missed visits during the pandemic.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Sam Kemmis is a NerdWallet writer.