The Future
Travel is resuming, but under different rules. We have seen this before, most notably when all that security was instantly added after 9/11. We grumbled, acknowledged the necessity, and jumped on board. Here are my thoughts about what we can expect, and actually look forward to, as we take to the roads, seas, and skies again.
Getting there. Our biggest misplaced concern may well be the airplane. Modern air filtration and enhanced sanitary wipe-downs and fogging have made airplanes safer environments than most offices. Yet it’s still difficult to maintain physical distancing even if middle seats are empty and boarding is staggered. Business and First class offers tremendous advantages here, with extra space, boarding at your leisure (less time on the aircraft), more carry-on allowance (avoiding luggage carrousels) and access to spacious lounges.
Ultra Private. Private villas, yacht charters, river barge charters, and private jets all keep you and your family in the “bubble” of safety. There has never been a better time for a multi-generational family trip. There’s safety AND economy in numbers!
Think Domestic. Wherever you live, your own country has some of the most beautiful, unexplored, exciting destinations in the world. We know it, we’re ashamed to admit we’ve not been there, and now is our chance. And the sooner we get there, the easier it will be to maintain social distancing, and the more eager will be the awaiting welcome!
Secluded Destinations. We will want more space, more physical distancing. Maldives, Seychelles, Iceland and French Polynesia are already experiencing increased interest compared to last year.
Islands. With the unfortunate exception of the UK, most of the world’s islands have shown the greatest successes in controlling the pandemic. In addition to the ones above, most other island nations are also worth considering: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, now’s the time! Many island destinations within countries, too – like Vancouver Island, Crete, even the Canary Islands, all are beckoning.
Don’t paint with too wide a brush. As exemplified with the Islands above, not all parts of every country have shared the same situation. Southern Italy and Sicily, for example, are completely different stories to what we saw in the news from Milan and the north.
Longer trips. After a lockdown, the accumulated vacation days and increased desire to spread your wings and enjoy someone else’s cooking, combined with the wish to avoid check-in lines and insecure touchpoints, will contribute to longer vacations, with more planning, less frequent movement, more opportunity to “marinate” in the local culture. Day trips with a private driver, the same private driver and vehicle, or a rental car, will replace hotel-hopping and enhance your feeling of security and comfort while increasing your emotional connection with each new destination.
Cruising. This segment of our battered industry has taken the most heat, and rightfully so. However, did you notice the names vilified in the news were never the luxury lines of Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, or any of the River Cruise lines? Remember these options as we return to the rivers and seas. And with enhanced sanitation (no more buffets!) and requirements for crew and passengers to be vaccinated, cruising is possibly the safest environment now! Another popular option is chartering a barge for your group of 8 to 12 family members.
BE AWARE
That's "be aware" - not "beware" and not even "be wary." Just be aware. There are going to be differences in your New Normal travel experience.
Rental cars are in short supply. The major companies disposed of their inevitably aging fleet last year, and are now scrambling to replace them in an industry plagued most by the much touted "chip shortage." Confirmed rentals are more likely to be useless when someone fails to return on time and there are no back up vehicles in the lot. It may be wise to consider renting from a less used, obscure, provider in some markets. Or maybe this is your excuse to finally rent that Porsche GT3 or Lamborghini? The exotic cars are still there, waiting to give you that experience! Or rely more on private transfers. Chauffeurs are still there, with even more time to polish and disinfect and eager to have you in their care.
Hotels are going to provide the biggest surprise. And, sadly, the more stars, the greater the risk of disappointment. Some of the most respected "palace" hotels have tripled (yes, tripled) their nightly room rates. What used to be of questionable value at EUR 800/night may well be priced at EUR 2400/night now. And the larger the property, the greater the strain, as hundreds of staff were furloughed last year with only minimal security left behind. Those furloughed staff have, in many cases, found other employment now and the larger hotels have a larger percentage of new staff, inadequately trained, in inadequate numbers, to provide the service you were used to. Now is the time to step down a bit, knock off a star, enjoy a smaller, family-run, boutique property with stable rates and stable staff and just as eager to please.
Housekeeping - a part of the hotel situation - is a completely different product today than it was in 2019. Yes, the hotels are all touting their new cleaning standards, their electronic germicide machines, their hourly wipedown of the elevator buttons ... but did you notice the sign in your room that says Housekeeping Will Not Enter During Your Stay? Need fresh towels? Have them delivered to your door, literally, in a laundry bag tied on your door handle. It won't be a big step for housekeeping to become an optional, extra-charge, item on your bill.
Valet parking is curtailed. Minibars are empty. Swimming pools require an appointment. Magazines (and Bibles) are missing. Lobby coffee machines are locked away. We checked into one 3-storey hotel where a section between the main lobby and our room was condemned for some unexplained reason, meaning access to our room by elevator was now impossible. Remember that bowl of apples at the front desk? Yeah, remember it, for you won't be seeing it again.
Or, you could just find your hotel closed. Outright shuttered for lack of staff the day you thought you were checking in. (Another good reason to have a chauffeur service - they always know where to go!)
And flights? Thankfully, these still reply on skilled, trained, and well-rested staff stationed at a the right place. Suddenly, however, these are in short supply and cancellations are much more frequent, even after you have checked in remotely. There is little you can do here - arriving early won't make a pilot materialize. But do arrive early, pay close attention to the flight boards and to your Axus or Tripcase itinerary so at the very least you can be among the first in line to have them reschedule. Call me, of course, at the same time, but jump in that queue as soon as possible as you are entitled to the airline's best offer of a new flight. And always, ALWAYS, book arrival a night in advance for anything on a critical schedule, like a cruise or business meeting.
Should you still travel? Of course! There are still wonderful experiences to be had despite the masks and plexiglas barriers. Reduced crowds can be a benefit, your tourist dollars have never been more welcome, and dining al fresco is really very trendy.
Just be aware. It's a New Normal.
Travel is resuming, but under different rules. We have seen this before, most notably when all that security was instantly added after 9/11. We grumbled, acknowledged the necessity, and jumped on board. Here are my thoughts about what we can expect, and actually look forward to, as we take to the roads, seas, and skies again.
Getting there. Our biggest misplaced concern may well be the airplane. Modern air filtration and enhanced sanitary wipe-downs and fogging have made airplanes safer environments than most offices. Yet it’s still difficult to maintain physical distancing even if middle seats are empty and boarding is staggered. Business and First class offers tremendous advantages here, with extra space, boarding at your leisure (less time on the aircraft), more carry-on allowance (avoiding luggage carrousels) and access to spacious lounges.
Ultra Private. Private villas, yacht charters, river barge charters, and private jets all keep you and your family in the “bubble” of safety. There has never been a better time for a multi-generational family trip. There’s safety AND economy in numbers!
Think Domestic. Wherever you live, your own country has some of the most beautiful, unexplored, exciting destinations in the world. We know it, we’re ashamed to admit we’ve not been there, and now is our chance. And the sooner we get there, the easier it will be to maintain social distancing, and the more eager will be the awaiting welcome!
Secluded Destinations. We will want more space, more physical distancing. Maldives, Seychelles, Iceland and French Polynesia are already experiencing increased interest compared to last year.
Islands. With the unfortunate exception of the UK, most of the world’s islands have shown the greatest successes in controlling the pandemic. In addition to the ones above, most other island nations are also worth considering: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, now’s the time! Many island destinations within countries, too – like Vancouver Island, Crete, even the Canary Islands, all are beckoning.
Don’t paint with too wide a brush. As exemplified with the Islands above, not all parts of every country have shared the same situation. Southern Italy and Sicily, for example, are completely different stories to what we saw in the news from Milan and the north.
Longer trips. After a lockdown, the accumulated vacation days and increased desire to spread your wings and enjoy someone else’s cooking, combined with the wish to avoid check-in lines and insecure touchpoints, will contribute to longer vacations, with more planning, less frequent movement, more opportunity to “marinate” in the local culture. Day trips with a private driver, the same private driver and vehicle, or a rental car, will replace hotel-hopping and enhance your feeling of security and comfort while increasing your emotional connection with each new destination.
Cruising. This segment of our battered industry has taken the most heat, and rightfully so. However, did you notice the names vilified in the news were never the luxury lines of Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, or any of the River Cruise lines? Remember these options as we return to the rivers and seas. And with enhanced sanitation (no more buffets!) and requirements for crew and passengers to be vaccinated, cruising is possibly the safest environment now! Another popular option is chartering a barge for your group of 8 to 12 family members.
BE AWARE
That's "be aware" - not "beware" and not even "be wary." Just be aware. There are going to be differences in your New Normal travel experience.
Rental cars are in short supply. The major companies disposed of their inevitably aging fleet last year, and are now scrambling to replace them in an industry plagued most by the much touted "chip shortage." Confirmed rentals are more likely to be useless when someone fails to return on time and there are no back up vehicles in the lot. It may be wise to consider renting from a less used, obscure, provider in some markets. Or maybe this is your excuse to finally rent that Porsche GT3 or Lamborghini? The exotic cars are still there, waiting to give you that experience! Or rely more on private transfers. Chauffeurs are still there, with even more time to polish and disinfect and eager to have you in their care.
Hotels are going to provide the biggest surprise. And, sadly, the more stars, the greater the risk of disappointment. Some of the most respected "palace" hotels have tripled (yes, tripled) their nightly room rates. What used to be of questionable value at EUR 800/night may well be priced at EUR 2400/night now. And the larger the property, the greater the strain, as hundreds of staff were furloughed last year with only minimal security left behind. Those furloughed staff have, in many cases, found other employment now and the larger hotels have a larger percentage of new staff, inadequately trained, in inadequate numbers, to provide the service you were used to. Now is the time to step down a bit, knock off a star, enjoy a smaller, family-run, boutique property with stable rates and stable staff and just as eager to please.
Housekeeping - a part of the hotel situation - is a completely different product today than it was in 2019. Yes, the hotels are all touting their new cleaning standards, their electronic germicide machines, their hourly wipedown of the elevator buttons ... but did you notice the sign in your room that says Housekeeping Will Not Enter During Your Stay? Need fresh towels? Have them delivered to your door, literally, in a laundry bag tied on your door handle. It won't be a big step for housekeeping to become an optional, extra-charge, item on your bill.
Valet parking is curtailed. Minibars are empty. Swimming pools require an appointment. Magazines (and Bibles) are missing. Lobby coffee machines are locked away. We checked into one 3-storey hotel where a section between the main lobby and our room was condemned for some unexplained reason, meaning access to our room by elevator was now impossible. Remember that bowl of apples at the front desk? Yeah, remember it, for you won't be seeing it again.
Or, you could just find your hotel closed. Outright shuttered for lack of staff the day you thought you were checking in. (Another good reason to have a chauffeur service - they always know where to go!)
And flights? Thankfully, these still reply on skilled, trained, and well-rested staff stationed at a the right place. Suddenly, however, these are in short supply and cancellations are much more frequent, even after you have checked in remotely. There is little you can do here - arriving early won't make a pilot materialize. But do arrive early, pay close attention to the flight boards and to your Axus or Tripcase itinerary so at the very least you can be among the first in line to have them reschedule. Call me, of course, at the same time, but jump in that queue as soon as possible as you are entitled to the airline's best offer of a new flight. And always, ALWAYS, book arrival a night in advance for anything on a critical schedule, like a cruise or business meeting.
Should you still travel? Of course! There are still wonderful experiences to be had despite the masks and plexiglas barriers. Reduced crowds can be a benefit, your tourist dollars have never been more welcome, and dining al fresco is really very trendy.
Just be aware. It's a New Normal.