When you book your next tour, you will notice that you tour is going to look different. Because of this, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss some ways that group travel is changing and how group travel is adapting in the post-pandemic era.

Tour companies have increased their staff training and have instituted COVID protocols that are based on guidelines from governments, health organizations and medical professionals. Safety measures include everything from air circulation and social distancing in vans to the sterilization of high-touch areas. And you will not see any more buffet-style meals.

All details of your trip will be considered, and no item is too small. Most tour operators will be checking guests’ and guides’ temperatures each day and requiring a negative COVID test within hours or days of traveling. Upon arrival at a destination, travelers typically must fill out a health declaration form or officially acknowledge that they understand and accept the company's guidelines.

As of today, no companies are requiring proof of vaccination, but that may change. Surveys have shown that many travelers have received or intend to receive a COVID vaccine.

Many tour operators have plans in place in case a guest gets sick while on tour. There are several tour operators that have programs that include a plan that offers 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency and medical coverage for anyone who becomes ill overseas. If a traveler is diagnosed with COVID or required to quarantine while on tour, the tour companies will provide or arrange support for the travelers. This includes lodging, meals, and translation services at no additional expense.

Experience has shown that tour clients often prefer the intimacy of small groups, and COVID has only increased that desire. In response to this, some tour operators are limiting the number of clients on their tours to allow for social distancing.

In addition to the increased desire for smaller groups, clients are requesting small groups of family members or friends and companies are responding to these requests by offering more private group options. Clients are looking to travel within their COVID bubble. This has led to an increase in exclusive or custom tours.  

Because of COVID, some tour companies are avoiding heavily crowded tourist areas and concentrating more on less visited destinations. The tour companies are skipping the large, big cities. 

Because of this many tour operators are seeing their domestic trips selling out quickly as people start traveling again closer to home. Trips to the South, national parks, and California’s wine regions are becoming extremely popular. An increase in Alaska’s land-based tours may also become extremely popular for several reasons. One because Alaska has the lowest population density in the U.S., and Canada has extended its cruise ship ban until February 2022.  

Since many travelers are anxious to travel abroad, many tour companies plan to relaunch their international tours later in the year. There has also been an increased interest in countries that are accepting travelers if travelers present a certificate proving that they have received their COVID vaccination. An example of this would be Iceland, as well as some other European countries. There is a lot of optimism that the world will open by June or July.  

If you are interested in traveling now, most destinations require that you present a negative COVID test no more than 72 hours before arrival. Fortunately, you are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival. While this is all very encouraging, restarting tours involves more than addressing entry and safety requirements. It also means assessing whether wary travelers are ready to return to travel. This sentiment is constantly being evaluated.   

Colesville Travel plans to resume many of their tours for 2022. Some of our current offerings are Egypt and Ghana in May, Black Paris and a Taste of France in September and The Best of Morocco in October. We are also planning trips to the Dubai Expo. 

For many travelers, summer or fall is too soon for travel and that is why many companies are offering flexible booking policies and rewards. Many companies are seeing big demand for trips in 2022 and, in some cases, 2023. Contact Colesville Travel for more information.  

Not only have tour operators made changes for safety circumstances, but travelers will also have increased options and the comfort of navigating a post-pandemic world with the help of guides and experts.

Travelers are also looking to travel with a purpose. They are looking for more authentic and immersive travel experiences. Clients are looking for tours and destinations that allow them to get off the beaten path, discover new places and dive into the culture.

Many tour operators now have opportunities for travelers to travel in private groups and many tour operators have started offering these types of trips.

Travelers can customize their vacation with private driver journeys, custom vacations or, for groups of 10 or more, private group travel experience based on pre-set itineraries or customized trips.

This has become popular because tour operators realize people want to travel, but may be apprehensive about traveling with those outside their circle of close family and friends.

Many companies have also added new domestic trips to cater to travelers who would like to go somewhere but are unsure of international travel.

Companies are now offering new domestic trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations in remote locations that travelers are willing to take and may not have known about. 

These North America vacations will take travelers down the less-traveled highways, legendary lanes and scenic country roads that lead to special places and parks. These itineraries will help travelers discover the world’s small towns, lesser-known destinations, and secluded seafronts for unforgettable, unique vacations. Some suggestions are California, North Carolina, New England, and the Pacific Northwest.

Travel insurance is an important part of vacation planning and should not be overlooked. One of the ways that tour operators are making travelers feel comfortable and safe is to provide them with added protections such as wellness guides, flexible booking options and cancel-for-any-reason plans.

Colesville Travel provides their guests with peace of mind when booking and traveling with us. This is in addition to our booking flexibility, reduced deposit requirements, and instituting industry-leading wellbeing protocols which are all designed to instill confidence in travel.  

During your tour you will have the assistance, help, and expertise of tour directors, local drivers, and on-the-ground travel experts in destinations across the globe. We are also dedicated to providing travelers with a stress-free getaway with many safety protocols in place, leaving you free to have fun and enjoy off-the-beaten-path discoveries, and engage in local customs and traditions of the destination. 

We all know that theoretically if we wait too long to take our dream trip, “someday” may never come. That lesson has now become crystal clear.  

Leisure travel went from being as popular as ever at the beginning of 2020 to grinding to a complete and indefinite halt by mid- to late-March. We’ve seen over 550,000 people suddenly lose their lives. 

Those factors have combined to create a world in which travelers will no longer put off taking the trip they’ve been dreaming of for months, years or even longer — once it’s safe to explore, of course.

So, whether you want to take an epic trip that needs to be booked a year in advance, fly around the world in first class, go on a safari, see the northern lights, finally take that trip to Australia, explore the country’s best national parks, or find out for yourself just how special Hawaii is, COVID should be the motivation to finally take those dream trips we’ve all been putting off.

Why not start now by contacting Colesville Travel and let us help you decide where you want to go, what you want to see and when you want to go.  

Call us today at 301-989-1654 or visit our website http://www.colesvilletravel.com