Cooperative Living May 2021 - 22

FieldTrip | Story courtesy of Family Features
How to Plan for a Future Vacation
When you decide to explore the outside world, do it safely
A
even if you're not certain exactly when you'll take it.
Setting even
a small amount
aside for your
vacation can be
worthwhile.
fter a long year stuck at home, many people are dreaming about when they can travel once again.
While counting down the days may feel like torture, planning and booking a vacation for later this
year can give you something to look forward to. Consider these tips for planning a future trip,
RESEARCH
TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS
For any kind of travel, it's important
to make sure you're up to date on any
restrictions your potential destinations
may have in place. Though the vaccine
may help lessen restrictions in some places, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention maintains updated guidance
and travel warnings based on the risk level of certain areas,
which can help you make decisions. Once you've booked
travel plans, it is prudent to check in frequently as your trip
approaches and prepare a backup plan.
ACCOUNT
FOR HIGH
DEMAND
Many hotels, vacation rentals and resorts
may already be booked for summer in popular
locations due to optimism around the vaccine,
increased demand for domestic travel and
families planning multiple trips this year. In fact, travelers
are locking in private Vrbo vacation homes at top summer
destinations earlier in 2021.
Less than half of vacation homes in some locations are
still available for July, which is a more than 25% increase
in demand year over year. To better your odds of securing
your desired travel dates, accommodations and activities,
booking earlier can help offset the increased demand.
" In years past, we've recommended families book their
summer vacations by late April to stay ahead of the curve,
but this year there are several reasons why families are
eager and ready to book, " Vrbo President Jeff Hurst says.
" These signs are telling us families should start looking
for the perfect vacation home now before options become
more limited. "
20 | Cooperative Living | May 2021
TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF DEALS WITH
LONGER STAYS
Many sectors of the travel industry
offer special deals for reserving trips
in advance, and some of the best deals
can be found by bundling airfare and
lodging, or booking extended weeklong or month-long stays.
These longer vacations can lead to fewer available dates to
choose from, but some travel companies offer search filters that
help travelers find discounts for staying longer periods of time.
OPT FOR
FLEXIBLE
BOOKING
If you're eager to plan a vacation right away,
be sure to review and understand cancellation
policies for your preferred accommodations,
airline and activities. Many have changed their
policies due to the pandemic, so be sure to know how long you
have to cancel or change dates without incurring additional
fees or penalties.
For example, when booking a vacation rental through Vrbo,
where hosts set their cancellation terms, you can use the " free
cancellation " filter to search for properties with flexible policies,
some of which allow cancellations up to 14 days before checkin
for a full refund.
START
SAVING
NOW
While it may not be practical for everyone to
save money amid uncertain times, setting even
a small amount aside for your vacation can be
worthwhile. Consider setting up a dedicated travel
savings account or directing the change from each transaction
made with your debit card to a separate account. ■
Find more tips and start planning your next getaway at vrbo.com.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

http://www.vrbo.com http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living May 2021