There's a lot going on in the world and it's causing anxiety for just about everyone I know. Once again, we're thinking about travel in uncertain times.
Four years ago it was COVID-19. Over the last two years, wars (plural) became the concern. Now it's wars and tariffs.
Tariffs are having a significant impact on travel prices. According to Peter Greenberg, with the number of travelers going into the United States down 40% overall, the number of seats available on flights leaving the US has increased.
- It's a good time to book flights from a price perspective.
- It's time to use your frequent flyer points as there are more seats available.
But, he says, it won't last long as the airlines will adjust which planes are on which routes, reducing capacity and causing prices to go up again.
He also says that, with the stock market fluctuating, people are concerned about their investments and hesitating to book travel. This has had a big impact on the booking of cruises. It could be another opportunity for travelers.
The question is: how do you take advantage of price drops while your invested savings are bouncing around? Yes, there is a lot of anxiety in society right now.
Tips for Travel in Uncertain Times
For those who tell me they have concerns about travel in these uncertain times, I have a few tips.
- Save money on travel.
- Canada offers a 35% discount to Americans. I want to assure our American readers that they are very welcome in Canada. As a bonus, the exchange rate between our two currencies represents a 35% discount for you. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver tend to be quite expensive but there's lots of Canada to explore. Here are a few recent posts to read:
- More ways to save. Where to go? How to find the tour or cruise for you? Here's where we point you to our Best Budget Solo Travel Destinations: Fascinating, Cheap & Fun, our Trips page with no/low single supplements, and Tracey's List, which could be the best $30 you ever spent on travel.
- Read the fine print on any purchase. I just booked a cruise with Havila. I could have saved US$200 by reducing my cancellation and rebooking options. The trip is in October. I felt that $200 was well worth spending in uncertain times like these.
- Uncertainty requires more vigilance. As mentioned in the introduction, pandemics happen, wars happen, tariffs happen and unhappen, and the impact, at home and abroad, is unpredictable. This is a time to travel with extra care.
- Check your government's recommendations. Here are the travel alert pages for countries from which we have the most readers. Know that governments always err on the side of caution and are slow to take advisories down.
- UK: Foreign Travel Advice page
- US: Passports and International Travel page
- Canada: Travel Advice and Advisories page
- Australia: Smart Traveller page
- Register with your government. Use these links to register your travel plans with your government. If you're not from one of these countries simply google “register my travels” and your country name.
- The UK government no longer provides this service.
- US: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
- Canada: Registration for Canadians Abroad
- The Australian government no longer provides this service.
- Buy travel insurance. Travel insurance is always important but it's even more so when we travel in uncertain times. Read the small print carefully. Even “cancel for any reason” insurance may not include a pandemic. And, if a pandemic is covered, what are you covered for? Will you have your expenses covered for two weeks of quarantine? What about hospitalization? Read Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers: How to Make Sure You’re Protected or Best Travel Insurance for Seniors: How to Find What’s Right for You.
- Check your government's recommendations. Here are the travel alert pages for countries from which we have the most readers. Know that governments always err on the side of caution and are slow to take advisories down.
- As always:
- Share your itinerary. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends. If your plans change let them know.
- Carry your country's embassy information. Along with your passport and other documents, carry information on how to contact your country's embassy or consulate should you need help.
- Get travel insurance and read the fine print. Regular readers know that I always travel with insurance. I have since I started traveling in my teens. I've made claims and they've been paid. I've probably broken even over the years.
- Look for good in the world. I've never met a destination I didn't like. While you may not be hitting bucket list trips at this time, all travel can be exceptional in one way or another. Make it that way.
