7 Ways to Re-Do Your Missed Trip Even Bigger in 2021
2021 will be the year of vacation redos. Most people have had to put most, if not all of their 2020 vacation plans on hold this year. Some canceled their travels altogether, thanks to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Others, like us, just fast-forwarded them to a year from now and have our fingers crossed that we’ll be able to go then. My heart broke when we had to postpone our once in a lifetime trip to Greece. My father has been talking about a heritage trip with the whole family for as long as I can remember. We first talked about going for my Grandfather’s 60th birthday before he got sick, then it would be after my high school graduation then after my college graduation – finally, after 15+ years of talking after all four of his children graduated from college we finally booked it – and then had to postpone it!
This trip was meant to celebrate some big milestones in my family this year, a huge career achievement for my dad, the birth of my first child, the weddings of two of my brothers and my youngest brother, the baby graduating from college and NO MORE TUITION PAYMENTS for my parents. As disappointing as it was to push it back, I am using the time to try to figure out how to make the trip even better than we had anticipated.
With so many canceled trips we didn’t have to pay for this year we can now combine two years’ worth of our vacation budget to go even bigger!
A vacation experience is a great way to make up for all of those missed birthday, anniversary, graduation, and retirement celebrations. Think of all the money you saved on throwing birthday parties for your kids, put it all into the vacation account! Consider planning a trip with all of the people you have missed dearly while social distancing – have a family reunion or travel with your friends.
You Don’t Worry About Taking Your Kids Out of School
With so many school districts moving to a remote or hybrid model for the 2021 school year I don’t think that the age-old debate of whether or not you should take your kids out of school is going to have much weight. I know many families who are choosing to homeschool for the next year and once things become a little safer you can easily take those lessons on the road, and even incorporate them into your curriculum. Learn about the Revolution in Boston, World War II in Normandy, Civil Rights in Selma.
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/family-travel-remote-school-work/
Add Additional Days
If you don’t have to worry about school or work schedules then you can add additional days to your trip. I know you were racking up those vacation days while you were stuck at home with nowhere to go. Add some days to your rescheduled trip or…
Consult your bucket list
If you had a vacation planned to a destination you visit every year consider using those extra vacation days and extra vacation budget to go someplace on your bucket list, someplace you have always wanted to go but never quite worked out, someplace you never had enough time off to justify the long flight. We are making up for a crappy year and celebrating missed milestones.
Upgrade your airline tickets
If you are going on that longer flight or just rescheduling the one you had to postpone a great way to re-do your trip is to UPGRADE!! Change your flight to a non-stop so you can get your destination sooner, or bump up to business class so you don’t have to fight for overhead bin space and can enjoy some extra amenities.
Add some luxuries to your trip
Speaking of upgrades there are plenty of ways you can add a little luxury to your trip. In fact, I have a whole blog post about it.
Hire a Photographer to Capture the Moment
This is a special trip. Whether you are celebrating something special or just excited to be traveling again your first trip after social distancing is going to be special and you should capture the moment. There is a great service called Flytographer that connects travelers with hand-picked local photographers in over 300+ destinations for fun vacation photoshoots. Their photographers not only capture incredible memories but are amazing resources for what to eat, see, and do in each city. If you are like me and think that memories are the best souvenir this is a great way to make them last longer.
Take a Break from Your Kids
You have been stuck with your kids for months. In addition to their parent, chef, chauffeur, referee, and maid you have added teacher to that list. Yes, you want to enjoy a family vacation but you also want to enjoy some time on your own. Consider a vacation that has built-in childcare or if you are traveling with family or friends switch off nights where you watch each other’s kids. Another option would be to hire some childcare in your destination for an evening.
A reputable concierge service should have a list of childcare services that have met the approval of past patrons. Be sure to ask if the listings are possibilities or recommendations that have been deemed as highly qualified or reputable services by parents and childcare professionals. Check out this great article by Care.com for more ideas on how to find childcare providers on vacation.
Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to make your 2021 vacation the best ever. I do have a few additional suggestions for how to protect your investment in this changing world. First, add a cancel for any reason policy to your travel insurance. This must be added on the day of booking so do some research beforehand and find a provider you trust. Without the CFAR added, travel insurance does not protect you in the event of a pandemic. Second, Use a Travel Advisor. Someone like me can help you navigate the suppliers who offer flexible change and cancellation policies. I will also be the one sitting on hold to make any changes should there be a resurgence of the virus. The travel industry was hit hard by the restrictions and small businesses like mine would really appreciate the support.
Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?
If you are ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, without spending time researching, planning and making it happen, schedule a call today. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize and book the perfect family vacation. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.
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