People across the globe are itching to get out and explore the world. But what will travel look like in 2021? Our founder and president, Tania Burke, shares what she’s expecting to see in the travel industry this year and talks about how our team is preparing to show you the world by bike in 2021.
As I reflect on 2020, I want to thank our entire Trek Travel family of guests, guides, and team for their amazing support during challenging times. We were able to provide experiences of a lifetime to many of our guests. I want to thank you for traveling with us as we adapted and ran different but exceptional, safe trips. Looking forward to 2021, there are many reasons to be hopeful and plenty to get excited about. I thought I would share a few of my thoughts on what travel might look like in 2021.
What to expect in 2021
With the vaccine rollout, I am hopeful that more people will have the opportunity to travel again soon. As things improve, we will see a travel boom because of pent up demand. While I don’t know exactly when that is going to happen, I do know Trek Travel will be ready to welcome you when the time is right. We have been carefully following the news and studying industry trends to get a sense of what travel is going to look like in 2021. Here’s what I am anticipating:
Domestic travel will continue to be hugely popular. North American bookings are the best we have ever seen them as many travelers in 2021 feel most comfortable with a trip closer to home. That may mean driving distance for some or a short domestic flight for others. We saw this trend pick up in 2020, and it is continuing through 2021. As a result, we have added new dates and destinations to our North American trips, and have a few more in the works!
International travel is on the horizon. I am optimistic for travel in Europe starting late spring or early summer, depending on vaccinations and the regulations and requirements from each destination. Our guests are really excited to join us on our European trips, so we anticipate they will sell-out quickly, especially in late August through early October. I recommend that guests booking international trips stay flexible to changing their dates or destination if needed. Our cancellation policy offers the ultimate flexibility, so we can take care of our guests no matter how plans change.
Active travel and bike tours will be one of the most popular ways to travel. You may have heard that there is a “bike boom” happening. One of the unexpected results of the pandemic has been more people rediscovering the joy of outdoor adventures, including biking. I believe we’ll see an influx of new guests who are interested in a cycling vacation for the first time. I am excited to show people new to biking how much fun it is to see the world by bike. To accommodate the wide range of rider levels of these new guests, we have trips designed for every type of rider and offer e-bikes on almost all trips for those who want an extra boost. Wide open spaces, fresh air, and destinations off the beaten path will make active travel a hugely popular choice for 2021.
Travel in small groups or on private trips will surge. We saw an uptick in interest for our Private, Semi-Private, and Custom trips starting in 2020, and as more people start to travel in 2021, we have seen growth in small groups interested in private and semi-private trips. Other guests, who still want to enjoy the commraderie of our group trips, have appreciated that we limit the number of guests on our trips to 20 or fewer, and take an average group of 10 people on a typical trip. In 2021, we’re also seeing an interest in private accommodations and trips that stay at just one hotel. Guests have been particularly excited about our glamping trips, which feature private safari-style tents.
Preparing to Travel in 2021
When borders open again and travelers can move safely around the globe, we expect a travel boom. The pandemic has really shown us all the value of human connection and social interaction, so we know people are eager to get back out and connect with one another. We also expect the bike boom will turn into bike travel boom, too.
How Trek Travel is Preparing to Show You the World by Bike
Our team has been working diligently over the last year to monitor the latest recommendations on travel safety, so that we can run trips responsibly.
- We have enhanced hygiene standards on all of our trips, which includes deep cleaning all equipment every day. Read more about our safety protocols»
- We know that in uncertain times, plan A might not always work out, so we want to make it easy to switch dates or destinations if needed. Our cancellation policy has been upgraded to be more flexible than ever. Learn more»
- We have always valued small group travel. Trek Travel trips average 10 guests per trip, with a max of 20. Small group travel allows ultimate flexibility for comfortable distance at meals, route and safety talks, and transports.
Tips for Travel in 2021
- Book before the travel boom – To make sure you have the widest availability for dates and destinations, I’d encourage you to book your trip early. You’re also likely to enjoy better deals the earlier you book!
- Get excited – Travel, maybe now more than ever, offers the chance to reset, refresh, and rejuvenate. I think we could all use a little of that after the past year. So get excited about your trip! When you join us on a Trek Travel trip in 2021, you will enjoy amazing rides, great guides, and unforgettable meals that will leave you with lifelong memories.
- Travel smart – Before hopping in the car or heading to the airport, I’d suggest making sure you’re up to date on the latest recommended safety measures, so you can travel with peace of mind. Checking out the CDC’s COVID-19 travel information is a great place to start. If you have any questions, please give us a call, too!
- Stay flexible – Remember that as the world continues changing, your travel plans might need to change too. I suggest carefully reading cancellation policies when booking any travel (flights, hotels, tours, etc.) in 2021, so that you are familiar with when you have to make a decision to change plans if necessary. It also doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan in place from the start. Maybe you plan a European trip but know exactly where you’re headed in the US if the European borders aren’t open by the time you’re looking to travel.
Thanks for reading! I hope to see you out there this year! And if you’re not ready to travel yet with us in 2021, contact our trip consultants to join our exclusive, early-access list for 2022 dates by emailing sales@trektravel.com.
Best,
Tania Burke
Explore our destinations
