Can’t shake the Lockdown Travel Blues?
The smallest member of our household really knows how to make me feel guilty.
A couple of weeks back he was lying on the couch looking sad and bored. He had spent the day inside, lying in his basket, watching me waste hours of time sitting in front of reruns of Star Trek and Inspector Morse. Occasionally he would wander across the room to steal food from the cat’s bowl or to look pleadingly into my eyes and pull at my leg.
Eventually I sullenly succumbed to those doleful eyes and we headed out the door for his walk. He barked with joy and bounded out the driveway. A sniff here, a wee there and all was forgiven. It may be the first day of Autumn, but I too soon found a spring in my step as I breathed in the evening air and watched beautiful rainbow lorikeets suck sweet nectar from the flowering shrubs along our street. We were friends again, ready to take on the world.
In a blinding flash I had the realisation that, although lockdowns have been lifted and vaccines are being distributed, my life had degenerated, at some level, in a semi-comatose slumber. During this long, long year there have been times when I have worked like a trojan with my team to reinvent our business and create new and exciting holiday adventures for you, our clients. But the break from normalcy has been long and without noticing, enthusiasm had largely been replaced with boredom and inactivity. Time to get into action.
Although the international borders are still closed, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Those vaccines are producing encouraging, perhaps unexpected, results around the world. Tour companies, airlines and cruise lines have developed and implemented innovative changes to their operations and had adopted COVID-aware procedures. Gone are the days of 50 people on a coach, replaced by smaller touring parties. Planes recycle and cleanse the air several times a minute, and cruise lines have made remarkable changes that now make them one of the safest holiday options available. Not only have they generally reduced occupancy levels (in many cases to around 75% of capacity), but do-it-yourself buffets have been replaced by full service, and air circulation has been completely redesigned. To top this off, passengers undergo health screening and shore excursions now elevate the already high standards for safety.
Over the past couple of weeks, our team has been contacting our clients who have travel credits being held by tour operators and cruise companies, with a view to replanning and getting new bookings in place. Conversations have generally started with a level of caution, but as we have worked through all the issues, the mood has invariably changed to one of enthusiasm and once we identify new dates and get the rebooking process underway, a real feeling of freedom and joy takes hold.
There are bound to be a few bumps in the road over the coming months, with the occasional outbreak and viral variants giving us short-term scares but it is likely that many people will be enjoying holidays abroad by Christmas.
2021 is shaping up to be a bumper year for travel, with so many people holding travel credits from 2020 and everyone else champing at the bit to get away.
For those of you that have not yet rebooked, I encourage you to get on the phone and call us on 1300 221 550 or select a timeslot in our calendar by clicking on this link and discuss your needs with our team. We constantly keep up to date with changes in travel and safety regulations as well as the revised schedule offering from our numerous, carefully selected suppliers.
So be like Louis and I. Take that first step. Start planning that next overseas holiday – today!
