Freedom to Travel – Are you prepared?
-By Darren Smith
The freedom to travel overseas is something that 2 years ago many took for granted, but now many crave, and this craving is building like a volcano about to let off some bursts of steam. We ponder the possibilities of countries opening back up. The pent-up demand to travel overseas will be like nothing we have seen before.
Travel certainly means different things to different people, for some it is a short escape from the hustle and bustle of daily routines, for others it is the reward for many years of hard work and something that has been saved for and earned. What also comes with the travel experience is those that we travel with or travel to see. It is the social connection, companionship element and in some cases a celebration. Travelling to new places and having special experiences can also bring great energy, excitement, fulfillment, and positive emotional anchors that extend years after the trip itself.
It is the preparation, the anticipation, and the memories that we create along the journey that make it such a rewarding part of our modern lifestyle.
Travel and finances do go hand in hand. We all have different financial capacity to meet a seemingly endless choice of locations and experiences.
What we will see over the next 12 months is a significant increase in people travelling and money spent on travel. There is an expectation that there will be a wave of marketing and promotions from an industry that has really been doing it tough for some time. How prepared are you to make good financial decisions?
Whilst there may be some enticing to be done initially to get confidence back to travel, be prepared for the nudging and suggestions for upgrades. “You deserve it – reward yourself now”….
More travel freedoms will be great and something I am personally looking forward to, however it is important not to put yourself in financial hardship in the process.
Below are some basic tips to make sure you put yourself in the best position to make good choices financially:
Take the time now and ask yourself what are the 3 places that are in your top locations to visit in 2022.
Do some planning now on what your ideal trip would look like – write down on a piece of paper 4 or 5 key elements of the trip that are important to you.
Doing your research and understanding what is important will help in making better choices as new promotions are released. Having several options also means you have a plan B.
Set aside a budget for the trip or create a savings plan to start funding the trip. Make sure this allows for your spending and extra costs whilst you are on vacation. Also, have an extra safety margin for the just in case situations that might occur whilst travelling.
Review special offers and be mindful of discounts that you may benefit through memberships such as National Seniors Australia.
Preparing financially in advance will reduce the burden that you come back to once the trip is complete.
Be mindful if you fund via credit make sure you know what commitments you are getting into before you do.
Health and safety will be a more important element of any travel – so think this through and discuss where necessary with a medical professional. Inform yourself of what extra travel documents will be required.
Review and make sure that you have insurance in place that is fit for purpose and covers you for COVID bumps.
When looking at deals make sure you read the fine print and conditions that apply, particularly around refund policy.
Be mindful of scams.
Have a plan that will keep family and loved ones in the loop.
Whilst for some people it will be hard to look beyond the current dark clouds It is great to have something to look forward to in the not too distant future and ponder possibilities.