Since the pandemic began, you would be hard pressed to find an industry that is more changed by COVID than Travel. From new procedures and protocols to entry and exit requirements, it’s no wonder most of those who are traveling now have changed their travel habits as well. January is often the month where most people plan travel for some part of their year and at the Shameless Tourist we are beyond lucky to have seen a January and February to be booming with clients looking to plan their Spring Break, Summer, and Fall getaways.
Domestic Stays
“Long haul” travel has been placed on the back burner for many of us recently and most of our clients are looking to stay closer to home. We are so lucky to live in such a large country with so many diverse landscapes. There is a lot of domestic travel to choose from! Our top destinations have been Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and as always– Florida! Rounding out this list lately is Hawaii, which reopened in the fall and has been more popular than ever for travelers looking for a beach getaway.
Nature Calling
Our big cities in the US are something that have always amazed me; the energy, the culture, the food! But in the past year we have seen a big shift toward the great outdoors— the Mountains and the Beach are where most of our clients want to be and many are rekindling a love for an old sport or finding joy in a new one. Golf enthusiasts are flocking to their favorite courses and finding time to check off the bucket list some of those courses they have always wanted to play. Skiers are enjoying the snow, fisherman are getting out on their boats, and even I have taken up a new sport– Surfing.
Longer stays, more luxurious hotels
With work from home and school from home being a large part of our lives now, another trend we have noticed is that most people are booking longer getaways. The short weekend getaway has turned to week long stays for many. I’ve also noticed a more dramatic shift in the luxury travel sphere– more people have been willing to book luxury hotel options. I’m assuming this has to do with traveling less frequently (more budget for getaways), less expensive airfare, and the desire for a stress free vacation. I’ve also noticed for my clients who have kids back in school, the desire to travel during school breaks has been immense, so I recommend if you would like to travel during the breaks, plan ahead!
Our Favorite Getaways
So, for the fun part– where are our favorite places to recommend at the moment? Where are our clients traveling to? Here’s a short list of some of our favorites:
· Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain– nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains, families, couples, and friends are flocking to these properties to experience all there is to see and do at life on the “farm!”
· The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia
· The Henderson, Destin, Florida
· Bungalows Key Largo
· Little Palm Island, The Keys, Florida
· Viceroy, Snowmass, Colorado
· Four Seasons Jackson Hole, Jackson, WY
· Auberge du Soleil– Napa Valley, CA
· Sur L’eau– charter a yacht and socially distance yourself while having 1st class service. Sur L’eau is currently based in the Bahamas and ready for guests to come aboard!
· Zadun, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
· Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
· Four Seasons Hualalai, The Big Island, Hawaii
· Andaz Maui at Wailea
As a reminder, booking any of the above properties through the Shameless Tourist give you exclusive access to VIP amenities, pricing, and insider tips you cannot get by booking directly at the same price or better than listed online. Contact us today to learn more and find your perfect 2021 getaway!
Kaleigh Kirkpatrick is one of our Silver Level Sponsors. If you are interested in booking for a future trip or would like to reach out to her for more questions, please visit her website at https://theshamelesstourist.com/contact/
