The pandemic changed our world, and one of the fundamentals that were forever altered was how we move about.
After being confined to our homes off and on for almost two years, we are now enjoying the full benefits of travel again after a shaky start that included restrictions and rigorous COVID-19 testing.
But by now, that’s all behind us, and we are once again planning our next trip, but what can we expect in the year ahead without any controls to keep us back.
Here’s our guide.
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Case in point
Rethink how much luggage you want. There is a lot of it going missing at the moment, so keeping it to a minimum should minimise your loss if the worst happens. Plus, using a smaller case will force you to pack less.
Also consider investing in tracking tags for your luggage, especially if your destination is known for lost luggage, which, let’s face it, is practically everywhere these days.
Right on track
High flight costs have driven a return to rail in Australia. Services between Australia’s capital cities have never been busier and people are discovering just how cheap it is to travel regional rail routes as well.
If you live in Victoria, it’s about to come even cheaper as the government promises to slash daily regional fares to anywhere in the state to $9.20 to bring them into line with metropolitan fares as of 31 March.
Savvy overseas travellers have long known the value of European rail passes. A bit of research will almost guarantee a good deal whether in-country or a Eurail Pass, which covers 40,000 destinations across 33 countries.
It’s a little bit more complicated across Asia, but once again Google is your friend. Visit Viator for a jumping-off point.
Read: How to keep your luggage safe and secure
Work for it
Working holidays never went out of fashion for the young, but with labour shortages, it’s increasingly becoming an option for older Australians. Your chances of employment increase exponentially if you are prepared to work in remote sites such as Uluru.
Most online employment sites are geared towards backpackers, but with a little research you may be able to support your next trip through employment. And it doesn’t have to be backbreaking harvest work, there are always plenty of opportunities for outback governesses or house sitters.
In good company
It seems solo travel is gaining traction. Gone are the days when it was the spinster aunt of a certain age who took herself off to Italy on a cooking tour.
According to a Skyscanner survey, 45 per cent of Australians are considering a solo trip this year, citing health and wellness as motivating factors, with a weekend away considered the ideal length of a getaway.
If that sounds great, but you still want to leave the organisation to others, why not investigate small group travel. Most have flexible itineraries to give you time to yourself while you can still sit back and relax and let the travel company work out the particulars.
Read: Island life on a budget in the Caribbean
Off the beaten track
Avoiding touristy areas has long been a traveller’s ideal, but it appears as we return to travel it’s becoming more important to have a singular experience. Skyscanner has found that while there has been a 47 per cent increase in searches for trips to Los Angeles, other popular destinations were Mumbai, India (107 per cent increase), Kathmandu (79 per cent increase) and Istanbul (48 per cent increase).
Other destinations to record an increase in search popularity included Manila, New Delhi, Manchester, Hamburg, Cairo and Dublin, so maybe Australians are over the usual New York, Los Angeles, London holidays.
What will you be doing differently next time you travel? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
