Travel trends for 2021 and beyond

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

-Anonymous

If the past year has left a big travel shaped hole in your heart, you’re not alone. A recent Airbnb study found that travelling was the activity people missed the most during the pandemic.

Here at Hayes & Jarvis, we’ve missed travelling too. It’s been a tough year, but we are proud to say that we’ve spent the past year regrouping, adapting and working hard to offer even more destinations around the globe.

We’ve also spent a lot of time analysing the current trends in travel so we can help you plan the unforgettable journey you deserve – as soon as you’re ready. The future of travel will certainly contain many surprises, but some travel trends for 2021 are already clear.

Increased Flexibility & Support

All the trip cancellations in 2020 gave customers and the travel industry had a big wake-up call. Overall, the travel industry has responded with a shift to more flexible booking policies, better refund terms, and improved customer support. 

At Hayes & Jarvis, we want you to travel confidently with our Carefree Guarantee. For any trips booked after 1 March, 2021, you can re-book your trip free of charge up to 55 days before departure at the original price of your trip. If travel is not possible due to COVID-19 government-imposed travel restrictions within 55 days before departure, you can choose between re-booking your trip free of charge or receive a full cash refund.

We are also proud to provide 24/7 support for our guests on the ground. Our Trip Coordinators are available around the clock during your trip to handle any issues that may arise, from a lost passport to a dinner reservation, to a PCR test. Plus, our new optional FastTrack VIP service from our selected UK airports means you’ll be met as soon as you arrive and your personal concierge will expedite you through check-in, bag-drop, immigration and security.

Vaccine Passports

With many countries working on versions of a “vaccine passport” there will be a divide between those vaccinated and the unvaccinated. The European Commission has proposed a Digital Green Certificate to allow movement within the EU. The UK however has not decided on the best way to proceed just yet.

While we know widespread vaccination will help travel rebound and reduce the spread of the virus, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. Document forgery, equity issues, and healthcare privacy laws vary greatly across countries. For example, in Israel, a “green pass” from the Ministry of Health is required to participate in some everyday activities, but that idea has received backlash in other countries as discriminatory to those who haven’t been offered a vaccine yet.

It’s safe to say that there will be some form of COVID-19 vaccination documentation that will facilitate the return of international travel. However, time will tell when this travel trend becomes a reality, and which countries will adopt it in 2021.

Travel trends for 2021

Now for the fun stuff! Let’s look at the travel trends that are set to shape travel in 2021.

Road Trips

The humble road trip has had a renaissance in the COVID-19 era. Not only does a road trip give you complete freedom without the hassle of airports or train schedules, it also means you can explore at your own pace. Take the back roads, wander national parks and camp out under the stars in complete safety.

With incredibly luxurious motorhomes now on the market, road trips are no longer reserved for the budget-conscious. One of the travel trends we’re increasingly seeing in 2021 is families and couples choosing to explore locally, from the comfort of their own home on wheels.

Planning an exciting road trip can be tricky, so speak to a destination expert who can help plan the best route and stops along the way to make the most of your trip.

Last-Minute Getaways & Short-Haul trips

Since the UK government announced that overseas travel is expected to resume from 17 May, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of last-minute bookings for summer 2021. As our vaccination rollout gains speed, recently vaccinated people now have the confidence to make their travel dreams come true.

We’re also seeing many new bookings for short-haul destinations, and staycations throughout the UK.

Outdoor Adventures

After spending much of 2020 looking at the same four walls, escaping into the great outdoors has never been more appealing. Rather than busy cities or crowded festivals, travellers are flocking to national parks, safaris and regions surrounded by natural beauty. Some of our favourite COVID-19 safe outdoor adventures include glamping in the Canadian rockies, combining a Kenyan safari with a luxury beach stay in Seychelles, and a luxurious safari in Botswana with a visit to Victoria Falls.

Kenya And Seychelles Holiday

• 11 Days
• from £5,799 PP

Our multi-centre holiday in Kenya and Seychelles transports you to a world of beautiful landscapes and some of the best…

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Wildlife holidays

Luxury Botswana Safari Tour

• 11 Days
• from £7,499 PP

Your eleven-day Discover Botswana safari begins in Victoria Falls, locally known as ‘The Smoke That Thunders’. Famously renowned as one…

View Tour

Private Tour Holidays

Responsible Travel

Build Back Better. You’ve probably heard this phrase recently. It means taking a holistic approach to travel, so that we can make travel an even more powerful force for good.

In practice, it means carbon offsets for flights, promoting sustainable hotels, encouraging wildlife conservation, and choosing destinations that prioritize the health and safety of locals. Responsible travel is not just a trend, it’s a philosophy that we have, and always will embrace, as we work to create journeys of a lifetime for you.

Group Travel & Private Villas

Visiting family and friends is the type of travel people have missed most during the pandemic according to an Airbnb survey. One of the best ways to reconnect with loved ones is by booking a private villa with room for the whole family. You’ll be guaranteed privacy from other guests, room to congregate together, and the chance to make new memories together, often with the added luxury of on-site chefs, swimming pools and spa treatments.

The sweetest travel trends in 2021

The pandemic has taken a lot from us: our freedom, people we love, precious time, and many of our favourite activities. It has been incredibly difficult on our partners around the world who rely on sustainable tourism for income. But it has also given us an opportunity to stop and take a breath. It has made us appreciate the world around us even more and be open to new experiences we never thought possible.

And while the future is still unclear, we can promise you one thing.

When you next step off that plane into the humid air of a foreign destination, order a spicy snack from a busy market stall, or sit quietly and observe the beauty of an elephant drinking for a waterhole, it’ll be sweeter than ever.

We’ll see you soon.