Florida, Mexico and Caribbean countries rank among top vacation destinations for Alamance travelers
Summer vacation season is right around the corner. Do you have your trips booked? Are you up-to-date on the latest mask mandates and travel requirements?
If you're still figuring out where you'll get away this summer and how to make it happen, local travel agent Tiffany Pollard is here to help.
Pollard is an independent Travelmation agent based in Mebane. While she specializes in Disney vacations, she has tricks up her sleeve for all sorts of destinations.
According to Pollard, travel rates that declined during the COVID-19 have certainly bounced back.
"It has been insane," she said. "I feel like we knew that was going to happen but it's been busier than anybody could have predicted."
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Pollard attributed the increase in travel bookings to cancelled vacations during the pandemic as well as a new "life is short" mentality encouraging people to travel more when they have the chance.
"The buildup and the cancellations have made it a big year so far and I think 2023 is going to be a big year (too)," Pollard said.
A lot of the bookings Pollard is seeing include couples getaways and large family group trips.
These trips, unlike in years past, have been boked relatively last minute. In the travel industry, last minute means within six months or the departure date, Pollard explained. Before COVID, trips would be booked about a year or sometimes more in advance.
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Disney and Florida beaches have been popular destinations for families, while international Caribbean destinations like Jamaica, Cancun and the Dominican Republic have been popular among couples. Cruise bookings are also starting to rebound, Pollard said.
Travelers' destination choices have been heavily influenced by travel requirements like COVID vaccination or testing. Airlines recently lifted their mask mandates and several international destinations have also removed testing requirements in recent weeks, Pollard explained. This has encouraged even more people to book a getaway.
Domestic travel and the Caribbean destinations have been especially popular because vaccination or testing are not required. Pollard noted, however, that testing is still required to re-enter the U.S. after international travel. Many international resorts offer complimentary testing a few days before your departure.
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While mandates are starting to relax, Pollard encouraged travelers to explore within their comfort zone.
"If you want to wear masks, you should still wear a mask," Pollard added. "I don't want the idea that there's no masks required to actually start hindering some people from getting back out there."
Before you book a trip, Pollard recommends checking with a travel agent or consulting the CDC website to see what forms, testing or vaccinations are required to travel.
So where will you jet off to this summer?
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Elizabeth Pattman is the trending topics reporter for the Times-News in Burlington, covering business, COVID-19 and all things trending. Contact Elizabeth (she/her) at epattman@gannett.com. I'm also available on social media @EPattmanTN on Twitter or @burlingtontimesnews on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Times-News: Alamance Co. travel agent shares where to vacation this summer and how to navigate changing COVID mandates
