Photo: Contributed
Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, Mexico
With pandemic restrictions lifted, the world is opening up again for travellers.
And, with the pent-up desire to travel, many are contacting travel planning professionals to help them book trips.
“There’s no deterring people,” says Jodi MacDonald, managing partner of Uniglobe Direct Travel in Kelowna. “People want to see the world, and make memories.”
Popular destinations for MacDonald’s clients are Mexico and Europe, and small group tours have also grown in popularity, she says.
In Mexico, many of the high-end resorts took the downtime forced on them by the pandemic restrictions to refurbish and refresh and have come back stronger than ever.
New resorts are offering great deals, said MacDonald, pointing to a few Hyatt properties in the Mayan Riviera area of Mexico.
She said the one-year-old Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun and the new, adults-only Hyatt Zilara Riviera Cancun, which is scheduled to open in December, are both top-notch all-inclusive resorts that are proving popular with those seeking sun vacations.
With easy flight access and only a five- to six-hour flight, Mexico remains a popular destination, especially for families.
From Kelowna, there are now three direct routes to the popular Mexican holiday spots of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, with two flights a week to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.
According to MacDonald, newer five-star properties are offering great deals to lure visitors, in some cases saving travellers as much as $1,200 per person.
“So people should definitely take advantage of the newer properties,” she says.
But act quickly. Next year’s spring break is really booking up fast.
“It’s important to plan ahead,” says MacDonald.
MacDonald says many travellers are already booking for next year to take advantage of great rates and itineraries.
With airfares looking good right now thanks to discounts being offered by airlines and airport and flight problems seen during the summer starting to ease, now is a good time to book a trip.
“(Air) travel has improved since the summer,” says MacDonald. “Airlines and airports have hired and are training more people. It’s an encouraging turnaround.”
And it’s not just resorts that are offering incentives to lure back travellers.
Avalon Waterways, are offering itineraries without charging a single’s supplement, a move that could mean substantial savings for those who want to see a different view of Europe—from the water.
“There are some good deals and we are finding more single travellers are making trips,” said MacDonald.
Small group tours are also proving popular. Companies like G Adventures and Exodus Travels, two Canadian tour operators, offer exclusive eight to 16-person group tours to a myriad of destinations, tours that range from three to four days to as long as 35 days.
As part of a small group tour, you not only get a more intimate view of your destination, you get to know your travel mates and have the benefit of a knowledgeable guide with you throughout your tour.
“They speak the language, know the local hidden gems and you learn about the history, religion, and culture of the people in the places you visit,” says MacDonald.
With such incredible experiences, small group tours are growing in popularity and as a result, are being booked further and further out. In some cases, Uniglobe clients are already booking for 2024 to take advantage of current pricing.
Popular destinations for group tours include Jordan, Turkey, Morocco and Egypt. G Adventures and Exodus offers tours to more than 90 countries and have more than 600 itineraries to offer travellers.
So, when you are ready to travel, contact a travel planning professional at Uniglobe Direct Travel. In addition to the knowledgeable, professional service, its consultants save you time and money
Contact Uniglobe Direct Travel at 250 860-0808 or via its website at uniglobedirect.com.
Photo: Contributed
Uniglobe Direct Travel consultants (from left) Christine Clark, Kim Semenoff and Jodi MacDonald and their dogs Herbie and Trooper.
This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
