Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - The Rise of the Digital Nomad
The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world of work upside down, with many companies switching to remote work models. This massive shift enabled a new phenomenon: the rise of the digital nomad lifestyle. No longer tethered to a physical office, professionals across industries realized they could work from anywhere with an internet connection. For the digitally savvy, this meant packing up and traveling the world while working online.
While digital nomads existed pre-pandemic, their numbers skyrocketed in 2020 and 2021. According to MBO Partners' State of Independence in America report, there were 15.5 million digital nomads in 2021, up from 7.3 million in 2019. The appeal is obvious. Without commuting or an office to go to daily, one can live and work in exotic locales around the world. For millennials and Gen Z travellers, the digital nomad life offers the ultimate freedom and flexibility.
Thailand, Bali and Mexico have emerged as hotspots, with Chiang Mai, Canggu and Puerto Vallarta beckoning remote workers. These destinations boast low costs of living, thriving expat communities, reliable WiFi and picture-perfect beaches. But digital nomads are venturing to less expected places too, like colonial-era Guanajuato, Mexico or mountainous Medellin, Colombia. Even small beach towns in Portugal or overlooked islands in Greece now cater to location-independent travellers.
Co-living spaces and entrepreneur hubs tailored to digital nomads make it easy to set up shop. Selina Hotels has outposts with co-working areas across Latin America, while Roam offers sleek coliving across Bali, Tokyo and London. Major companies like Airbnb even offer long-term rentals catered to remote workers, often with lightning-fast WiFi.
What else is in this post?
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - The Rise of the Digital Nomad
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Touchless Technology Takes Off
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Less Crowds, More Nature
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Testing Requirements Here to Stay
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Business Travel Not Quite the Same
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Flexible Cancellations - A Permanent Fixture
- Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - The Comeback of Road Trips and Staycations
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Touchless Technology Takes Off
The pandemic accelerated the adoption of touchless technologies across the travel sector. From hotel check-ins to airport security, limiting physical contact has become the norm. This trend is here to stay, as touchless tech improves the passenger experience while reducing virus transmission.
Touchless kiosks for check-in, bag drop and boarding passes lead the way. Qantas was one of the first airlines to roll out contactless kiosks in 2020. Passengers can self-scan passports, drop bags and obtain boarding passes without touching a screen. Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and American Airlines have since followed suit.
Airports are also jumping aboard. Miami International Airport introduced over 200 touchless ID verification kiosks to speed up security and customs processes. Instruments scan passports and take a live photo to confirm travelers' identities. Face recognition tech further enhances touchless experiences. Delta Air Lines uses facial recognition for international check-ins at various hubs.
Hotels have implemented similar innovations. Marriott's mobile app doubles as a contactless room key at thousands of properties. Hilton's Digital Key unlocks rooms via mobile devices, while mobile requests limit contact with staff. Apps can also control in-room amenities like lighting and temperature.
Even airplanes are going touchless. American Airlines and United Airlines have tested touchless lavatories on certain flights. Faucets, soap dispensers, toilets and doors are all motion-activated. Travelers can navigate the facilities without touching a thing.
Touchless food and beverage options are also booming. Automated, self-service F&B spots are a common sight at major airports. Travelers can browse screens, order items, customize selections and pay using apps – no cashiers needed. McCarran International Airport has over 100 self-order kiosks, while Chicago O'Hare has mini markets with touchless checkout.
Cruise ships employ similar tech. On Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, travelers use apps to order drinks that robots deliver anywhere on board. No lines, no touching. It's a win-win for cruisers and crew.
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Less Crowds, More Nature
The great outdoors beckoned like never before during the pandemic, as people yearned to escape crowded cities and connect with nature. With global tourism down, national parks, forests and conservation areas saw dramatic drops in visitors. For those able to travel, this presented a rare opportunity. Now, seeking uncrowded natural spaces looks to be an enduring trend.
Yosemite National Park is a prime example. Pre-pandemic, over 4 million people flocked there every year. In 2020, visitor numbers plummeted to less than half that. Hikers reveled in the wide open vistas and trails normally choked with crowds. Wildlife sightings soared, from bears ambling near campgrounds to herds of deer grazing roadside. The park had been returned to its natural state, devoid of masses.
Zion National Park had a similar experience. With its crimson canyons and epic overlooks, Zion used to overflow with shoulder-to-shoulder tourists. In 2020, visitor numbers sank by over 40%. Hikers finally had sweeping views to themselves, snapping iconic spots without hordes of people. Wildlife flourished in the peaceful habitat.
The phenomenon extended worldwide. At Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, massive colonies of marine iguanas sunbathed on vacant beaches. Safari lodges in Kenya and Tanzania hosted just a handful of jeeps on game drives, bringing superb sightings. The Great Barrier Reef shimmered in its full glory, free of constant crowds disturbing the corals.
Travelers fortunate enough to visit these suddenly uncrowded places were awestruck. The transformative power of immersing in nature minus the masses was immense. As the world tentatively reopens, national parks and conservation areas may never see pre-pandemic crowds again. Limits on visitor numbers look to be permanent at hotspots like Machu Picchu. Travelers are also avoiding crowded destinations, seeking less trampled parks and wilder experiences. Tour operators now cater to this demand through trips focused on conservation, sustainability and undiscovered nature.
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Testing Requirements Here to Stay
While vaccine rollouts and loosening restrictions paint a positive picture, pre-travel COVID-19 testing is likely here for the long haul. Mandatory tests curb imported cases, providing a vital layer of security against emerging variants. For travelers, testing requirements add hassles to the journey. But health and safety must come first.
Look no further than the land of the free. While the U.S. lifted its blanket testing rule for vaccinated air passengers in June 2022, requirements weren't abolished entirely. Unvaccinated citizens and non-resident foreigners still need a negative test to fly into the States. Numerous destinations popular with American travelers like Japan, Italy and Morocco also require tests from all inbound passengers, regardless of vaccination status.
Across the pond, Britain revamped its system in late 2022. Vaccinated travelers no longer need pre-departure tests. But they must take a lateral flow test within two days of arriving back in the U.K. It's a small price to pay to catch asymptomatic cases.
The European Union recently made negative PCR tests mandatory for all 27 member states. Returning residents and visitors alike must test before boarding flights home. While freedom of movement has largely resumed within the EU, caution remains. Testing protocols provide an added shield against the virus and scary new variants.
Pre-departure requirements may frustrate travelers longing for simpler times. But most view onerous testing as a necessary evil, especially after Omicron's ultra-transmissible nature wreaked havoc on previous reopenings. Until the WHO declares COVID-19 firmly under control, don't expect nations to ditch blanket testing rules.
Regardless of destination, all voyagers should confirm entry protocols before takeoff. A handful of tropical hideaways like Mexico and the Dominican Republic don't demand tests for vaccinated flyers. But they remain the exception, not the norm. Reviewing entry rules is especially critical when connecting via countries with different policies. Being blindsided by requirements at check-in is any traveler's nightmare.
The convenience of rapid antigen and at-home PCR tests helps minimize hassles. Ordering test kits online and administering them in your hotel room beats schlepping to crowded test sites. While adding extra steps, self-testing provides comfort and confidence before international journeys or heading home.
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Business Travel Not Quite the Same
The COVID-19 pandemic brought business travel to an abrupt halt in 2020. As offices closed and Zoom calls became the norm, corporate road warriors grounded their frequent flyer habits. But two years later, the landscape looks quite different. Business travel is rebounding, though not at pre-pandemic levels. And how companies approach work trips now is forever changed.
According to Deloitte, domestic business travel spending in the U.S. bounced back to about 60% of 2019 levels by late 2021. International corporate travel lagged at just 25% recovery. But after endless lockdowns, any uptick signaled progress.
Surveys of major companies highlight permanent shifts. Perks like business class seats and plush hotel suites are fading fast. Bleisure trips that mix work and leisure have boomed. And sustainable travel programs help curb carbon footprints.
Corporate penny-pinching spells turbulence for the coveted business class cabin. In Deloitte's survey, 75% of travel managers expect to cut back on premium seating for domestic flights post-pandemic. Premium economy offers big savings, with plush seats at economy prices. Plus, shorter domestic hops rarely need lie-flat beds.
Hotel programs show similar downgrades. Goodbye corner suites and Club Lounge access. Companies increasingly limit hotel choices or impose daily spending caps. Work trips still need comfort, but fancy frills are fading.
Bleisure trips are surging as the hottest corporate trend. By tacking on vacation pre- or post-work trips, employees maximize investments in airfare. Travel managers love the lift in morale and productivity.
Of course, not all changes spell cutbacks. Health and safety remain paramount concerns for corporate travel. Companies provide N95 masks, pre-flight Covid tests, and sanitize hotel rooms. Travel managers check local outbreaks and may restrict high-risk destinations.
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - Flexible Cancellations - A Permanent Fixture
The COVID-19 pandemic made one thing abundantly clear in the travel world - flexibility is paramount when booking trips. As quarantines, border closures and lockdowns became recurrent speedbumps over the past two years, cancel-friendly policies proved to be a godsend. Luckily, this buyer-friendly trend is here to stay. Both airlines and hotels now trumpet lenient cancellation options, a tasty perk for uncertain times.
Knowing you can bail without financial penalty provides peace of mind when plotting future getaways. Popular tourist destinations seem to shift to higher risk categories weekly. New viral variants spark border clampdowns and testing rules morph endlessly. Few travelers enjoy gambling hundreds or thousands of dollars on trips that may need to be scuttled.
That's why flexible booking options resonate so strongly nowadays. Savvy voyagers hunt down refundable hotel rates and airfares that can be postponed sans fees. Sites like Hopper and Kayak even have filters to pinpoint FULLY refundable flights. This guarantees you get 100% of your money back if plans must change. Notification deadlines vary widely, from as little as 24 hours up to departure. It takes extra legwork, but secures your investment.
Airlines want customers to stop fretting and start flying. That's the impetus behind benevolent new policies. Delta and American now allow free flight changes on all tickets, even basic economy. United permits one free date change on domestic flights. JetBlue bills itself as the industry's most flexible airline, with unlimited fee-free rebookings.
Hotel heavyweights are following suit. Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt all allow penalty-free cancellations up to 24 hours before arrival for direct bookings. This even applies to prepaid nonrefundable rates. Some boutique brands like Kimpton are waiving cancellation fees up to midnight on arrival day. Can it get any more lenient?
OTAs like Expedia and Booking.com tag thousands of properties with "free cancellation" labels. But read the fine print carefully. Many still impose hefty cancellation fees but creatively call them "penalty fees". It's critical to confirm if your money will be refunded before clicking purchase.
Those in the know leverage brilliant loopholes that secure fully refundable deals. For hotels, booking via the Rocketmiles site gifts truly penalty-free cancellation and earns airline miles to boot. Paying with a travel credit card like Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve also ensures refunds when plans go pear-shaped. You can annul almost any prepaid booking and redeem the charge as a travel statement credit.
When flexibly matters above all, using points and miles is a failsafe move. Rewards bookings can be cancelled and points redeposited free of charge. Some programs like Southwest Rapid Rewards even refund points if fares decrease after ticketing.
Brave New World: How Pandemic Travel Changes Will Impact You Long-Term - The Comeback of Road Trips and Staycations
The open road beckoned like never before these past two years. As the pandemic crippled air travel and made far-flung vacations seem risky, road trips surged in popularity across America. From coast to coast, travelers embraced the freedom of the highway, cruising to national parks, beach towns and scenic byways in their own vehicles. Socially distanced sojourns across the homeland served up nostalgia, natural wonders and much-needed escapism.
Surveys show 60% of Americans took a road trip in 2021 – up 15% from pre-pandemic levels. And the #vanlife movement exploded, evidenced by skyrocketing RV sales and vans outfitted as mini-homes. Road warriors traded cramped flights and crowded resorts for roadside diners and starry, isolated campsites where solitude reigned.
I traded in air miles for highway miles once COVID-19 hit, realizing road trips were the safest bet. I planned a 10-day driving loop from my Colorado hometown to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, before looping back via Route 66. From bison jams in Hayden Valley to retro Americana along the Mother Road, it was a much-needed mental reset. Being out in the open air brought peace of mind and fantastic photo ops.
Friends of mine had similar epiphanies, embracing road trips they’d never considered pre-2020. One couple drove from Chicago to Savannah, Charleston and Asheville, staying at boutique inns along the way. A photographer pal wandered California's ghost towns and sweeping vistas in her vintage VW van. And a Dallas family of five rented an RV to explore Utah's Mighty Five parks – they’d previously written off such a trip as too chaotic.
As travel bounced back in 2022, many still opted for road trips over planes. Drive vacations offer flexibility and security that air travel currently lacks. You’re not beholden to flight schedules or lengthy airport hassles. Nor are you crammed into germy cabins where virus transmission is likelier. The open road grants freedom and fresh perspective after two years of limitations.
Staycations also made a comeback, as we realized gems lie right in our backyards. Neighborhood walks unveiled hidden architectural details, city staycays meant crossing off that epic museum, and state park escapes provided outdoor reprieves mere hours away. After experiencing shutdowns and restrictions, having the luxury to safely explore your hometown felt like a gift.