Statewide Iowa — Iowans have begun making their travel plans for the holiday season. According to a new AAA Travel survey, more than one third (35%) of residents book their holiday trips by the end of October.
Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group says time is of the essence for people who plan to take a flight this holiday season,. As people get closer to the holidays, airfares often rise as availability shrinks. AAA recommends you book by Halloween, for the best chance of finding the flight you want at a favorable rate.
AAA will release its full Thanksgiving Travel Forecast November 9th.
Hass continues to say they’ve recently seen numerous flight delays and cancellations, and even more are possible during the holidays. So if you’re planning a flight, you may want to consider travel insurance. If your flight is cancelled, there are various policies that would help offset unexpected expenses like a hotel, transportation and food. You may also receive compensation for lost luggage, or if your flight is delayed for as little as 3 hours.
While 34% of Iowans plan to head to a major city or metro, almost half will be vacationing somewhere with easy access to the great outdoors. Beach destinations (22%), National or state parks (13%), and resort vacations (13%) top the list, followed by land tours at 10%.
Less than a third (29%) of Iowans plan to take a vacation of 3 days or more during the 2021 holiday season. Meanwhile, fifteen percent have not yet decided. That said, over a quarter (27%) of Iowans without holiday travel plans site fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19 as their reason for not traveling this Holiday season.
Compared to last year, when a vaccine wasn’t available, 26% of Iowans are more comfortable traveling this holiday season. Meanwhile, over half (56%) feel the same as last year.
Of the 74% of Iowans who are fully or partially vaccinated:
-67% are confident the vaccine will protect them from contracting COVID-19 while traveling
-60% are confident in the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine
Traveler confidence took a step back this quarter, following a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, brought on by the Delta variant. This year, the percentage of Iowans who are comfortable traveling rebounded from 53% in Q2 to 77% in Q3, yet slipped back to 66% in our Q4 survey – fielded in September.
Although traveler confidence hit a snag, enthusiasm could rebound through the end of the year. COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are trending lower again, which is what 42% of Iowans said would need to happen in order to feel more comfortable traveling.
Haas says whether you’re taking a flight, cruise or tour; travel insurance can provide the peace of mind in knowing that your trip is protected during the pandemic. There are various policies that provide coverage if you contract COVID either before or during your trip. If you talk with a travel agent, they can help ensure you have the policy that is the best fit for your trip.
Travel advisors are vital during the pandemic. Fifteen percent of Iowans value travel agents more now than before the pandemic began. Since restrictions and requirements can vary by destination, travel advisors help travelers navigate the various complexities, so they can make informed decisions and travel with confidence.
