TAMPA, Fla. — We haven't gotten through Halloween yet, but it's already time to start talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah.
Why so early? According to a recent AAA travel survey, nearly half (48 percent) of Floridians have begun making their travel plans for the holiday season. For the 48 percent of people that make their plans early, they finish their holiday vacation planning before the end of October.
With travel reopening internationally, more people receiving their vaccines, and a growing confidence in being able to travel safely, flights and hotels are booking up quickly.
“Time is of the essence for people who plan to take a flight this holiday season,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, The Auto Club Group. “As we get closer to the holidays, airfares often rise as availability shrinks. We recommend you book by Halloween, for the best chance of finding the flight you want at a favorable rate.”
Early this month, travelers across the country dealt with the frustration of travel cancelations through Southwest Airlines. And as travel plans remain fluid due to COVID-19, AAA recommends travelers consider shelling out the extra cash to purchase travel insurance.
“So if you’re planning a flight, you may want to consider travel insurance," said Haas. "If your flight is canceled, 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.”
Re-entering the travel and vacation scene: cruises. After an 18-month hiatus, cruises are back in the Tampa Bay area. According to AAA, in October, November, and December, 14 percent of Floridians will take an ocean cruise.
For any and all of your travel options, new COVID-19 safety protocols can impact your travel. 43 percent of Floridians plan to take a vacation longer than 2 days, according to AAA. Compared to last year, when a vaccine wasn’t available, 35 percent of Floridians are more comfortable traveling this holiday season. Meanwhile, two in five (42 percent) feel the same as last year.
Throughout the year, survey data has shown steady growth in the percentage of travelers who are more likely to purchase travel insurance because of the pandemic. Half of Floridians now say they are more likely to purchase travel insurance than before the pandemic began. That’s an increase from 39 percent in Q1.
According to the CDC, about 59 percent of Floridians are fully vaccinated. The vast majority, 71 percent, are confident the vaccine will protect them from contracting COVID-19 while traveling, and 70 percent are confident in the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine.