Last-minute international travel is on the rise
Here’s how to plan a smooth spur-of-the-month trip and avoid falling into the dreaded holiday traps.
Last minute travel is on the rise with more Australians booking spur-of-the-moment trips and doing away with months worth of planning.
Confidence to travel internationally has grown as the world climbs out of its Covid slumber, causing a surge in passengers who are organising trips within a smaller booking window.
In a recent study, tour provider Trafalgar found that Europe was the most in-demand destination Australians are flocking to, making up a staggering majority of bookings in 2022.
“Europe has been our most popular destination this year, with 78% of total bookings touching down in the continent to date,” Toni Ambler, the managing director of Trafalgar Australia and New Zealand, said. The top countries are Italy, Ireland and Great Britain.
“Another trend we’re seeing is a September travel boom.” 29% of bookings to Europe made on Trafalgar are set to depart in September, after the summer crowds disperse.
Similarly, Webjet recorded a jump in the number of last-minute travel plans to escape Australia’s wet and dreary winter.
“Last minute travel is on the rise and we have noticed a clear shortening of booking-to-departure lead times compared to 2019,” Webjet OTA chief executive David Galt said.
Flight Centre Australia’s Brent Novak said the number of bookings to Europe were rebounding to pre-pandemic levels.
“We’ve seen a shift from travelling to the UK in favour of other European destinations such as Italy, France, Greece, Germany and Spain,” he said.
The surge in travel has been met with logistical issues such as lost baggage, cancelled flights and stranded passengers. Yet the unfortunate reality of travelling in 2022 has done little to deter those opting to forge ahead with a spontaneous holiday.
With airport disruptions now the precursor to any flight, My Galt said purchasing insurance is as important as any other step in planning the perfect holiday.
“As a result of these disruptions, it has also never been a more important time to purchase comprehensive travel insurance,” Mr Galt said, which is becoming all the more necessary with the threat of Monkeypox, the prevalence of Covid and the high chance of losing your luggage.
“Take out a policy with a reputable brand and make sure it covers you for all the activities you have planned while on holiday,” Ms Ambler added.
Purchasing a device to track your bag like an Apple AirTag could also help if your suitcase gets lost in transit, as you will be able to tell the airport exactly where your belongings are located. Another safety measure is to pack a carry-on bag with a change of clothes, copies of your travel documents, chargers and any other essentials you may need.
“Another handy tip is to take a photo of your luggage and contents before departure for an additional precaution measure,” Ms Ambler said. “Preparation is key.”