This article originally
appeared in the September issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
As summer winds to a close and kids return to school, thoughts turn to travel for the winter holidays. While some advisors are already booking, others by late August were getting inquiries for trips to warm-weather destinations, European vacations and more.
“Business continues to be strong moving into the holiday season, especially for family travel,” said Robin Butler Leonard, owner of Polaris Travel Advisors, a Dream Vacations agency in Clayton, Mo. “We consistently see families seeking unique, new-to-them travel experiences that cater to both adults and younger travelers. For example, instead of opting for ski trips to their regular location in the Rockies, there’s growing interest in European ski destinations during the holidays.”
Bundled Packages
Still, many choose the easy option of bundled packages, especially those that ease the experience for parents who tire of cooking and cleaning. “We are seeing a trend where families prefer bundled packages to simplify their travel experience,” Leonard said. “Our clients tend to favor land-based vacations, such as all-inclusives in the Caribbean, bundled ski packages that include rentals, lift tickets and some meals, or even luxury home rentals on the beach with access to food delivery services, sitters and private chefs.”
She added: “On a trip, parents are often still responsible for meal planning, cooking and cleaning three meals a day for the family. Nowadays, parents are more willing to splurge on extras that allow them to relax and enjoy a real vacation too.”
All-inclusive resorts continue to be popular options for holiday vacations. Pictured, Hyatt Ziva Cancun. (Source: Playa Hotels & Resorts)
Christmas Market River Cruise
Benna Hermanson with Expert Journeys Travel in suburban Chicago, said she’s booked a few family trips for the winter holidays. “A family with young adult children are going on a Christmas Market river cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest with one of the children’s fiancées and her mother. They are all traveling to celebrate the engagement and also wanted to show and share with their children and future daughter-in-law and mother of the bride how beautiful and festive the Christmas markets are since it was one of the parents’ favorite trips when they went years ago.”
Hermanson also booked a family with college-age children on an active trip to Costa Rica in late December. “I worked with one of our preferred suppliers and curated a great itinerary incorporating hikes, river rafting, rappelling and ending up at a beach for several days with a catamaran cruise and snorkeling.”
Pause in Bookings
Edith Ortega, owner of Dream Vacations, in Aurora, Colo., said some clients are holding off a bit. “I haven’t made any holiday bookings for family or multigenerational trips over the winter holidays just yet, but I have had calls and emails inquiring about pricing and options,” she said. “There’s been a noticeable trend where travelers are increasingly waiting until about four to six weeks before their departure to make their reservations. This shift in booking patterns suggests that we might see a surge in last-minute bookings as the holiday season approaches.”
Ortega said she has experienced demand for cruise ships, noting that Royal Caribbean’s new mega ships are especially popular right now. Families who prefer land-based vacations are opting for “the always-popular beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya to enjoy a more relaxed vacation.”
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