How to Prep for Your Family Travel in 2022

Do you feel overwhelmed and out of practice when it comes to traveling these days? If so, you’re far from alone. The past two years have put a serious cramp in our globetrotting style, so it can feel a little intimidating to start thinking about trip preparations again. What’s more, you may have some bad feelings regarding how your last travel experiences did or didn’t unfold. Many of us had to deal with postponed or canceled flights. Some travelers had destinations enact impossible-to-follow COVID-19 protocols, and other individuals dealt with quarantines, which dramatically skewed their itineraries.

But you don’t have to stress about getting back in the swing of things. Instead, let us be your guide when it comes to all things family travel planning. Keep reading for our checklist, sure to save you money, time, and stress as you prep for your family travel in 2022 and beyond.

1. Choose Wisely

As tourism came to a halt during the thick of the pandemic, a curious thing happened. Over-trafficked parts of the globe finally got a much-needed break. From Italy to India, some of the most beloved spots in the world had time to recover from constant use. This proved a surprising and welcome side effect of 2020 and one that we don’t want to reverse. It’s more important than ever to select the destinations you visit with care.

Incredible and little-known attractions exist throughout the world. While you have to dig a little deeper to uncover them, it’ll prove well worth it. Not only will you avoid crowds, but you’ll enjoy more authentic and less crowded experiences. When you work with an expert family travel advisor, they can help you find these unique places. And as for the hottest locations in the world? Visit them off-season.

2. Plan Well but Flexibly

By flexibility, we’re not talking about yoga! Instead, we suggest planning well and leaving room to adjust to circumstances as they shift and change. This proves especially true as the travel industry starts to recover. Because so many flights got nixed and other tourism-related services cut back, expect bottlenecks as things really get going again.

Fortunately, you can avoid disappointment by planning ahead. You’ll also lock in better pricing. Just remember to go with refundable fares, rentals, and rooms and always add trip insurance. There’s no way to know what 2022 will bring. So, do everything upfront to ensure you can roll with the punches as needed.

3. Update Your Budget

As you return to travel, remember that pricing will look different. There are many reasons for this. Fuel prices have increased, as have those on many products. These upticks in pricing trickle down to travelers and can hit families particularly hard. Besides big-ticket items like plane tickets and hotel bookings, you’ll notice higher prices when it comes to food and services such as rideshares. So, if you’ve got a tight budget, make sure to factor in higher costs ahead of time.

4. Pursue Those Travel Credits

Many families whose vacation plans got squashed by coronavirus now have travel credits. If you’re in this boat, it’s time to check in to see how and when you can use them. The vast majority of these credits come with an expiration date, and many of them will be expiring this year. So, track them down now by pouring over past emails and breaking out your files. And if you can’t use them? Inquire about whether you can transfer them to somebody else.

5. Get a Handle on Your PreCheck and Global Entry Statuses

If you have yet to jump on the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry trains, what are you waiting for? Both statuses will save you time and hassle when dealing with airport security and passport checks. But don’t assume you can put off applying for these programs a couple of days before you fly out. The Department of Homeland Security is notorious for taking its time when okaying these applications. That’s why experts recommend filling out paperwork three to six months in advance.

6. Get Your Passports Renewed

As travel requirements continue to loosen and more people get intrigued about heading out into the world, expect a crush of passport applications to deluge the system. For example, a tsunami of passport applications left the United States Department of State struggling in 2021, and we have no reason to think that 2022 will be different. So, plan well in advance when you apply. And don’t forget about the fact that children’s passports expire in five rather than ten years.

Prep for Your Family Travel

Whether you’re longing for a family trip to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, an extended weekend on a remote Canadian island, or an adventure into the heart of the Italian Riviera, now’s the time to prep for your family travel in 2022. The checklist above will ensure you’ve got all your bases covered when it comes to the mechanics of travel.

Of course, you’ll still need to figure out where you’d like to go. For ideas, check out our articles on 2022’s Best Spring Break Destinations and the ultimate California Road Trip Itinerary. Then, let us hash out the details for stress-free adventuring. We specialize in customized vacations, and we’d love to help you book the ideal family vacation in 2022 and beyond.