1) BUCKET LIST TRIPS BUILD ON SPORTING EVENTS
In the same vein as traveling for a concert, we’re seeing a surge in inquiries to build trips around major sporting events. With the 2024 Summer Olympics set to take place in Paris beginning July 26th, we’ve been chatting with clients about how partnering with a SmartFlyer travel advisor allows you to access hotel room rates outside of the standard two-week minimums that you’ll find if trying to book your hotel room direct. In addition to securing you a place to stay, we can help create a custom itinerary with tickets for the events that interest you most in addition to all the finer details that make a trip seamless like meet-and-greet airport service, car transfers, and a bilingual point of contact on the ground.
The Olympics is just the beginning of the long list of sought-after events. Tap your trusted travel advisor for tickets to the Grand Prix (any of them!), Kentucky Derby, Masters, Ryder Cup, Super Bowl, Rugby Finals, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open. No matter where your next adrenaline-fueled trip may take you, we have vetted partnerships around the world to ensure you’re set up at every stage of your adventure.
2) THE REBOUND OF ASIA-PACIFIC
Perhaps the region of the world that was slowest to open back up to travelers in recent years, the lifting of restrictions in Asia-Pacific has resulted in a boom of demand. Reports are showing that travelers are booking destinations across Asia at pre-pandemic levels, and further in advance than they do their Europe trips. For travelers coming from North America, the long-haul nature of traveling to Asia and the Pacific – think: islands like Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Fiji – contribute to these trips being both planned further in advance and for longer durations of stay. We’re seeing travelers collaborate with their advisors to split their two-, three-, and sometimes four-week trips between a tropical oasis like Kokomo Private Island Fiji combined with a city stay at a restorative property like The Siam in Bangkok.…most of our ground operators in Japan are only working on trips with a minimum of a three-month lead time.
For those who want to dig deeper into one destination, Japan remains a top-requested country. Reuters reports, “Inbound visitors rose to 2.07 million in June, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) said, clearing the 2 million mark for the first time since February 2020.” One nuance to consider with Japan is the near-necessity of having a guide and the extremely limited numbers available. With this in mind, most of our ground operators in Japan are only working on trips with a minimum of a three-month lead time. In addition to Kid-Approved Japan, we’re also seeing an uptick in requests for customizable itineraries like Eight Nights of Epic Thailand, Ten Days Adventuring through Vietnam, and One Week in Sri Lanka.
3) A NEED FOR CREATIVE DESTINATION SWAPS
If limited availability is proving to present challenges for your next trip, rest assured, we have a series of creative solutions to ensure you still get to have that dreamy getaway you deserve. By partnering with a SmartFlyer travel advisor, you’re privy to a wealth of resources, one of which is an introduction to creative destinations you may not have previously considered. As trendspotters, we’re continually out in the field testing out lesser-known locales to ensure they meet our rigorous standards for service, up-to-date accommodations, and exceptional food and beverage. An example of this research coming to life can be found in our Up-And-Coming Alternatives to European Hotspots roundup with eight unexpected destinations featured including Stockholm, Budapest, Malta, Lake Lucerne, Bodrum, and more.
With Italy and France remaining our two top international destinations, we’ve dug even deeper into these countries to identify lesser-visited pockets to explore. In Unchartered Territory: Italy’s New Frontier, we’re digging into the Dolomites, Pantelleria, Piedmont, Puglia, Sardinia, and Umbria. In neighboring France, we’re going beyond Paris and Provence into regions like Marseille and the Loire Valley as we detail Ten of the Best Hotels in France that You Haven’t Heard of (Yet). Ultimately, all of these lists are just starting points to spark inspiration. Effectively matching with an agent is a matchmaking process of sorts, and as they get to know your specific taste over time, they’ll be able to suggest specific destinations and hotels that align best with your tastes.
4) CARRY-ON ONLY, WITH A TWIST
If the unfortunate trend around flight delays and cancellations resonates, we feel your pain. But whether it’s a complicated routing to reach a far-flung destination, a longer itinerary that encompasses multiple climates, or the kids being in tow making the carry-on life impossible, there are ways to mitigate having your checked luggage lost along the way. There are a handful of vetted services SmartFlyer agents love booking to give their clients for additional peace of mind.If you prefer not to handle your bags at the airport at all, Luggage Free is a specialty service that offers travelers the ability to ship luggage ahead to any destination worldwide, meaning you don’t have to stress about carrying, checking, or claiming luggage, it will be at your hotel to greet you! And for families, we love BabyQuip, a service that allows you to have a car seat, stroller, or any other baby gear delivered to you right at the airport or directly at your hotel or villa rental.
5) YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR CAN BOOK MORE THAN FLIGHTS AND HOTELS
For our clients who we’ve been working with for years – sometimes decades – they know their SmartFlyer travel advisors to be a wealth of information on things beyond just where to stay. Sometimes, we field that panicked phone call about your passport being expired, or on the verge of expiration, just days before departure. According to U.S. Customs, “As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States.” But you wouldn’t be the first person caught in a pinch if you need an expedited passport renewal to meet this requirement; luckily, we know a guy. The Passport Experts are our vetted partner for all things related to passport renewal.
When it comes to getting your pre-trip wardrobe in order, ask about being referred to a Saks stylist who can help curate your suitcase to the aesthetic of your destination. Worried about what medications you should bring? We aren’t doctors but can link you up with the team at Runway Health for a pre-trip consult. If you want to capture the memories made on the ground, as your agent about scheduling a Flytographer shoot with a local photographer. And last but certainly not least, it’s better to be safe than sorry; We recommend protecting your investment on a trip and can share tailored insurance options based on your needs, even if that’s just ensuring your checked bags. Blue Ribbon Bags is a service that will track and expedite the return of undelivered baggage by the airline; even better, if your luggage is lost and doesn’t get found after four days, Blue Ribbon Bags will send you one thousand dollars per bag, guaranteed.
* https://smartflyer.com
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