Abroad in your Inbox 79
/
MY 2023 STATE OF THE TRAVEL UNION
Hehe, idk if that title rolls off the tongue but, you get where I’m going.
Earlier this week I shared on my @galsabroadgetaways page the drastic differences between 2022 travel & what we can expect in 2023.
Cliff notes version: demand for travel continues to skyrocket, which means two things as it relates to you:
Waiting until the last minute to book your trip is truly no longer an option (if you want decent prices & availability at hotels, restaurants & experiences)
As demand increases, so do prices
My intention here is not to be all doomsday and scare you. That said, my intent is to share a few ways in which you can adjust your expectations and habits so that you can get to where you want to go this year and beyond without wanting to stab your eyeballs out & blow your budget.
NUMBER 1: Do not use 2022 pricing as a barometer for what you can expect to pay in 2023.
Listen, I’m no economic expert but I think we are all aware of the impacts inflation has had on our economy and the travel industry is certainly not immune. Due to rising fuel costs, labor shortages and the dreaded I word (inflation), the cost of travel, like basically everything else right now, will be higher in 2023.
Keep in mind that in 2022, many places were still just opening up and trying to rebound after the pandemic. They were eager to give desirable pricing simply to fill rooms. But now that the world is back open (yay!) they are making up for lost time and business as well as inflation and their prices will reflect that. You can expect to see this, especially with hotels, Airbnbs, flights, and rental car prices.
Here are some articles to back up what I just shared:
NUMBER 2: Work with a travel advisor
If the thought of planning your next trip is daunting & you want to make sure you get the most for your money, I always suggest working with a travel advisor. Obviously, I’m biased but if you want to understand the MANY reasons why it’s advantageous to work with one, watch the video below.
NUMBER 3: Go with a group
This is one of the many reasons why traveling with Gals Abroad Getaways is ideal (if group travel is something you’d consider). When you have a group (typically that’s 10 or more people) you are able to garner more desirable rates from hotels, experiences, etc. The more people you have in the group, the better the pricing.
On top of that, and I’m speaking about Gals Abroad Getaways specifically, because of our incredible partnerships in the destinations we plan trips to, we can get even better pricing (than standard group rates) & extra perks that you might otherwise pay for.
If you’d like to learn more about Gals Abroad Getaways click here.
And to see where we are planning to travel at the end of 2023 & to express interest, sign up for our newsletter.
NUMBER 4: Give yourself as much time as possible
In a perfect world, you should give yourself 9-12 months to plan your international trip. Obviously, we don’t live in a perfect world but have this in the back of your mind. When it comes to high seasons like Spring Break, summer & holiday season, for optimal availability and pricing I recommend planning 12 months in advance (this timeline could vary depending on the destination). For example, if you wanted to go on safari, you’d want even more than 12 months to plan.
Am I saying you can’t book an international trip a few weeks before you go, no. But you need to adjust your expectations when it comes to how much you will spend and what is available. To be blunt, when it comes to Greece & Italy especially, best of luck to you if you want to book that a month out….
NUMBER 5: Understand that the “New Normal” in travel is that there is no “Normal”
But don’t let that scare you. If you are armed with helpful and accurate information (hiiiii that’s what I’m here for) & give yourself enough lead time to plan the trip of your dreams (again hiiiiii what I’m here for) travel in 2023 doesn’t have to be overwhelming or daunting.
Much like everything in life, we have to evolve with the times and getting stuck on “well this was how things used to be” won’t help you get any closer to getting where you want to go.
IF YOU’RE NEW HERE, HEY!!! Abroad in Your Inbox is a weekly collection of news articles, blog posts, products, podcasts, videos & anything else that’s on the interwebs that will help you navigate this new era of travel, reignite your wanderlust, help you plan a future trip & hopefully leave you with a little smile.
{ps you can get this sent directly to your inbox if you click here}
Want to make new travel lovin gal pals?
This month Gals Abroad Getaways launched our first Gals Abroad Gathering at Frankfort Candle Company. We brought together 14 amazing women for an afternoon of candle making, mixing and mingling, supporting small businesses and celebrating our love for travel and our desire to create new friendships with like-minded women.
THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Predictions: What To Expect When Traveling In 2023 - It’s an older article from December but I feel like it really illustrates the points I was making above and how to make travel in 2023 work for you.
Saudi Arabia Is Investing Big in Tourism. What Does Life Look Like for Locals? - an interesting and positive read about the new future for women in Saudi Arabia and the efforts the country is making to attract tourists.
One Solo Trip This Year Will Help Ease Loneliness - as a firm believer in solo travel, this article really spoke to me.
9 Mesmerizing Indoor Gardens Around the World - I recently visited two of these and can honestly say they were the highlights of my trip.
The Toughest Reservations In Chicago Right Now (And How To Get Them)
The Home of ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ the Palais Garnier in Paris, Is Now on Airbnb for One Night Only - it was so cool to see some of the spots we brought our Gals Abroad in Paris group to are now available to book for an overnight stay!
CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH:
The wellness book is changing the way I eat.
I professed my love for Kelly LeVeque on my IG stories this week lol. I’ve been trying her super-filling smoothies every morning and can confirm they are delicious and keep me full for 4-6 hours. I learned all this by reading her books which I highly recommend if you are looking for a simple, easy-to-implement, fact-based way to live your healthiest life.
BODY LOVE is her first book and teaches you about the foundation & then BODY LOVE EVERY DAY gets specific on how to implement her tips into your life in a few different 21-day plans.
Don’t sleep on this classic clothing brand - I’ll be honest I wrote them off for years but after a recent purchase of this EPIC lemon lime-colored suit I’m back on the bandwagon and if you too are looking for some solid staple pieces check them out.
One of my FAVORITE restaurant groups in Europe is Big Mamma (the owners of Pink Mama in Paris which is where I love to take our Gals Abroad) - if you’ve been lucky enough to dine there then I hope you tried their Mafaldine al Tartufo pasta - and if you haven’t (yet) I just came across an article that has the recipe so you can make it at home - BOOM.
I love this site and I just got a code [ALLE20] that takes 20% off your order. I would order this dress that is super flattering & comes in a few different colors. I also just peeped their resort line which has some pieces that would be perfect for our Gals Abroad Getaways 2023 destinations.
HAPPY ENDING
If you are still loling and slightly confused by Rihanna’s Super Bowl backup dancers - you should watch this video for a good giggle
WANT ALL OF THIS SENT DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX?!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MY WEEKLY ABROAD IN YOUR INBOX NEWSLETTER
Adventure Awaits!
xx Allecat
*Friendly reminder, this post contains some affiliate links. That means I receive a small compensation should you make a purchase from these links. This does not cost you anything extra. Thank you for your continued support of Alle Abroad!
