At this time, borders between countries are gradually loosening, helping the world tourism market quickly revive, even more vibrant than before the pandemic broke out.
However, with any trip, planning is always the first step that requires the most meticulousness and can easily make you discouraged, especially in the context that the schedule is also affected by many management procedures and principles on ensuring health safety against the epidemic in many countries as it is now.
Australian tourist explores Hanoi with a local friend. (Illustration photo: CTV/Vietnam+)
So how can we confidently travel around the world, explore and experience more? Let's take a look at some tips from Booking experts.
Plan carefully before leaving
With travel restrictions still in place, every traveler is forced to become a long-term planner. The more time you have to prepare before departure, the more money you can save for those “rewarding” moments later. This is especially important for Vietnamese people, as 54% of those interviewed by Booking said that budget is the top factor to consider when traveling post-COVID-19.
Planning early means you have more free time to carefully consider the conditions, take advantage of super discounts... Discounts on travel, accommodation and living expenses due to paying a few months in advance help you save a fair amount compared to paying close to the departure date.
Planning your trip early will not only give you more accommodation options, but it will also give you the chance to book a table at a popular restaurant, grab a drink at the most exclusive spots in the area, or get your hands on tickets to shows and theaters that are always sold out for months – a series of “privileges” that are hard to come by on a spontaneous trip.
Planning early means you have more free time to carefully consider the conditions and take advantage of super discounts... (Illustration: CTV/Vietnam+)
Therefore, slowing down a bit and planning your future trip in detail can help us appreciate the true value of a trip more. This is also a way to help you practice patience, enjoy the feeling of anticipation and explore more experiences for the trip.
Choose green-certified accommodation
COVID-19 continues to be a complicated situation, causing a sense of insecurity to continue to bother travelers. When asked about the biggest motivation to travel, 56% of Vietnamese respondents in Booking's survey chose "safety and health assurance."
As a result, to meet the growing demand from travelers for health and hygiene safety, many accommodations are now ensuring that the location’s safety measures (such as hygiene, public health and social distancing) are clearly displayed on the property’s booking page, giving travelers peace of mind when booking their next stay.
Booking.com even has a Minimum Cleanliness Score Commitment to support accommodation partners in their commitment and efforts to improve and maintain their cleanliness scores, which are rated by guests who have booked and stayed there.
Based on continuous feedback from travelers, only accommodations that meet hygiene standards over time are qualified to provide services, ensuring the highest peace of mind for those looking for a safe trip.
Plan your trip with the help of technology. (Photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)
Personalize your trip with technology
Personalization is becoming a trend, becoming more popular post-COVID-19, and travel is no exception. Today's travelers still love personal trips. This trend is also clearly shown in Booking's Travel Confidence Index (TCI): For their first post-pandemic vacation, 45% of Vietnamese respondents prefer to travel to experience-rich destinations in the region and 39% choose short trips.
Currently, some travel platforms provide additional features for private accommodation searches, review accommodations with safety and hygiene measures, and add more options on trip themes (through keywords such as “beach,” “hiking,” “nearby destinations”… or “hidden gems” on travel maps)… to help travelers have more options suitable for their destinations.
Clearly, technology is increasingly becoming a powerful “arm” capable of “understanding” all the personal needs of travelers on their journey to explore the world. The problem only depends on how we choose to use it.
