The anticipation of travel is a powerful boost to one’s mood.  And after a year of mandatory home “confinement”, we all need that boost! In our last blog post I talked about how excited our (almost) fully vaccinated clients are to travel again. Our phones have been ringing off the hook. Clients are asking us “Where can I travel now?” Some want to get going as soon possible and here are the last-minute trips they ask us to plan, mostly in nearby destinations.  Others look further ahead, knowing that this “I’ve got a trip to look forward to” lift will help them cope as we whittle our way out of the pandemic.

What ten travel trends are the travel advisors at Q seeing for late 2021, 2022 and beyond?

Here are ten trends we are seeing for post-pandemic travel:

1)  Pity the procrastinator!

Our clients are eager to make up for a “wasted” 2020 and 2021. Availability, especially for unique experiences – think one-off or seasonal itineraries, luxury suites on ships or in hotels, private villas – is limited and fares are going up. To get what you want, it pays to plan ahead.  We’ve been working on many trips in late 2021, 2022 and even into 2023.

2)  Bigger/Longer/Better

Annual vacation travel is a given for most of our clients.  After having been forced to stay put for over a year, our clients now allow themselves to make up for it. Many choose to apply their 2020 vacation days and budget to a longer trip in late 2021 or 2022.

We also see a trend for bigger and better: travelers treat themselves to a balcony room or suite on a cruise. Others upgrade to a for their vacation. Why? Some appreciate the fresh air and built-in social distancing more spacious accommodation offers. And others feel they and their families deserve some pampering after a year at home.

3)  World Cruises and Grand Voyages

Tying in with bigger/longer/better, we’ve seen a surge for world cruises and grand voyages. Oceania Cruises famously announced that its 2023 180-days world cruise sold out within one day of opening for sale to the general public. Regent Seven Seas sold all penthouse suites and above on its 2023 world cruise (143-nights from Miami to Barcelona) within hours after opening it for reservations.

We also see more unique itineraries.  For example, Silversea’s 2023 World Cruise (themed “South Side Story: all the world’s a stage”) visits 66 destinations, of which 40 are new to a Silversea world cruise: unusual destinations like Antarctica, the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, in addition to more traditional marquee ports like Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong and Cape Town.

100 years since the first world cruise

Talking about tradition: did you know that the first world voyage ever took place in 1923, on Cunard Line’s Laconia? In 2023, Cunard takes the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of world cruises.  Queen Mary 2 will sail 117-nights roundtrip from New York City, to places like Colombo, Hong Kong and Singapore, while Queen Victoria sails a 92-night itinerary from New York to Southampton with stops in Hong Kong, New York City, Singapore, Honolulu and the Panama Canal.

But bigger/better and especially longer does not work for everyone, so clients also contact us for shorter segments of these epic voyages in 2022 or 2023.

4)  Private Homes, Villas and Apartments

Another trend: clients “vant to be alone” with their own. Whether we’re talking family or a group of friends, more and more are asking about , apartments or home rentals.

With social distancing in a more controlled environment, a private home on vacation guarantees plenty of space to get together with your friends and family. Pool party?

Like us, our clients care about cleanliness and safety standards, so we don’t rely on the average apartment rental website. We only recommend accommodations vetted through our trusted partners.  (And if grocery shopping or cooking is not your idea of vacation, we can have our onsite partners take care of that for you.)

5)  Private Motorboats and Sailing Yachts

Ever considered ? Not every private yacht has to be a “Below Deck” superyacht. (Although we can organize those too!)  Clients ask us about private yachts from 2 to 12 guests all the time. Savvy sailors operate their own motorboat or catamaran, while we can arrange a crew (with gourmet chef, if you like) for novice boaters.

6)  Private Planes and Globe-spanning Private Jet Journeys

If you’ve ever flown on a private jet, you know why people love it. Time savings, control, privacy. You pick your departure and arrival airports (goodbye mega-hub hours away from your origin or destination), you decide when you take off (hello check-in only 15 minutes before departure); nonstop flights (goodbye Auntie Anne’s pretzel smell at hub airport). Your plane is ready for you when you are, not the other way around.  The extra level of luxury helps too. Glass of champagne, anyone?

Clients also appreciate that private jets keep them from having to share a commercial flight with 200 or more of their best friends. And as airlines offer fewer scheduled flights from smaller destinations, the potential to save time on a private jet is even larger. Once you’re used to luxury travel, it is hard to step back. So we anticipate that private jets are going to stick around, especially when traveling with a group (which helps keep costs in check).

A world “cruise” by private jet

Another trend: combining the variety and far-away-destinations of a world cruise with the efficiency, speed and comfort of a private jet.

Instead of cruising around the world by ship in 80 days or more, . Or enjoy the from the US to see a veritable Noah’s Ark: snow monkeys in Japan; orangutans in Malaysia; whale sharks in the Philippines; Bengal tigers in India; Gorillas in Rwanda and the Big Five in Kenya.

And those who fear seasickness on the Drake Passage to Antarctica (or want to maximize time) ask us about “Flying the Drake”.  We can even arrange a private jet to a “safari camp” in Antarctica, with a side trip to the geographic South Pole!

7)  Festive Fun

Whatever you celebrate, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, it is all less fun on your own. Staying home in 2020 has been hard on families. So many of our clients are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together in 2021. We’ve had questions about and the Caribbean (the best sell out far in advance, especially if you need connecting rooms or villas to accommodate your (grand)children!); an ; a ; a relaxing and a trip to celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland.  Once again, the early bird catches the worm!

8)  Looking and Booking Far Ahead…

With 3 years of demand being pushed into barely 1.5 year of supply, 2022 will be a very busy travel year. Some of the best suites on ships and hotels are already sold out, and fares are generally 25% higher than in previous years due to the additional demand.

Small capacity accommodations like safari lodges, villas but also small group escorted vacations and expeditions are also getting more limited in availability.

Trend: planning ahead now for vacations in 2022 and even 2023 will maximize your vacation dollar and  anticipation enjoyment.

9)  And Far Away…

After a year close to home, our clients appear to now want to go as far away as possible: and Europe are always popular, but Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica are top of the list for many of our new enquiries.

10)  Ask the Advisor

When the borders closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the advisors at Q helped our clients to get home from places as far away as Australia and South America. Our excellent relationships with many of our partners and countless hours working resulted in the best available refunds, credits or other benefits for our clients.  Our goal is to help our clients in making the right travel decisions.

“Do It Yourself” no more

A development we’re seeing?  Former “DIY” travelers decided in 2020 that planning travel is no fun for them anymore, with everchanging COVID regulations, refund rules, cancelled flights/cruises/hotels, hours of telephone hold time with airlines or online travel agencies.

They realize now that, without a travel advisor, you are on your own.  Q clients never are.

It is exciting that more places are slowly opening up to welcome visitors. We realize that not everyone is ready for travel yet, and of course it is a personal decision. We just want you to know that, when you feel that the time is right for you, the team at Q will be here to help.

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Do you find yourself with some extra time to dream? Do you want to keep your little ones entertained? Or maybe you just want to relax and learn more about our magnificent world?  The Q team suggests a few places to explore, from the comfort of your armchair:

• , including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, MusĂŠe d’Orsay in Paris and the Guggenheim in New York via this Travel +Leisure article.
• with &Beyond WildWatch Live. Adults and kids can interact with guides on Youtube and Twitter.
• ’s family issue
• What is it like to with Quark Expeditions?
• Read up on your next adventure, with the
• Our – with book picks, podcasts, travel memories and more.

Like many of you, we can’t wait to travel again, but for now, please stay home, stay safe, and stay in touch.

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Now, imagine waking up in a luxury eco-lodge (or tented camp), opening your eyes to the real-life African savannah laid before you.

Imagine discovering a pair of ‘honeymooners’ while on a private game-drive. I’m not talking about the type you see on the beach in Jamaica…I’m talking the king of the animal kingdom finding a queen!

Imagine being on the ground to witness the world’s greatest wildlife migration…watching ‘the Circle of Life’ unfold in real time.

Imagine no more…because Q can take you there!

And why not travel with the company named the World’s Best Safari Outfitter (9 times and counting)? Micato Safaris is one of Q’s favorite, family-owned partners and Africa’s oldest travel ambassadors. Take it from Travel + Leisure magazine: the Pinto family “run their show as though they were entertaining well-loved, out-of-town relatives.” The Pintos know Africa, because they live Africa. As native Kenyans, they, along with their team, have cultivated the best of the best for their travelers.

Give Q a call and let us curate the best of Micato and Africa for you!

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Over welcome drinks, as we were all welcomed to the , some hours North of Cape Town, we had a chat with the very friendly and outgoing son. We asked him what he was most looking forward on this stay – after all, the resort offers game drives to spot wildlife, hikes to see the well-known historic bushman rock paintings, great pools, activities like archery and more.

His answer surprised us: “I just want my dad to be able to put away his phone and spend time with mom and me.”  It wasn’t a complaint, it wasn’t a dig at his obviously proud dad – it was simply an expression of love and a desire to spend a few days where it was all about the family and not about the many demands a luxury hotel can place on its GM.

His comments made me think: how often do we really get to connect with our loved ones? What do our children truly value? Is it all about having more toys, iPads or the latest phone? Or, when it comes down to it, would they rather just have the undivided attention of their parents, even if it is only for a few days on vacation?

Many adults complain that their kids will sit in front of the TV, play video games or waste time watching other people’s lives on Youtube. Maybe we should stop enabling them to do so – and instead spend time traveling and create memories of their own?

The post The secret wish of an (almost) teenager: for his father to disconnect appeared first on ĐÓ°É´ŤĂ˝.

Armand, our driver and guide, thumped the side of the jeep with his flat hand and called out to the rhino in Afrikaans. The rhino quickly moved away and joined the others at a safer distance.  The knowledgeable Armand explained that this was a “mock charge” (it felt real enough to us!) to show us that we shouldn’t come much closer. Rhinos aren’t known for their eyesight and only when he came closer he would have recognized that our big green jeep probably wouldn’t be a good target.

The 30 minute drive from the entrance of the Shambala Game Reserve turned into a one hour exploration as Armand showed us wildebeest, an elephant, dozens of impalas and kudus even before David, the boutique lodge’s manager, welcomed us to Zulu Camp. He walked us to our chalet: an entirely thatched freestanding “villa” built in Zulu style, with undulating ceilings and walls in an “African chic” design.  Our air-conditioned residence boasts a large bedroom with a private terrace overlooking the stream that runs through the grounds. The curved thatched ceiling of the luxury bathroom provides an unusual perspective from your freestanding bathtub or separate shower – both with “made in England” Molton Brown bathroom amenities. There is no need to give up life’s little luxuries while in the wilderness!  (The bottle of rosé Moet & Chandon in the minibar – included in your room rate – confirms that.)

As David quickly pointed out, one of his – and soon mine – favorite experiences was to enjoy the private outdoor shower connected to our bathroom. A rustic wooden fence allowed for privacy and a refreshing shower “au naturel”, surrounded by the sounds of nature – the rushing river just a few feet away, the bird songs amongst the sun-dappled trees. Fantastic!

In addition to the nine chalets onsite, the main building, also thatched, offers an outdoor dining room, a bar and pool on a large terrace overlooking the river. A roaring fire welcomes you at night. A little skittish? You should know that the entire camp is surrounded by an electrified fence and friendly guards to keep more aggressive wildlife out, so you can relax and enjoy nature without worries.

Another section of Shambala includes the accommodations where Nelson Mandela previously visited to get away, so he could relax and recharge. That area is now available for groups of guests who like their privacy too.  (Perfect for an African family reunion!)

But however beautiful and comfortable your accommodations are, you are at Shambala to enjoy nature and wildlife. Armand or one of his colleagues will take you out for morning or evening game drives through the almost 10,000 hectares of private bush fields. Although there are certainly game parks or reserves with more animals, Shambala offers great variety: we managed to see almost 30 species, ranging from elephants and rhinos to the tiny dung beetle.

You may also be taken on a boat ride on the largest man-made “Dam” at sunset.  A big dam was built in the river, which soon resulted in a large lake – the perfect habitat for hippos and crocodiles.  You’re likely to see them from the comfort (and safety) of your boat, while enjoying a glass of something or other.

Head ranger Dean is qualified to guide the more adventurous on a bushwalk – yes, a guard with gun, just in case, will come along – so you can see the flora and fauna up close. At night, you may be lucky enough to admire the African sky with constellations away from the bright lights of cities. David, Dean and Armand took us up to the helipad of the private mansion of the reserve’s owner. Away from artificial lights, we were amazed at the thousands and thousands of stars, planets and constellations, including the Southern Cross which can only be seen from the Southern hemisphere.

And even though you are miles away from “civilization”, rest assured that you will be fed and watered very well! For every meal, the chef or one of his colleagues will come and have a chat to discuss the day’s options and your preferences. Everything is fresh, and beautifully presented.  Feeling adventurous?  Feel free to try out ostrich, biltong, and other local specialties.

The welcome note in our chalet told us to get ready for a “once in a lifetime” adventure at Zulu Camp – but I certainly hope not! I’d love to go back there sometime soon!

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