Destinations are slowly but surely starting to welcome guests again. To understand how travelers are approaching their next vacation in the age of COVID-19, KOALA polled a small group of 200 travelers to learn their thoughts on traveling in the next 3-6 months, their destinations of choice, and, most importantly, their top travel considerations at the moment.

Travel is Coming Back

KOALA surveyed self-described frequent travelers (those who take 2-3 or more vacations per year). The first survey polled people traveling with children age sixteen and under while the second polled people traveling without children. By polling these two groups, we sought to learn whether those traveling with kids were approaching their next vacation differently than those traveling without kids. The results were encouraging. Here’s what we found:

• For both traveler groups, one thing was clear: the majority are ready and willing to vacation again. 60% of those traveling with kids and 55% of those traveling without kids are planning to travel again in the next 3-6 months. 
• For those traveling with kids, the next getaway will be to local spots/destinations with family, followed by the beach (we can’t wait either!). The top states those traveling with children expressed a desire to visit were (in order of interest): Arizona, California, and Florida.
• While people traveling without children were slightly less likely to report travel plans in the near term, they are also more likely to be planning trips further from home. In order of interest, these travelers are most looking to visit Arizona, California, Europe, Florida, Hawaii, and Mexico.
• People traveling with and without kids are taking trips for different reasons: those traveling with kids were more likely to report travel plans to visit family, while those traveling without kids were more interested in simply taking a road trip. People traveling without kids were also more likely to report interest in spontaneous travel deals.

Safety, Cost are Key Factors

When it came down to top travel considerations, 43% of people traveling with kids mentioned safety as the most important factor in their travel planning, followed by cost (17%), and location (14%). For people traveling without kids, 32% listed safety as their top concern, followed by cost (23%), and convenience (14%).

As travel picks back up, it’s no secret that safety is a top consideration for travelers. Previously, we’ve discussed how brands that KOALA partners with are implementing specific protocols to both keep travelers safe and well-informed. Since timeshare rentals offer clearly communicated cleanliness policies – in addition to space, certainty, and unbeatable deals – they may be just what travelers are looking for right now.

Check out the data below: