According to a recent study of 500 participants, conducted by Full-Time Travel, the pandemic has impacted our vacation plans and priorities considerably, from how we spend our money to who we want to travel with. Here are some of the findings…

1. Spending Priorities have Shifted

Those lucky enough to maintain financial stability throughout the crisis may have additional funds to allocate to their vacation plans at a later date: 80% of survey respondents said they would spend the same or more on travel than they would have before COVID-19.

“After the restrictions are lifted, I plan on taking my family on an expensive trip where we hang, relax outside, don’t have to cook or clean, and just enjoy freedom in a spacious and non-crowded resort,” commented one traveler.  

In terms of the specific services they want to spend those additional funds on, a majority of the travelers cited sanitization and cleaning, temperature checks, refundable travel, 24/7 travel support, more intimate setting with less crowds, ensuring locals benefit directly from their tourism, private dining experiences, and pet-friendly travel.

2. Post-pandemic trip choices will be influenced by nature 

After so much time cooped up inside, many are craving the wide-open spaces of America’s most nature-rich states. Respondents noted that their first post-pandemic trip was likely to be domestic, with 20% saying they intend to drive to their destination and 76% hoping to fly. When tallied up, the most popular domestic travel locations were California, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Hawaii – states known for their beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and deserts, with a combined total of 18 national parks (California alone boasts nine, the largest number of any single state). 

As well as providing a tonic for weeks of quarantining, many travelers desire an outdoorsy vacation so they can avoid densely populated areas. Cities, in general, are a cause for apprehension right now. “When this is over, I will trust sitting on a beach, skiing, hiking, etc. more than urban travel,” said one respondent, while another noted they will be seeking locations that are “off the beaten path, to avoid crowds.”

Destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico were popular international choices, along with Australia and New Zealand.

3. Bucket List Travel has Never Felt More Apt

When it comes to vacation plans for their first post-pandemic trip, 63% of respondents were dreaming of visiting a new destination. The pandemic has created a seize-the-day mentality, and a majority of travelers are feeling motivated to book their dream trips. 

The remaining 37% intend to revisit a tried and true place from the past, taking comfort in the familiarity of knowing exactly what to expect when they get there. 

4. Group Reunion Trips Will Surge in Popularity

It seems our virtual workarounds for social distancing have strengthened connections and fueled our desire to share real experiences with the people we love. Notably, 79% of travelers intend to travel with family or friends as soon as the pandemic is over, with 43% reporting they are even more likely to book a group trip than they were before. 

“I’m spending so much time on Zoom, House Party, Facetime, and Whatsapp, talking to friends from all over the world that I rarely had the time to speak to face-to-face before lockdown,” commented 31-year-old Katie O’Driscoll, an Irish brand strategist living in NYC. “It’s amazing to reconnect with my Irish friends, but seeing their digital faces has made me miss them more, so we’re planning a reunion trip in Iceland – kind of a halfway point between Dublin and New York.”

5. Hotels and Resorts Will be the Preferred Accommodation Choice 

In terms of accommodation preferences, 57% of the travelers plan to stay at a hotel or resort. The second most popular accommodation option is Airbnb or a private residence, with 32%, followed by cruising, with 4%. The remaining 7% was composed of other options, like staying with family and friends or camping. 

When it comes to making a final selection for their stay, respondents said they would consider special deals and offers, health and safety measures, location and accessibility, amenities, culinary offerings, family-friendly amenities, cost of flights to the destination, loyalty programs, and entertainment. 

Luckily, we have a solution that solves for all of these needs. KOALA offers vacation rentals in the world’s best resorts at a fraction of the price. How? We’ve built a community of hosts that want to rent their timeshare to you. By booking directly with us, you gain access to the best of both worlds: professionally cleaned suites with full-service kitchens, living rooms, separate dining areas, and space to entertain, coupled with the quality, security, and service of a hotel.