Planning to travel next year? Here are our 10 ways to travel better in 2022

Is your New Year’s Resolution for 2022 to travel more? Ours certainly is! No matter the destination you’re looking to explore, check out our 10 ways to travel better in 2022.

1 Use a River Oaks Travel Concierge: You can plan travel yourself, but it’s more complicated than ever before! Instead, consider engaging us to plan your next vacation. When you use one of our travel advisors, you have a team working 24/7 to provide trusted advice, expert logistics, and serve as an advocate during your travels.

2 Plan Ahead: Many trips were cancelled or postponed in 2020 and 2021, which means the calendar is already filling up for 2022. We’re already seeing limited availability in popular destinations for Spring Break, summer vacations, and Thanksgiving holidays. If you’re planning to travel, consider locking in (flexible!) arrangements now.

3 Stay Up to Date: Destinations are changing regulations frequently, from COVID testing requirements and vaccine mandates to pre-departure forms and masking rules. Be prepared for testing and vaccination rules to change (and know our team is staying up to date for you!).

4 Be Flexible: Flexibility is key! We recommend to avoid booking nonrefundable rates and can give you guidance on when to confirm services like train tickets, entrance tickets, etc. for max flexibility.

5 Embrace Slow Travel: While we love to “country hop”, consider picking one destination for your next trip rather than combining several! This will allow you to explore more in depth, and can cut down on the amount of COVID testing required.

6 Bring the Family Along: Many family visits have been postponed over the last two years, so consider planning a trip that gets everyone together! Whether it’s a private villa to all relax in together or a resort that keeps everyone happy, you’ll make wonderful memories together.

7 Go Private: Rather than joining a group tour or booking a shuttle, ask our advisors to make everything private for you – you’ll be able to enjoy sightseeing better with a private guide, will maximize your time, and won’t have to share with other travelers.

8 Allow Yourself Extra Time: With changes in travel regulations, wait times at airports all over the world are longer than ever before as staff work to double check paperwork, passports, and COVID tests. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time!

9 Work With Trusted Partners: Our partners around the world are truly that – our partners. That means that we’ve vetted all services to make sure they offer high quality experiences and the best in cleanliness protocols. You can book your own transfers and tours online, but consider allowing us to make the arrangements to ensure the best overall experience.

10 Use a River Oaks Travel Concierge: No, you’re not seeing double (okay, maybe you are!). Our top way to travel better is truly to use a travel agency like ourselves. The world is ever-changing and you need someone that can keep up. Let us handle the stress of planning, navigating travel restrictions, and staying up to date, so you can focus on the most important thing – your valuable time together on vacation.

There’s a whole world waiting to be explored, and our team of expert travel advisors are here to make it a little easier! Ask your River Oaks Travel Advisor for more information on ways to travel better in 2022!