Book your 2023 all-inclusive vacation now
While January usually kicks off the new year's vacation booking “wave” season, this year will be different. Isn’t everything different these days? Demand for all-inclusive resort vacations is at an unprecedented high right now. In 2021, I was delighted that people wanted to travel again. What started as a few inquiries, then a few more, quickly turned into a very full inbox and extended office hours and phone calls that began before 9 am and usually went well past 5 pm. What a welcome change to the deafening silence experienced after all the cancellations and refund chasing of 2020! This rush of interest in travel was expected after we were all locked down for so long. What wasn’t expected, was for this travel mania to last into 2022. Let me assure you, the demand for travel has indeed lasted. Available inventory at higher quality all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean are at a historic low heading out of 2022 and into 2023. So, the wise traveler is booking the resort NOW!
I encourage clients to book much earlier than they normally would for 2023 travel. Most resorts and suppliers that I use offer very flexible terms, in case your plans change, so there is little downside to booking early with a small deposit. With lower-than-normal resort inventory, it’s time to be a little more flexible too, so consider expanding your horizons to look at multiple destinations instead of just your favorites. I travel a lot and know the inventory and pricing and even I waited too long to get the exact destination (St Lucia) and resort that I really want. I am sure I will not be disappointed when I get back from exploring a new destination this year (Curacao) though.
What should you expect in terms of vacation costs in 2023?
You should expect increased costs across almost all destinations in the Caribbean and across much of Mexico and South America. Costs are up, but again, flexibility and the willingness to look at alternate resorts and maybe even fewer nights than normal will help you stay within budget and really enjoy the destination and resort you choose. I’ve encouraged several clients to consider a split stay to custom-build the vacation they want, selecting one resort for the first few nights and switching to another to end their vacation. This is especially helpful when you don’t have a lot of flexibility in your schedule and the availability is just not there for the full span of dates. Transferring between resorts is easy and it can be fun getting two vacations in one.
Another issue that 2023 travelers will experience is limited air schedules and some areas with much higher than normal costs. Almost all airlines have cut back on routes due to staffing or equipment issues and to cut costs by holding less dedicated gate space at some airports and by limiting the number of flights offered in order to ensure planes fly to capacity. Because I have lived through the 2021-2022 return to travel and its incredible air-travel dramas of bad weather, equipment issues, strikes, and flight consolidations, I know how to help you through the tough times. I also know what airlines fly where at the best price and,m more importantly, with the most reliability. These key insights can really help you determine the best options for your 2023 trip.
There is also lots of good news for travel in the new year. Almost all destinations have removed vaccine and pre-travel registration and testing. Whether this is temporary or permanent, we’ll have to wait and see to know, but for now…the whole world is open for you to visit again. Airlines are also offering a ton of loyalty and branded credit card incentives that allow you to put your holiday spending on cards that will result in getting one or two of your Caribbean/Mexico flights covered with points. I can help point you in the right direction regarding which airlines offer these great deals. Lastly, a lot of all-inclusive brands spent the pandemic sprucing up their properties, modernizing their wifi and amenities, and have really added some great on-property value to justify any price increases you see.
Now that you know WHY you need to start planning early, how should you get started?
Contact me and let’s discuss what you are interested in
Review your passports to ensure that they are valid for at least 6 months AFTER the 2023 dates you are available to travel. When in doubt, go ahead and renew. If you need a passport, apply now. I can help get you started and since adult passports are valid for 10 years, and kids under 16 for 5, there’s little downside to getting them pro-actively.
Have a list of destinations you’ve visited and another list of destinations you would be interested in
Figure out ALL the windows of time that your travel party can travel. The more options you have the better
Decide on a budget you are comfortable with. Remember that all-inclusive resorts include all your food, drinks, pools, activities, and usually some water sports, so they aren’t going to be priced like a hotel room would
I would love to discuss your travel interests and I offer a complimentary phone consultation that you can schedule by CLICKING HERE
I hope to hear from you soon!
Cheers! Jennifer