Airfares to Europe are shockingly high for travel in spring and summer 2022

I have been amazed to see how high-priced coach airfares are to Europe in 2022. The pandemic and the slow return of the business traveler have resulted in the airlines having a very limited number of flights to Europe so they are naturally trying to maximize revenue from limited demand. Normal airfares to Europe would run from $1200 to $1800. I am now seeing roundtrip coach airfares of over $2000. I hope this is temporary and the airlines add more seats and fill them with lower prices.

Canada finally opens up on August 9 to vaccinated travelers – Better late than never! Our Canadian friends are opening their borders to vaccinated travelers on August 9. I love to visit Canada in the summer and some of the best 5-star hotels in North America (Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Shangri-La, and Fairmont) are now open for business and offering great promotions to get you to add them as a last-minute summer vacation getaway. Instead of lowering their rates, the luxury hotels are offering free night stay after you stay several nights. Smart move! This keeps people from jumping from one hotel to another every two days. Call one of our friendly travel advisors (402-435-8888) to help you find the perfect getaway. CLICK HERE to read more. P.S. You need a passport and vaccination to visit.

The airlines are expecting a blockbuster year in 2022, but your travel experience may be painful – All the major airlines are predicting that business travel will be back in 2022 to compliment the already strong vacation travel this year. I am afraid that the staffing levels for airlines, security, and even restaurants are so low that it will become painful to wait in line for travel processing for the next year. International travel is already painful as all the new COVID protocols can add as much as 3-6 hours waiting in line. If there is too much pain to travel people will either delay their travel plans or come up with alternatives such as driving instead of flying. CLICK HERE for a good article on the challenges facing the return of business travel.

Warning! Passports renewals may take up to 18 weeks – The State Department is warning people they have a backlog of over one million passport renewals as Americans swamp passport renewal offices as they awaken from a pandemic induced travel hibernation. What normally takes 6-8 weeks is taking twice as much time. Please check your passport now if you plan to travel internationally this year and next. Also, remember if your passport expires within the next 12 months you better start now to renew. Executive Travel can also help you expedite passport renewals in 6-8 weeks. CLICK HERE for more details. 

If you don’t have a valid passport you can still travel to these three places – Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and a handful of cruises do not require a passport. CLICK HERE to read more. 

It is hard to believe but you may already be too late to book your Christmas vacation – I have been checking for resorts for a family Christmas vacation and have been surprised at the high prices and “No Vacancy” signs at many resorts already. Airfares to hot spots in Florida and the Caribbean have also climbed to as much as $1000 – $1500 RT around Christmas and New Years. If you are planning a Christmas getaway you better call our office soon at 402-435-8888. Spring has already sprung with Women of the Midwest! –  Our popular women-only tours hosted by Women of the Midwest are filling with the speed of light. Many of the 2022 spring departures are already more than half full so do not hesitate if you would like to travel with a smaller group of maximum 20 like-minded women. Check out the journey to Hawaii including three islands (Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui), or the all-inclusive Mississippi River Cruise from New Orleans to Memphis, or how about the cherry blossoms in D.C.? You do not need to sit and wait for your friends to be able to go, simply travel solo together with Women of the Midwest. We even have a great “Pair-and-Share”-program if you would like to share a room (single rooms are available too). Call or email Beth and Anne with our friendly Group Department for full details, (402) 858-0033 / GroupDepartment@executivetravel.com.