Did you know that it’s possible to feel relaxed, happy, and secure while traveling? It may seem like a wish come true. Yet, even in our new normal, you can travel with a light heart and a peaceful mind.

In our world, many people are responding to a year of lockdown, quarantine, and social distancing with a deep-felt need to travel.

Ready To Go Anywhere

Travel industry trends show that rental cottages and family-style lodges are being snapped up rapidly. Families and friends are looking for places to ‘get away from it all.’ It’s no surprise that people are longing for the tradition of summer vacation.

Families are organizing reunions. People are gathering to make up for lost holidays. Many groups are finding innovative ways to meet up with loved ones. Vacasa, a rental home-management company reports a 300% increase over last year in bookings for large family-style properties.

1. Identify Your Dream Vacation

Are you looking to escape from the maddening crowd? Have you had it with hot days, and ready to escape to snow in Crimea? Do you want to lose the winter gear and jump into the surf on Maui? Are you set on traveling to the Shetland Isles?

Perhaps your sights are closer to home. You’ll be thrilled just to do a quick get-away to a national park. Or maybe pop your ideal vacation includes an old-fashioned road trip.

Spend some time dreaming and planning. As you do this, check out travel sites for ideas that you may not have considered.

Many couples and families enjoy unique traditions for planning a summer vacation. What do you like to do?

2. Get Everyone Involved

While you may have certain habits and norms, consider doing something you’ve never done before. Include everyone in the family as part of selecting your vacation destination.

Host a dinner, party, or picnic to get everyone’s input. Share ideas, photos, and stories to show the features and benefits of each wish.

If you have any differences of opinion, appoint a moderator. This person can act as the facilitator to mediate disputes, balance emotions, and gain agreement. There’s always a way to hear from each member of your tribe. By planning together, you’re off to a great start. You’re setting the stage for a happy, harmonious, and delightful vacation.

Traveling With Ease

In our new normal, we’re all looking to make the easiest, fastest, and most secure decisions. We want to stay safe while we travel.

That’s why it will help to do a little planning. Here are a few tips to make your summer travel easy, safe, and fun.

3. Go Contactless

More and more restaurants, hotels, and stores are using a contactless system. You can use a platinum debit card to tap to pay. This is a fast way to go where you want and enjoy secure checkout.

4. Get Theft Protection

No one wants to think about theft. But the last thing you want is to have your vacation plans upset by a loss or theft. To be proactive, sign up for enhanced ID Theft protection. You’ll gain peace of mind knowing you have credit monitoring, high-risk transaction monitoring, and real-time alerts to your mobile phone. In addition, if a theft does happen, you’ll get white-glove restoration.

5. Set Up Easy Pay

You can securely store and use your debit card on Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Play. This allows you to navigate the world, make secure payments, and get what you want at your fingertips.

6. Travel Safely

Keep up to date with the CDC safety guidelines and protocols. Travel with your mask, hand sanitizer, and safety wipes. Organize your travel gear with all the hygiene essentials closes to hand. A little preparation can help you and your family stay safe while traveling.

7. Encourage Healthy Habits

As much as we’re ready to get out and about, we are still within a fluid environment. Encourage everyone in your group to practice physical hygiene habits. You may want to nominate different people to be the coach or encourager of healthy hygiene. This can include finding fun ways to remind each other to wear masks, wash hands, avoid touching their faces, and maintaining social distancing.

Sum Up

Summer is on the horizon. As you’re planning your next trips and vacations, keep your family safe and secure. With a little advanced work, you can have a happy, healthy, and safe summer adventure. Have fun!