Vaccines and boosters continue to roll out. And lockdowns and travel restrictions are slowly lifting. This means that 2022 may be the first year since pre-pandemic that families, couples, and solo travelers start planning a more “normal” vacation.
This year may be a safer time to travel than the previous two. But there are still a few things you’ll want to do to ensure a safe and healthy vacation in 2022. Keep reading to learn a few practical tips to help you plan a fun, relaxing, or exciting vacation, without the stress and worry.
Skip the Tourist Hot Spots
Even as more and more people begin to travel again, the threat of COVID-19 transmission will likely continue to be a reality in the summer months. If you’re eager to get away, but want to limit exposure, it’s best to skip the busy tourist hotspots yet again this year.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy a great trip; it simply means you’ll need to get more creative with your planning. Rather than hitting the popular oceanside cities packed with tourist attractions, look for a smaller beach town instead. Want to explore a national park? Skip the most-visited ones, and opt for one that’s off the beaten path. And if you’re looking to experience the incredible natural beauty of British Columbia, don’t stay on Vancouver Island—instead, make your way to Sointula!
Choose Your Travel Dates With Care
If you want to take your health and safety measures even further, consider booking your vacation dates away from the most popular summer travel weeks and holiday weekends. An early June or late August vacation will help you avoid some of the larger travel crowds. As an added bonus, you’ll get to experience your destination with fewer crowds, and may even be able to take advantage of some discounts on your stay, travel, and activities.
Get Back to the Outdoors
Want to make sure that you’ll be able to practice plenty of social distancing during your trip? Plan to spend lots of time outdoors. Hiking, fishing, birdwatching, biking, and kayaking are just a few of the activities you can plan during your vacation. Not only are these great, safe activities to enjoy during these challenging times, but they’re also a good way to experience a new destination and enjoy a little healthy exercise during your next vacation.
Sointula and Malcolm Island have no shortage of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Hike along the coast at Bere Point Regional Park and keep your eyes peeled for orcas on the island’s famous whale rubbing beach. Take a walk or rent a bike and explore the town of Sointula, with its famous Finnish-inspired architecture. Or, plan a fishing excursion at Sointula Lodge and spend your days casting a line on the picturesque waters of British Columbia.
Consider an All-Inclusive Destination
Restaurants, stores, and many tourist attractions are experiencing closures and staff shortages that have led to shortened hours. This can make it a challenge to plan out your meals and activities for your trip. Visiting restaurants and other busy destinations also increases your risk of exposure.
Booking an all-inclusive vacation package can help you avoid these challenges during your trip. Everything from your meals to your lodging to daily activities is planned and paid for in advance. This allows you to relax and unwind during your trip—which certainly isn’t a bad move for your health, either!
Invest in Travel Insurance
Booking a vacation of any kind is an investment. While illness, injury, and other circumstances could have led to canceled vacations or changes to your travel plans in the past, this is an even bigger risk now. If lockdowns, travel restrictions, or illness prevent you from taking your planned vacation, you’ll want to make sure that you can get back your investment and reschedule your trip for a later date. Travel insurance can help with that.
Now more than ever before, travel insurance is a must. This is especially true if you’re planning to travel outside of your home country. Travel insurance can help you to recoup the cost of your flights, lodging, and other expenses. If you include travel medical insurance in your policy, you’ll also have coverage if you need to see a doctor while traveling outside of your home country. Even if you have private medical insurance, your coverage may not extend internationally, or even outside of a specified coverage area.
Planning Your Next Visit to Sointula
If you’re looking for a safe and healthy way to travel in 2022, these tips are a great starting point. Avoiding the popular tourist destinations, choosing dates to avoid popular travel times, sticking to the outdoors, and considering an all-inclusive getaway—like a British Columbia fishing lodge package—is a great way to plan a vacation this year that your whole family will enjoy.
Ready to start planning a Sointula vacation sometime in 2022? Check out our planning resources to start looking for the right lodging option, choosing activities, and more!