“A lot of people want to do the same thing at the same time this summer,” says Stan Caldwell, who teaches transportation and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
If you’ve already been on vacation, you know he’s right. If you haven’t, there’s still time to plan your trip defensively.
So how do you avoid the mass of humanity at the peak of the busiest summer travel season in a generation? Let’s start with the obvious pro tip for finding a small space on vacation: go where there are no crowds.
“Schedule trips during off-peak hours,” says Caldwell. “Visit the attractions during unpopular times.”
What does that mean for summer travelers?
“Beaches are the most popular type of destination in the summer,” says Alison Kwong, spokeswoman for vacation rental site Vrbo. “Demand for beach vacation homes in the Northeast and Southeast is high, so an unexpected alternative may be heading to a mountain destination, like Breckenridge or Park City, when it’s not ski season.”
But crowds are everywhere: at the airport, on the plane, in the hotel lobby. What about them?
If you can afford it, you can pay to skip crowded check-in areas. You can hire a VIP receptionist at the airport to expedite check-in and customs lines. At a site like Global Airport Concierge, you can book an airport meet and greet service starting at $75.
Sylvia Lebovitch, luxury travel advisor at Ovation Network, also recommends a private airport suite available at Los Angeles International Airport. “It has separate security and check-in areas, so you never have to mix with other travelers,” she says. “It’s the closest thing to flying privately.”
Additionally, many luxury hotels now offer early check-in to avoid the appearance of a long line in the lobby. Or you can work with your travel advisor to handle check-in details before you arrive. Your agent will send you your credit card and passport information in advance, so all you have to do is pick up your room keys.
What about the crowds at major attractions like historic sites, museums, and theme parks?
One strategy is to book a private tour in advance. Larissa Lowthorp, a film producer from Los Angeles, likes to find a tour on sites like Viator. “A tour guide has private arrangements with venues or arrangements for after-hours visits,” she says. That allows you to avoid long lines and crowds.
But nothing prepares you for the wave of summer crowds like a Walt Disney World Annual Pass. As a Florida resident for 12 years, most of them in Orlando, I quickly learned that I could avoid long lines by showing up before the park opened.
As the tourists slept in or enjoyed their breakfast buffets, I got my young children out of bed early and arrived at the gates of the Magic Kingdom as they opened.
The reward: no queues or crowds, even on the busiest days. By the time most of the visitors arrived, my family and I were through the turnstiles and back into the parking lot.
Does joining a loyalty program help? It can, says Craig Strickler, CEO of Valor Hospitality Partners, a hotel management company. “Joining the frequent flyer program of the airline you fly with, the hotel you stay at, or even the car rental company you use offers benefits you might not otherwise receive,” he says.
These include upgrading to a better seat or hotel room if available or using a preferred and sometimes shorter check-in line.
But there is a catch. You have to participate in the program to reap the benefits, which means spending money with the company. You may pay more for your ride over time. In addition, you will receive many unsolicited offers from the company and its partners.
“Just remember, there’s always the option to unsubscribe at the bottom of the email,” says Strickler.
Sometimes the best way to avoid crowds is to defy conventional wisdom. That’s the advice from blues guitarist Michael “Big Mike” Aguirre, who moved from St. Louis to Anguilla at the start of the pandemic. He says there are benefits to visiting the island at times when no one else wants to.
This time of year, you won’t have to worry about long lines at a restaurant or crowded beaches. That’s because it’s low season in the Caribbean: it’s rainy and hot, and the region’s hurricane season runs from June to November. Yes, it’s a bit risky, but nothing that a good travel insurance policy won’t cover.
“A less traveled destination offers a more relaxed pace and a more immersive experience,” says Aguirre.
There is one final option, which is not to travel at all. Instead, put off your vacation until the kids are back in school. That may be my favorite strategy for avoiding crowds. You can go anywhere in early September, and it won’t matter. Everyone will be gone by then. Prices will drop and travelers you meet along the way will be relaxed again.
Isn’t this how travel should always be?
Christopher Elliott
is the director of advocacy for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at [email protected] or get help with any consumer issue by contacting him at elliott.org/help.
Source: www.seattletimes.com