WE’LL MEET AGAIN
“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when …” I have just listened to my 10 year-old sing Vera Lynn’s wartime ballad as part of a school virtual choir. It got me thinking, thinking about when, and inevitably where, we can travel again.
‘When’ is not something any of us can answer at the moment and this isn’t going to change for the foreseeable future. One of the things I have found to be positive is redefining my sense of time. There is more time for glorious activities like running gleefully in the spring sunshine when I would normally be on a school run. Or simply immersing myself in a series of satisfying mundane tasks like prepping supper or making the beds. Allowing time to take on this different dimension has given me the chance to reflect and gain a new perspective: to think about how things will be different in the new normal. How will I do things differently, what will I do and where will I go?
As a private travel consultant, thinking and learning about travel and the world is something I spend a lot of time doing. My immediate priority is, when it is safe, to travel to see my parents currently living in Portugal.
I’m not alone in wanting to see my family, the lockdown has reminded us of our priorities. It’s ironic how we normally travel expecting an altered perspective and Eat Pray Love enlightenment. And yet, this time of reflection has brought its own enlightenment and redefined our priorities. Something I hope will last long after this crisis is over.
Staycation
Recently the spring sunshine and clear blue skies have been a tonic and reminded me how beautiful England is. My daily walks through the maize fields and woods filled with wildflowers feel so quintessentially English and I realise I haven’t properly holidayed here for too long. As spring opens up into summer the United Kingdom has so much to offer - culture, coastlines, parks and beautiful countryside all of which have their own charm.
For this year many of us may choose safe escapes in the UK with our nearest and dearest where we can have a change of scene, reconvene and connect away from the crowds, particularly important for multi-generational families or those with health issues. Exclusive-use cottages and villas either in the UK or abroad will be in hot demand when permitted.
Longer term
We all expect that travel will be altered, both in the short and longer term. There are plenty of positives here: more rigour
on health screening, better insurance and border co-operation and an even greater focus on sustainability. Less is definitely more.
For now, concentrate on where you want to go to next and look for thrills at the prospect of planning. Spend time considering and choosing. Dr Jeroen Nawijn at the Centre for Sustainability,Tourism and Transport in Breda University in the Netherlands recently published a study indicating that we derive most of our happiness from the expectation of an upcoming escapade.
So while the focus on the ‘when’ narrows, our thinking about the ‘where’ can widen. As a partner at 360 Private Travel, I have relished this time to come together with my partners researching the places and locations further afield. Some might call these “bucket list” destinations or goals. I like to think of them as promises: Colombia, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Ethiopia are in the forefront of my mind. Beautiful, intoxicating, colourful places rich with culture, history and people. These are the places which can afford a variety of experiences for the whole family.
For my clients, when it’s safe to do so, I look forward to carefully curating experiences abroad with my travel industry partners which offer variety, will enrich and educate and offer peace where our senses come alive and we can swim, brown our skin in the sun and drink mango juice! Or gin! Or both!. I look forward to when we can meet again.