Should I Book 2022 Travel Now? Bankrate Caret RightMain Menu Mortgage Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Bank Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Credit Card Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Caret RightMain Menu Loan Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Invest Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Home Equity Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Loan Home Improvement Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Insurance Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Retirement Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Panuwat Dangsungnoen/EyeEm/Getty Images December 21, 2021 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. As we approach year three of the pandemic, it’s safe to say we’ve learned to be more cautious and flexible with our plans. And with the omicron variant dominating headlines, travel rules and Covid concerns will likely continue changing month to month in 2022. That said, vaccines and boosters are widespread, international borders are opening (even when some are also closing) and countries, airlines and hotels now have systems for safely welcoming visitors despite frequent pivots. We’re adapting to living in a world with COVID-19, and the travel and tourism industry is mostly open to those who are ready. 2022 travel outlook
If you’ve been to the airport lately, you’ve noticed that people are on the move again. Even with the rise of the omicron variant, air travel is seeing an uptick every day, with getting close to what they were before the pandemic. Despite rising concern due to new variants, research shows that travelers are still feeling positive about the future. —a research firm that is studying how the coronavirus impacts people’s perception of travel safety—recently reported Americans’ travel outlook for 2022 as “promising,” with 76 percent of American travelers in a ready-to-go state of mind. One-third of American travelers report they will take more leisure trips in the next year, and nearly 25 percent say they are planning to increase their international travel. And it’s not only individuals who are feeling optimistic. Many airlines are finally removing aircraft from storage and relaunching the international routes we’ve all missed. With Australia finally opening after two years of border closure, Qantas has restarted many of its long-haul flights, including their most popular routes to Sydney from London (LHR) and Los Angeles (LAX). How to take advantage of 2022 travel deals now
With more routes reopening and airlines scrambling to fill their planes, now could be the right time to book a flight, especially if you can get your hands on a coveted deal for international summer travel. Domestic travel is lower risk
It’s unlikely that travel will be restricted between states, so it may make sense to snag domestic tickets when you find a reasonable price. If you’re planning to hit a popular destination like Florida, New York, Las Vegas, California, Hawaii, Texas or a national park, you’ll want to book early. The same goes if you’re booking with points; award availability will be competitive for flights and accommodation. Research international travel requirements
While international travel in pandemic times is unpredictable, booking a 2022 trip outside of the U.S. is possible. Just do your research and make sure you’re protected. While more and more countries are “open” to travelers, each has its list of rules and requirements, and they’re all subject to change. Most countries require some proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test before entry, and many require you to complete government-issued travel attestation forms. It’s certainly easiest to travel internationally if you’re fully vaccinated. If you’re not vaccinated and are planning to travel anyway (despite the to delay travel until fully vaccinated), you’ll need to do double due diligence on your transit and destination and be prepared for a lot of nasal swabs. Some countries will not allow any unvaccinated visitors to transit or enter, while others will require quarantine or a more rigorous testing requirement for those not fully vaccinated. Prepare for the worst
Above all, you must be prepared to pivot your plans at a moment’s notice; you never know when an illness or shutdown may prevent you from taking flight. If you can afford to tack on to a non-refundable flight, doing so can give you peace of mind; just be sure the insurance covers Covid-related cancellations. Trust your gut
Traveling in 2022 is possible, but it isn’t the best choice for everyone. Always put your health and safety first and recognize your comfort with risk. If you’re not ready for international travel, domestic travel is great. And if you aren’t ready to get on a plane yet, it’s still good to take a road trip and stay close to home. Do what is best for you as we adapt to what the new year brings. Booking trips you can cancel or reschedule
For 2022 travel, never forget that change is our new normal. Organize your trip like you’re going to have to cancel it at the last minute—or even change it midway through. Read the fine print
Make sure that any flight or hotel room you book is flexible, changeable and refundable. If you’re , look up the rules of the credit card, hotel or airline program through which you’re booking to make sure you can get your points back and adjust your itinerary. And if you’re shelling out a lot of money for an organized tour, cruise or another prepaid adventure, do your homework and get yourself some . Book directly with airlines
If you can, book directly through the airlines or hotels where possible, rather than a third party (like Expedia or Kayak). It isn’t that third-party sites don’t have great deals—They just make it more complicated to get a refund or make a change cancellation. Most airlines still have flexible change policies for domestic tickets and international tickets originating in the U.S.—unless you’re booking the basic or saver fare. Of course, the rules will likely keep changing, so make sure you check before you buy. Airline cancellation policies
Cancel non-refundable reservations and have the funds deposited in My Wallet or use the value in exchange. No cancellations on Saver tickets except within 24 hours of booking. No change fees for domestic, short-haul international and select long-haul international flying on Premium Cabin, Premium Economy and Main Cabin fares. Basic Economy fares bought on or after April 1, 2021 are non-refundable and non-changeable. Cancel any ticket in main cabin and above for a Delta eCredit valid for one year. Basic Economy tickets remain non-changeable and non-refundable. No change or cancellation fees on fares, except Blue Basic. Southwest does not charge fees to change or cancel a flight in most cases. United Airlines has permanently removed change fees for flights within the U.S., or between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean, and for international travel originating in the U.S. All other international travel won’t have change fees if the ticket is issued by January 31, 2022. Basic Economy tickets cannot be changed unless issued before December 31, 2021. Review your travel credit card strategy
After a long travel hiatus, it makes sense to ensure that your rewards strategy is optimized. An end-of-the-year rewards audit is a good way to refresh your memory of where you’ve stashed all those points you’ve earned. Also, it may be time to upgrade those cards you’ve let lapse because you weren’t using the lounge or baggage benefits. I’m personally back to enough domestic travel that I’m ready to re-up . I downgraded the card in 2020, but I’m ready to access the American Express Centurion Lounge network once again. You can also take advantage of an airline or hotel card , many of which are worth enough points to get you at least one domestic return trip anywhere in the U.S. or a couple of free hotel nights for your first 2022 trip. The bottom line
Covid is still with us and is likely here to stay. Yet, airplanes are still full, business travelers are back in the skies and there are offers to be had as travel and tourism returns. If we’ve learned anything, we all know that we can never know for certain what the new year holds. But it’s my greatest wish for all of us that 2022 is an amazing year of getting back to whatever kind of travel is best for each of us. SHARE: Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Related Articles