6 Reasons Why Travel Booking in Advance is a Smart Choice post COVID-19
COVID-19 has been devastating for the world. The small things we used to take for granted are coming into focus and making us more appreciative, and one of those is travel – travel isn’t just the vacations we take, its the commute from home to the office, its the spontaneous weekend plans and drives, the freedom to pull up in a highway restaurant and eat without worries. It’s also the business trips we take, commuting between cities, meeting new people, going to new places. Of course, travel is taking a back seat now in these times, and rightfully so. But as the world starts to open and everyone begins cautiously stepping out, it’s important to keep in mind the various risks associated with the same. One of these is traveling post-COVID and being exposed to the coronavirus, to the risks that come with it. After the pandemic, travel will be safer, and all the more important – for this reason, even in times of uncertainty, advance booking will be extremely important post-pandemic, and a part of this is also traveling insurance, finding the right places, and knowing when and how to do prebooking/advance booking. What is advance booking, the benefits of advance booking, when to book in advance, and how to save money while doing the same – all these questions will be answered in this blog, your guide to the advantages of advance booking. Generally speaking, advance booking/prebooking involves confirmation and payment for the different stages of travel – traveling, accommodation, intercity travel, and other related services. So why should you book your tickets and plan out your trip in advance? Here are some reasons. 1] Travel Insurance, the new Holy Grail Travel insurance is extremely important, especially now Travel insurance is an insurance policy that offers compensation for any travel-related losses, personal /medical and delays and cancellations of flights during your travel within India or internationally. Many people lost a lot of money when countries and cities started shutting due to COVID, because of thousands of booked flights, tours, hotels, etc. canceled last minute. This risk is still prominent – outbreaks of the virus and hotspots crop up every day, and for whatever reason you may be traveling you need to be protected from the same. Not only does it provide financial security, but it also allows for medical security in possibly unknown and new places you may be in, in case of an outbreak or possible infection from the virus. So what does booking in advance have to do with this? Travel insurance is often offered for flights and trains only initially and gets much more expensive the more you delay it. There are also more options available when you opt for travel insurance earlier on your trip, from different companies and different deals. Another benefit of opting for travel insurance earlier on is having the safety net for longer, so if you need to travel earlier than expected or have unexpected cancellations from the flight or accommodation or any other service, you can get a full refund from the insurance. There are 3 kinds in general – medical, luggage, and cancellation based insurance. The main benefit is that travel insurance, in particular travel medical insurance, is a huge asset for traveling post-COVID. Check out Nerd Wallet‘s comprehensive guide on travel insurance in a post-pandemic world, and why it is important. 2] Cheaper rates and better deals You can avail better travel deals and book for cheaper in advance When you book early, it is more likely that you will find deals that are better and cheaper, ones like you’ve never seen before because mostly everyone tends to book at the last minute due to uncertainties. However, if you combine travel insurance and early booking, chances are you’ll find great deals and discounts to save money, get better offers, sometimes get upgrades. Why is that? because travel companies, especially in these times, want more people to book early so as to reduce their uncertainty and have a fixed possible income. They basically want you to book early, and they’ll return the favor you’ve done to them generously. You can also find cheaper rates by booking flights, trains, buses, etc. tickets earlier because it allows you to access discounts and coupons available for the time you are booking in as well as future deals offered to you. Another point to note is that many flight services let you buy memberships for lesser prices and access more early bird offers that way. For more about booking cheap flight tickets and getting ahead of deals, check out Thrifty Nomads‘ blog on the same – it’s informative and detailed! 3] Flexibility in your itinerary Flexibility and spontaneous changes are key in travel One of the biggest advantages of booking tickets and trips earlier is having more flexibility in case of different situations cropping up, the need to change plans, or even just a spontaneous shift in destinations for vacations and trips. This flexibility is especially important for people who like to go with the flow when it comes to travel, make it up as they go, or change different things in their plans. Flexibility is great not just because you can deal with new changes but also because it allows you to change last-minute based on unexpected circumstances, such as maybe a coronavirus hotspot discovered near to your destination or any other dangerous/risky situation that may crop up. So if you plan to take a family Christmas trip in the winter, but last-minute change your destination, you can cancel for that, and in the case of a COVID hotspot being warded off you can change for it as well – keep advance booking in mind the next time you need to or want to travel. Advance booking/pre-booking your travel or destination or accommodation allows you to change things quickly and without any repercussion
6 Team building Travel Excursions to take in 2022
Starting to notice some droopy shoulders around the office? Sounds like it’s time to plan a team office trip. Team office trips are a great way to facilitate bonding with your team members, reduce employee’s stress, and give them the chance to get to know one another outside of the office. Team building trips are a common corporate strategy to improve relations and productivity in the workplace as it helps colleagues bond with one another and work together towards a common goal through communication, trust, and patience outside of the office. Traveling is a passion, a hobby, an escape, a way to find yourself, and so much more to so many people. However, travel also contributes a lot to work-life balance. When employees meet each other outside of the daily routines and predictable patterns of the workplace setting, they create stronger bonds between each other and develop a better understanding of each other’s strengths and abilities. Cities we would love your team to go out to: Goa: The beach capital of India is the perfect destination to work and relax beside the smell of the sea and the cool wind. Andaman & Nicobar Islands: The islands situated in the south have the cleanest beaches and are perfect for some adventure activities for your corporate trip. Ladakh: The perfect road trip to Ladakh accompanied by a workation in Ladakh is just what your office trip requires! Dharamshala & Bir Billing(Himachal): An offbeat workation in some of the hippiest cafes in Himachal with the best view of snow-capped mountains. Mussoorie: A famous tourist destination with some of the best resorts and hotel properties for your team to just relax and chill in. Rishikesh: The place where the river meets mountains, adventure meets tranquility, perfect amalgamation of calmness and adrenaline rush for your team. Manali & Kasol: A must-visit for trekking and adventure lovers, your team is going to have the most fun working and sipping coffee in the Parvati Valley. Tirthan Valley & Jibhi: A hidden gem for a workation, you’ll get to live in treehouses besides the river with the view of the world in this unexplored valley. Plan a Corporate Workation here Such trips also build patience. While going somewhere together, you need to think about other people as well. Think about their wants and needs, constantly search for compromises as some people love taking pictures on every corner, some people are fans of eating slowly, some people are shopaholics and feel the need to go into every single shop on the street. To help you in understanding and appreciating the value of off-site excursions for your workforce in a better way, hereunder we list for you the top 6 advantages of team-building travel excursions: 1. Life in a Pahadi Village: Boosts morale and give employees a fun, mental health break A happy team is a productive team “It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results” – Andrew Carnegie We all know that working in the office can be mundane and repetitive which might lead to low morale and less motivation. This is where travel programs get in which are as much self-care as they are entertainment. This also helps employees feel appreciated for the work they do and lets them know that the company cares about them by providing unique experiences. Such experiences give them plenty of space to take a breather away from their tasks at work and provide them the chance to rest, relax, and rejuvenate their mind and body. Check out the experience of Life in a Pahadi village here 2. Workcation in Mountains: Fosters Creativity and Inspiration Encourage team to get creative and think outside the box as fresh ideas can keep the company ahead of the pack “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” – Amy Poehler Traveling allows you to experience different cultures that can provide you with a new way of looking at things and because you never know what you’ll have to deal with on the way, it can be a great way to learn effective problem-solving. Take your team out for a perfect work + travel vacation to get a sense of traveling and working. You can work in common spaces with your team in the day and explore the amazing location after your work hours. Out-of-the-ordinary team building tasks give employees permission to use their imagination to come up with creative solutions and you may be quite astonished at the innovations and improvements that come about from all that collaborative brainpower unleashed in a more relaxed environment. Check out the Workcation in Kasol experience for your office trip to the mountains to get that boost in creativity Personalize a company trip 3. Off the Grid Goa: Builds a Sense of Belonging Boosts trust and happiness in employees and builds a healthy work environment “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.”– Simon Sinek Getting to know the individuals you work with is vital to building a strong sense of trust and understanding amongst one another. Employees get a sense of belonging when building bonds with their teammates and also get more in touch with the company’s values. Such experiential travel makes them feel rewarded and appreciated, which in turn evokes a sense of belongingness towards the company which also means that they will be more dedicated to their work and you will be assured of having a group of workers whom you know you can rely on. Off the grid Goa is the best example to have some time away from the outside world and enjoy a technology free peaceful world to let go off all the toxins! 4. Workation in Goa: Encourages Teamwork When
