Many people around the world have had to postpone or cancel their travel plans due to the risks and travel restrictions surrounding coronavirus. This has undoubtedly left travelers disappointed, and wondering when exactly they will be able to travel again.
A question on many people's minds during the uncertainty of coronavirus is whether or not they should be booking future travel now.
2021 Recommended Travel Destinations
Everyone gets excited thinking about where they might go for their next vacation. Whether you're the kind of traveler who prefers a tropical island over a ski resort, or relaxing on a cruise over outdoor adventures.
While most travel in 2020 has been put on hold, we hope that in 2021 we can travel to our favorite places and bucket list destinations once again. However, travel will be much different in the future, and you might want to consider visiting more open areas like national parks, RV trips, and less crowded destinations.
National Parks to Visit in 2021
A lot of people who will be traveling 2021 are planning trips to national parks to escape the bustling cities, and fast paced lifestyle. National parks are great for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and rafting, as well as wildlife viewing and birding.
Since so many people are traveling to national parks, visitor rates have increased, making social distancing more difficult.
Below we've chosen the best national parks to visit in 2021 that have amazing views and attractions, and fewer crowds.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, United States
Grand Staircase-Escalante in Southern Utah sees about 983,000 visitors annually. The park includes the last lands to be mapped in the continental United States, and most of the land remain exactly how the cartographers found them.
The park is huge, and sill very wild. When driving through the park we recommend using four wheel drive, as some of the roads are unpaved, and date back to the days of Mormon wagon trains. The top attraction has to be backpacking through the gorgeous canyons located in Grand Staircase-Escalante.
See all trips to U.S. National Parks >>
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, United States
Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast, remote, and rarely visited wilderness of mountains and ice fields, alpine valleys, and glacial rivers in Alaska. The park sees only about 68,000 visitors annually, even though it is the United State's largest national park and protected wilderness at 13.2m acres.
The best time to visit the park is summer, since 60 miles of road can only be accessed during the warmer months. In the summer, visitors are able to backpack, mountain climb, hike, and river raft. The views in the park are unbelievable, and you can even spot the diverse Alaskan wildlife during your trip!
See all trips to U.S. National Parks >>
Torres Del Paine National Park, Patagonia
Located in the Patagonia region of Chile, and known for its bright blue glaciers, turqouise waters, tall mountains, and golden grasslands, Torres Del Paine is a must see for any traveler. The park only sees about 250,000 visitors annually, despite being one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Top attractions in the park include the Torres, which are three granite massifs that have become a symbol of Torres Del Paine. The Southern Patagonia Icefield, which features dozens of glaciers. Milidon Cave National Monument, a majestic cave discovered in 1895 that used to be the home of the prehistoric Milidon people.
Swiss National Park, Switzerland
Located in the Western Rhaetian Alps, Swiss National Park sees about 150,000 visitors annually. It offers beautiful alpine scenery and diverse wildlife along its hiking trails. The park was created in 1914, and was one of the first national parks in Europe.
When staying inside Swiss National Park, camping is not not allowed, but you have the option of sleeping in the famous Chamanna Cluozza log cabin, or Hotel Parc Naziunal, the only hotel located within the park.
See all trips to Switzerland >>
RV Road Trips
Packing up at RV and hitting the road with friends and family is the perfect way to ease back into travel in 2021. On a road trip you can spot the incredibly diverse wildlife across a country, discover different cultures and food, and learn about a country's history.
Below we've listed the best road trip routes around the world:
Pacific Coast Highway, United States
California's longest highway is the Pacific Coast Highway, a 653 mile drive down the California coast. The highway starts in Dana Point and goes all the way to Leggett.
While on this road trip you can stop in Malibu to visit the the sandy Zuma Beach, San Simeon to tour Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo to to stay at the iconic Madonna Inn, Big Sur to hike one of the national parks, Monterey to visit the aquarium, and San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Redwoods.
See all trips to the United States >>
Route 62, South Africa
On this 465 mile drive in South Africa there are over 65 wineries to stop and visit, although that might be the most fun for the passengers. This route stretches between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, and offers even more attractions than wine, like cliffs, rivers, valleys, plains, and wildlife.
At the start of your drive you should stop at Chapman's Peak Drive, a 5.5 mile marine drive that twists and turns itself around a mountainside between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. You should also make time to stop at the hot mineral springs at the Warmwaterberg Spa. Or take a multi-day hike on the famous Donkey Trail in the Swartberg Mountains.
Further along Route 62 you'll find the Klaasvoogds Game Reserve. Here you can spot black wildebeest, leopard tortoises, and Burchell's zebra, so bring your camera!
See all trips to South Africa >>
Ticlio Pass, Peru
This 82 mile road is not for the faint of heart! On this drive you'll be 16,000 feet above seas level in the Andes Mountains. The road features tight turns, mounatins prone to landslides, and leaping llamas ready to dart in front of your vehicle at any moment.
The view at the end of the road is definitely worth the fear of driving it! During the drive you'll want to stop and see the Ticlio railroad, one of the highest railroads in the world, which was built to service the local coal mining industry. Along the way there are many roadside cafes which often serve ceviche, and friend guinea pig.
NC500, Scotland
The North Coast 500, NC500 for short, was opened in 2015, and is a scenic 500 mile drive along Scotland's craggy coast. It was built by Prince Charles to showcase the grandeur of Scotland, and it does just that!
Top attractions on the drive include historic castles, lochs, small valleys, Highland sheep, and some of the best seafood in the United Kingdom.
The Least Crowded Destinations in the World
The idea of traveling to less crowded and popular destinations has been around for some time. Let's not forget that before there was coronavirus, there was overtourism. Many people enjoy traveling off the beaten path, and in 2021 travelers may be opting for more remote destinations.
These are the best and least crowded destinations in the world, so you can start planning that international trip for 2021.
Tuvalu
The island nation of Tuvalu in Micro Polynesia is perhaps one of the most isolated. There is only one airport , located on the main island of Funafuti. Travelers then must take ferries to other islands.
The beaches are free from crowds, and very untouristed. In fact, in 2017 only 2,000 tourists visited Tuvalu. On the islands you can watch fly fish skim the blue waters, spend an afternoon relaxing in a hammock, and snorkel to see the brightly colored coral around the coast.
Comoros
Located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique, Comoros is the perfect destination for clear water and sandy beaches. The island is often known as the "Perfume Isles," as they have been cultivating aromatic plants for making perfume since the French Colonial Era.
The island is of Arab heritage, and on the capital of Moroni, visitors can see the beautiful carved doors of the Ancienne Mosquée du Vendredi. Keep in mind that the mosque is not a tourist attraction, and visitors should be respectful when seeing it.
The beaches on Comoros are incredible as well, with clear blue waters and pale sand. The beach crowds are minimal, in 2016 only 29,000 tourists visited Comoros.
Liechtenstein
This landlocked country is perched on the Alpines between Austria and Switzerland, and surprisingly doesn't see the same tourist numbers as its neighboring countries. In 2017 Liechenstein only saw 79,000 tourists, making it one of the least visited European countries.
Liechenstein is perfect for outdoor adventure travel. Hiking along the trails that wind through stony mountain peaks is among the top things to do. Plus, the country has many hillside vineyards where you can spend a quiet afternoon.
Historic castles dominate the land, the most impressive and dramatic castle being the Gutenberg Castle in Balzers. Visitors to this castle can spend time in the beautiful Rose Garden, which is full of pink roses during the summer.
See all trips to Liechenstein >>
St. Kitts and Nevis
This island pair is a Caribbean paradise. There is a slow paced lifestyle inviting you in to relax on the pristine beaches, and divulge in the local cuisine. Top foods to try include goat water stew, fresh seafood, island grown fruit, and spiced rum.
Nevis was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, and even with Hamilton-mania taking over, the country remains pretty untouristed. Here on Nevis you can go to the Nevic Historical Society, which is the modern day site of Hailton's birth.
In 2017 only about 114,000 tourists visited the islands.
2021 Travel
Practically all travel has been cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus, and travel restrictions in place. Odds are, if you had a trip planned for 2020, you were left disappointed when you couldn't go.
Even though borders, restaurants, hotels, and attractions are slowly opening, travelers are still cautious of traveling until it's safe. Each country, and even city, has its own plan for reopening to tourism. Airlines are expecting to be back up and running by 2021, as well as hotels, and tour operators.
Before you plan your next trip, you should know what restrictions are still in place, and what restrictions may be in place in 2021.
Current Travel Restrictions
In the United States, a travel ban is still in place, and getting back into the U.S. after being abroad can have its challenges.
The CDC states that if you are not a lawful resident or citizen of the U.S. and have traveled to China, Iran, the European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City), England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, or Brazil in the last 14 days, you cannot enter the United States.
If you are a lawful resident or citizen who has visited one or more of the above countries in the last 14 days, you may re-enter the U.S. through designated airports, and the CDC recommends self quarantining for 14 days.
Check out this article for an updated list of Countries Reopening for Tourism >>
Travel Restrictions That May Be in Place in 2021
While it’s impossible to tell what the world will look like in 2021, it’s safe to say that travel will be different. Airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, and attractions will all have different policies in place to keep travelers and locals safe.
Airline policies and restrictions that you can expect to be in place in 2021 include:
- Enhanced cleaning protocol
- Requirement of face masks/face coverings
- Limited beverage services
- Limited seating on aircrafts
Airport policies and restrictions that you can expect to be in place in 2021 include:
- Enhanced cleaning protocol
- Limited checkpoints
- Social distancing guidelines
- Hand sanitizer up to 12oz will be permitted in carry-on bags
Hotel policies and restrictions that you can expect to be in place in 2021 include:
- Enhanced cleaning protocol
- Virtual check-in
- Decreased hotel restaurant capacity
- Social distancing between guests
Could There Be a Second Wave of Coronavirus
The massive global lockdown has helped slow the spread of coronavirus, but as restrictions loosen many worry about a second wave.
For coronavirus to spread, it needs a supply of susceptible people, infected people, and transmission. Meaning, as long as there are susceptible people, and infected people, the virus will spread successfully.
Until there is a vaccine, the best measure against spreading coronavirus is isolation. While most people around the world have obeyed lockdown policies, many are getting tired of the restrictions and are pushing for things to reopen, which could lead to a second wave. The most likely time of a second wave will be during flu season in the fall and winter.
At this point it is uncertain whether a second wave of coronavirus will happen, and when it will happen if it does. But, the best thing you can do for yourself and the safety of others, is to continue social distancing, wear a mask when in public, and regularly wash your hands.
Now is the Time to Buy For 2021 Travel
Since travel is very uncertain right now, you might be tempted to wait to book travel plans. But we think now is the perfect time. Many tour operators are offering deals and discounts for 2021 travel, and they have more relaxed cancellation policies due to the uncertainty of travel. Of course you should always read individual policies carefully, and purchase travel insurance - just in case.
We’ve tracked down the Top Travel Deals for 2021, so you can plan your next adventure with ease.
