Chris Chambo, owner of Cruise Planners, of West Springfield, has had a passion for travel since he majored in travel management in college.
Finally following his dream four years ago when he opened Cruise Planners, Chambo is now dedicated to helping others satisfy their wanderlust. Though the coronavirus pandemic put a temporary damper on his growing clientele, Chambo said as vaccinations increase, business is beginning to pick up again.
Here’s what he told Prime about the outlook for travel this summer, and beyond:
“Yes, the desire to travel is definitely picking up. The 45-year-old and older crowd are looking to do things that are familiar to them and comfortable - people are still a bit hesitant to try new things at this time.
“Families, too, are starting to really get into travel now that kids are going back to school and spring break is right around the corner.
“And, with vaccinations more readily available, and COVID-19 cases decreasing, a lot of clients are starting to feel more comfortable planning to travel.
“There’s also definitely a multi-generational aspect to this uptick as well. I’m currently planning someone’s 50th birthday trip with three generations going to Mexico for the celebration.”
“People are choosing to stay closer to home, rather than taking any chances leaving the country. A lot of clients are more concerned about being quarantined in a foreign country than actually catching the virus.
“Staying in the U.S. is still a big trend, with vacation home rentals, national parks and camping/rv-ing seeming to be the focus right now. In fact, most national parks, campgrounds and home rentals are already sold out for the summer. People looking for a summer rental have to consider that there’s a whole group of people out there who had their
vacation plans cancelled last year because of the pandemic and have already rebooked, making available properties scarce.
“If you are thinking at all about getting away for the summer, jump in right now and start looking for a place to book! And keep in mind it may still
be a challenge because of ever-changing state regulations in regard to testing and isolation (quarantines).
“If you are looking to get away outside the U.S. borders, but still stay close to home, the Caribbean and Mexico are popular choices. Mexico and the Dominican Republic are hot because they currently don’t require any testing to travel to those destinations.
“However, I would personally recommend that anyone who is planning to travel outside the U.S. go to a place that requires COVID-19 testing, that way you know everyone on the plane has been tested 3-5 days prior to takeoff. Also, everyone now has to be tested to return to the U. S., which makes traveling outside of the country a bit safer.
“The majority of ocean and river cruises are cancelled well through the summer, some through the year. The majority of cruise lines are booking for the 2022-2023 season, and they are selling out quickly.
“I strongly suggest people book cruises early because people who had their trips cancelled over the past year are rebooking, sometimes three times, to get the cruise they want. Also, there are a lot of extra amenities- free international fights, free gratuities, on board credits, etc., to encourage you to book right now.
“Travel insurance is highly recommended for any vacation you plan. This not only protects your investment, but it protects you in the event your resort or destination country closes. Make sure you are aware of all cancellation policies – are they going to keep your money and move your reservation forward or are they going to issue you a refund? Know the policies and penalties and be prepared to be flexible.
“For this reason, working with a travel agent is more important than ever. We have a safety-first mentality, are educated in all CDC guidelines and destination travel requirements - and we do the leg work, so that clients do not have to wait on hold for hours at a time if they need to make any changes to their trip. All at no cost to the client!
You can reach Chris at 413-314-4120.