What a year it's been — How travel is changing as we hit the road again
I took my suitcase out of the closet the other day.
Its five zippers, two wheels and one retractable handle have seen hundreds of thousands of miles. It's been dragged across shiny airport linoleum, carpeted casinos and plenty of cobblestone streets.
But for the past year, my suitcase has been on a long vacation on a high shelf.
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, many of us have been looking back at the time lost. Now, it's time to turn our gaze to the adventures ahead.
I still remember where I was during the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, and when I first learned that a plane had hit the World Trade Center during terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Similarly, I remember where I was when the world around me shut down at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.
New York City announced a state of emergency, the TPG office emptied out and I found myself racing inexplicably to an ATM to have some extra cash in my wallet — just in case.
I had been, naturally, reviewing a new hotel in my hometown. The stay was abandoned and I hopped into a cab to be with my wife and daughter.
It's hard to be upbeat when thousands of people around the world are still dying each day from COVID-19. And millions of others are without work. The pain and suffering are very real.
Yet, we find ourselves at a juncture. After months of fear, confusion, anger, isolation and exhaustion, there is finally hope.
Travelers like myself are dusting off their suitcases and getting ready to rediscover the world. For the first time in nearly a year, I'm planning trips that I'll probably take.
So are many others.
Related: Half of Americans say travel affects their decision to get vaccinated
More than two-thirds of Americans aged 75 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, as have more than half of those between the ages of 65 and 74. An additional 2 million people are getting a shot in the arm each day.
After months of isolation, the thirst to travel is real. According to a recent TPG survey, 64% of Americans hope to travel this year. Many people are sitting on stockpiles of points, miles and travel vouchers, while others have been adding to their savings accounts.
Grandparents are finally reconnecting with grandchildren. Delayed honeymoons are on the way. And for people who have been cooped up for the last year with their immediate family, the return of travel might be an opportunity to get away with friends — or alone.
Travel might be making its comeback, but for many people, it won't be familiar when it returns.
Related: The pandemic will impact my travel strategy for a long time — and that's a good thing
Many people purchased cars and recreational vehicles during the pandemic, and have a newfound love for road trips. Others turned to vacation rentals for the first time and won't soon be going back to hotel and resort stays.
We were all forced to rediscover — or, perhaps, discover for the first time — what was in our backyard.
When the beaches of Hawaii were closed to tourists, travelers ventured instead to the Jersey Shore, Florida's Gulf Coast or even a crescent of sand around a local lake.
Americans took on new outdoor pursuits such as hiking, cycling and skiing, and will likely build future vacations around these activities.
National parks saw plenty of visitors, but so did state parks and public recreation areas. Collectively, we were just happy to be outside, somewhere new, and away from other people.
Related: The 19 national parks every traveler needs to see at least once
As the world reopens, some of us will continue to seek isolation and solitude, while others, perhaps tentatively, will return to big cities and live events.
Business travel has certainly seen a seismic shift. Many people have become digital nomads and with new, flexible corporate policies, might continue to work from a different destination every month after the coronavirus pandemic is squarely in the past.
After all, technological advances have been spurred along by the crisis.
Keyless entry, QR codes and food delivery apps have been around for years, but for many people became an important part of staying safe and healthy during the pandemic.
Theme parks, ski resorts and museums finally adopted online reservation systems. Some of the new virtual queuing systems designed to facilitate physical distancing have made otherwise crowded experiences actually enjoyable.
And, hopefully, enhanced cleaning practices at hotels and on airplanes will become permanent.
Unfortunately, some of these changes have stripped the spontaneity and serendipity out of travel. It's never been more important to plan ahead and prepare for a worst-case scenario. And that sensibility could stick with us all for a long time.
But even my personal definition of travel has changed.
Related: Predictions for the state of travel in 2021 from our editor
A year ago, I would have half-joked that a short, domestic flight didn't count as "a real trip." If I wasn't at least getting a new passport stamp, was it really even travel?
Well, today, a two-hour road trip can seem like a big adventure. And I'm thankful for this new perspective.
It's always been easy to get lost in a world of gleaming airports, towering megaresorts and posh shopping districts. Many of us got caught up in a Disney-like fantasy of what travel should be — not what it really is.
So, after our timeout from globetrotting, will we all return to overtouristed destinations loathed by travelers and locals alike? Or will we reframe, and continue reimagining what it means to be a traveler and where our trips will take us?
Either way, I'm happy to be having this discussion now, on the cusp of travel's greatest comeback, instead of being locked away at home, scrubbing Amazon boxes with disinfecting wipes.
Now, where did I put my passport?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees