Travelers are booking stays for a month or more — here's why
"Six months ago, we were seeing the weekend getaway — what we call the microvacation," said Misty Belles during a travel industry press conference on Monday.
But Belles, the managing director of global public relations at Virtuoso, a luxury travel agency network, says traveler behavior has flipped.
"That [trend] has now become the weeks-long getaway," she said, explaining that "people are working remotely, kids are not necessarily going back to school and there's no rush to get back home."
Related: School’s out: How the pandemic could change the way your family travels
Afterward, Belles told TPG in an email that this new landscape — where the places "we work and live are now one and the same" — has "opened the door for people to base themselves from anywhere."
"If microvacations were born from a lack of time, extended stays are the answer to a strained work-life balance brought on by incessant Zooming," Belles explained. "The convenience of working from the kitchen table has transformed into annoyance, and people are tired of searching for an uninterrupted nook or cranny to either work or stake out an inch of personal space. Most long-term vacation requests are from clients looking to escape crowds and reclaim some normalcy in their lives."
Philippe Zuber, COO and incoming CEO of Kerzner International (the developer and operator of luxury brands such as One&Only and Atlantis), also commented on the shift to "really extended stays" during the press conference.
"It's not unusual," Zuber observed, "to have a guest asking for 28 days [of vacation]." Instead of staying five nights here and there, or even changing resorts multiple times within a single destination, he said guests are seeking more stability.
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Rethinking vacations
For years, travelers were taking short (but frequent) weekend trips to Nantucket.
Now, White Elephant Resorts (which operates properties on the island such as the namesake White Elephant, The Wauwinet and the Jared Coffin House) is seeing guests book stays for over 30 days at a time.
Extended stays are gaining steam all over the country — and abroad. Luxury travel company Inspirato — which has seen reservations lasting 14 days or more increase 65% over 2019 — is seeing longer stays in Vail, Colorado, Los Cabos, Mexico (its two largest markets) and Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, travelers are showing a greater interest in villas and suites, which often have the amenities necessary (separate living rooms, kitchens) for long-term stays.
Hotels around the globe are even designing packages specifically for travelers who want to work from a beautiful resort instead of their makeshift home office.
So, while some people may be retreating to their summer homes, others are using lengthy stays at resorts and vacation rental properties to the same effect, even hiring private "camp counselors" or nannies so they can get a break from childcare.
The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara properties in the Caribbean, for example, have a generous extended-stay remote working program that includes upgrades to suites or connecting rooms; dedicated, shared office space; high-speed Wi-Fi; on-site IT support; complimentary laundry services; a personal fitness trainer three times per week; educational activities and experiences for kids; complimentary conversational Spanish classes with bilingual instructors and more with a 14-night minimum stay.
In addition to remote work and schooling, travelers are also clearly responding to travel restrictions. Many states are requiring visitors from high-risk areas to quarantine for 14 days. So, in many cases, a quick weekend getaway may simply be off the table until the virus is under control.
Entire countries are even marketing new visas that will help travelers relocate while they work remotely. If you like the idea of an extended stay in, say, Estonia or the Bahamas, you're in luck.
Related: TPG’s safe travel guide: How to minimize risk on your summer vacation
Pent up demand
The trend may be growing in popularity, but indications of it were appearing as far back as March.
In June, Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia told TPG the vacation rental platform had seen an "uptick in long-term stays." He said people are eager to get out of dense urban areas and escape to more rural places — "not just for a weekend, [but] for a month or more."
The trend was emerging as early as March when many people were just beginning to enter lockdowns.
Within a two-week period of time, people booking long-term rentals (defined as reservations lasting 28 days or longer) within their communities nearly doubled, and there was a 20% increase in long-term stays year-over-year.
Airbnb has responded to the spike in demand by helping hosts market properties for long-term rentals, and by featuring monthly stays for travelers. These rentals typically have more robust amenities (a kitchen and laundry, for example) and discounted pricing.
Related: Everything you need to know about staying at an Airbnb right now
Bottom line
"The work-from-home scenario, combined with distanced learning for children likely continuing into the fall, has opened the door for people to base themselves from anywhere," Belles said, "whether it’s their city apartment, suburban colonial or a beach in Nantucket."
Influenced by travel restrictions — and the very real threat of being stranded or quarantined while traveling — remote work, canceled summer camps and distance learning for school-age kids, it makes sense that travelers are eschewing brief weekend getaways.
Instead, they're turning to vacation rentals, hotels and resorts for a change of scenery that could easily last a month or more, especially with the right amenities and, in some cases, financial incentives for long-term stays.
With so much uncertainty clouding the remainder of 2020 and even 2021, it's really no surprise that people are packing up their kids and pets, filling up the station wagon and relocating for extended vacations.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.