Where to Travel in Summer 2021: How to Score Deals, Navigate Covid Restrictions and More

Be Flexible With Your Flight Plan

“Cheap summer fares are much more plentiful this year than they were two years ago,” said Scott Keys, who ferrets out improbably low airfares on his website Scott’s Cheap Flights (a recent find: $214 round trip from New York to Fairbanks, Alaska). Mr. Keys, author of the new book “Take More Vacations,” recommends using Google Flights, which lets you search by country, or even by continent, and consider a whole month of options rather than those limited to specific dates. “If you just keep your eyes laser focused on one week in August from New York to Paris, that’s essentially like playing Whac-A-Mole but only looking at one hole. Meanwhile, all these cheap flights are popping up around you—New York to Amsterdam, New York to Brussels….”

Where to Go in Europe?

“Certain places in Europe are an amazing opportunity this summer,” said Wendy Perrin who runs the travel website WendyPerrin.com, which offers advice and recommends destination specialists. “I would consider Croatia—Dubrovnik, for instance—or Greece.” One key reason she’s attracted to the Mediterranean right now: much less cruise traffic. Far fewer ships will be in service this summer, said Monty Mathisen, managing editor of Cruise Industry News, “and the ships that are sailing will not be full due to distancing requirements, so I would expect a lot less cruise passengers in most ports.”

If Hotels are Sold Out, Try These Alternatives

It’s not just hotels in popular locations that might be putting out the “No Vacancy” signs this summer; 91% of campgrounds are expecting more campers than last year, according to the Dyrt, a sort of Tripadvisor for campsites, and that’s on top of the 28% more Americans who went camping last year (vs. 2019), according to the Outdoor Foundation’s Outdoor Participation Report. Crafty campers looking for a place to park their RVs for the night can join Harvest Hosts, which has a network of more than 2,000 farms, vineyards and other pastorally picturesque locations willing to let you park for the night. For hotel stays, if you can’t find a reservation, try Roomer, a website that lets people who can’t use non-cancellable reservations sell them, often at a steep discount.

Skip the Beach

With throngs of sun-seekers expected to flock to beachy destinations like Maui, Miami or Cancún, you might want to plan your vacation where the crowds aren’t, said Summer Johnson McGee, dean of the University of New Haven’s School of Health Sciences. “For both public-health and affordability reasons, I recommend seeking off-the-beaten path destinations, smaller cities and towns, like touring the Texas Hill Country’s wineries, exploring Boise, Idaho or bicycling on Mackinac Island, Michigan.” Another attractive option, recommended travel adviser Wendy Perrin: ski lodges. “They have a lot of rooms and airy conditions, like in cabins on the mountainside, and it’s more of a value in summertime, obviously, than in winter.”

Prepare for Changes to Entry Requirements

The airport is the last place you want to find out about a change in the testing, quarantine or vaccination requirements for your destination. The European Union’s proposal to let vaccinated Americans visit includes within it an “emergency brake” provision that lets member states limit or stop travel as needed, for instance. Travelers can take steps to stay on top of the situation, though: Google Travel offers information about travel restrictions with its search results and gives users the option to “Receive an email if this guidance changes.” And although it’s currently geared toward European travelers, the EU’s site reopen.europa.eu offers current information, including the expectations and allowances if you have a stopover in a third country.