A new pattern of travel planning is emerging. Gone are the days of the traditional two-to-three-month lead time – jet setters are now falling either side of the spontaneity spectrum. While last-minute bookings are booming, so are future trips as far away as 2030 (to catch the solar eclipse in Namibia, if you’re curious). We’ve dubbed this phenomenon the Concertina Effect, reflecting both the new stretched and squeezed booking windows. In short, the flexibility to plan ahead and be oh-so impulsive has never been more important. Read on to dive deeper into both sides and discover what’s driving these trends...
Future trips worth waiting for
Sometimes it pays to think ahead. Popular seasonal phenomena like the Serengeti’s wildebeest migration, British Columbia’s salmon run and Japan’s cherry blossoms all call for precise planning, sometimes around 12 to 14 months in advance. It’s the same for nabbing the best seats, too. Dreaming of hopping aboard the train from Oslo to Trondheim? You won’t be the only one going rail-crazy, and spots atop these epic tracks fill up fast.
But better availability isn’t the only draw. Tom Barber, co-founder of Original Travel, explains that ‘in uncertain times, planning something joyful far ahead becomes an act of hope. We call it ‘anticication’ – looking forward to something extraordinary’. More than just a fun play on words, this effect can genuinely increase happiness levels in the months leading up to your trip. After all, there’s no time limit to bragging rights.
Image by Adobe Stock.
The joy of spontaneity
On the flip side, there’s been a substantial surge in spontaneous bookings. These are mainly for European gems like Italy, Norway and Greece, with many travellers enquiring and booking within days of departure. These spur-of-the-moment requests are usually driven by last-minute schedule gaps and the rise of remote working – and our experts are almost always able to accommodate.
However, Tom adds that there’s an emotional element to it, too: ‘In a world of burnout and bad news, travel becomes self-care. Clients tell us they simply need a change of scene, a bit of sun or space to breathe. These last-minute trips aren’t always tied to a milestone, but they’re no less meaningful’. This aligns with everything we believe in – that travel truly is good for the soul.
Image by Tomas Eidsvold / Unsplash.
Written by Evie Buller | Header Image by Grant Harder.
