Christmas is only 47 days away. And if 2021 hasn’t quite been the year most people hoped for to be “out of the woods” yet, it seems North Americans are ready to bank on a big consolation prize: an epic holiday vacation. When the Biden administration announced that vaccinated foreign travelers would be allowed to enter the United States starting Nov. 8, it was as though a starting gun had been fired. While winter beach trips have always appealed to the snowbird set, demand is particularly high this year.
Welcome to the Caribbean side of Belize. Aerial via Casa Al Mar/Duarte Dellarole
Skyscanner, a travel booking site, saw an 800 percent spike in bookings the day after the announcement. In the week after the administration confirmed the date travelers could arrive (and depart), Expedia, the online booking site, saw a 28 percent increase in searches for U.S. hotels from Britain and a 24 percent increase from France.
Here’s how to navigate holiday travel planning if you—like so many others—are ready to ring in 2022 with Belize.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Book The Caribbean
At Casa Al Mar, they say 'welcome' with ice-cold Caribbean coolers.
Ceviche is a Central American darling, which meets Caribbean flair like tropical produce. Image courtesy Casa Al Mar
Despite being full of anomalies, destinations that can guarantee good weather and unlikely-to-change border policies have an edge, and the Caribbean is one region that comes to mind. But, they’re getting booked up quickly. Last-minute bookings can mean limited inventory, which is why holidaymakers with their sights on the Caribbean should get a jumpstart on Christmas vacation plans now.
Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash
Fortunately, “this year it’s probably easier than maybe ever to find cheap beach fares,” said Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights. Even during the worst time to travel: between Christmas and the New Year. Because there’s been a “huge increase in supply” of short-haul flights targeting leisure travelers, prices have plummeted for nearby vacation spots such as Cozumel, Belize, and the Bahamas. After all, Belize has seen new non-stop flight services from new carriers, like Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines.
How To Find Last Minute Availability? Be Flexible
Poolside in Punta Gorda. Image courtesy Roeming Belize
As we enter the gift-giving season, we are also entering America’s bigger shopping season. And because Belize’s primary tourism market is America, there are bound to be facets of our travel industry that gets into Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Deal Tuesday. That’s good news for you because it’ll mean discounted rates on stays, tours, or even Christmas packages for your vacation plans. Keep an eye on your favorite resort, and even consider setting up a Google alert. Let the deals guide the decision-making: be flexible, as there may be blackout dates. For example, Muy’Ono Resorts always offer some sort of travel deal for those prime shopping dates.
Header image courtesy Grand Caribe Belize
