When it comes to setting their summer vacation budgets, Americans aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. The annual Vacation Confidence Index from travel insurance and support company Allianz Partners USA revealed that for the first time, Americans are expected to spend an estimated $214 billion on summer vacations, potentially crossing the $200 billion threshold.

The amount indicates a rise of roughly 10% from 2022, 39% from 2021, astounding 261% from 2020, and remarkable 111% from pre-pandemic spending in 2019.

According to the 15th Annual Vacation Confidence Index (VCI), Americans have doubled their summer vacation spending in just four years. The average American household is projected to spend $2,830 on summer vacations in 2023, exceeding $2,000 for the fourth time since Allianz Partners started monitoring vacation spending patterns in 2009. Average predicted vacation expenditure has climbed by over $1,000 per household three years after the pandemic, which represents an increase of around 7% from 2022, 33% from 2021, 50% from 2020, and 39% from pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

“We expect to see a record-breaking number of American travelers this summer, and whether heading near or far, increased traveler numbers can mean an increased chance of travel delays,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “While a devilish mix of inflation and strong demand have kept travel prices elevated, as our survey found, Americans are still willing to pay top dollar for a well-earned summer vacation. Protecting pre-paid expenses with a travel insurance policy that also offers travel delay coverage can end up being one of the smartest investments they can make.”

Since 2009, Allianz Partners USA has commissioned national polling company Ipsos Public Affairs to conduct the Vacation Confidence Index each summer. A vacation is regarded as a leisurely journey lasting at least a week to a location at least 100 miles away from home.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Partners and available travel policies, please visit the official website.

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The news is good. Travel is coming back. Borders are reopening, and there is a long list of denied celebrations that deserve to be reinstated. With the light finally shining brightly at the end of a dark tunnel, now is the perfect time to get away from the day-to-day so that we can truly honor those noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long. Big-time celebrations deserve a big-time venue and there’s no better place to get your celebration on than the British Virgin Islands. Known for perfect sailing conditions, show-stopping beaches and endless secret spots, the British Virgin Islands is just what the doctor ordered now that the world is returning to normal.

Let the wind take you to legendary beach bars at the water’s edge with just the right amount of music and lively atmosphere. Enjoy otherworldly views that show off the natural landscape while visiting seemingly infinite anchorages, harbors and marinas—all of which are prepared to greet you as if you were royalty. Celebrate all of the noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long in one of the most beautiful, sought-after destinations: the BVI.

To look at these islands on a map is to understand why beach lovers, sailors, underwater explorers and privacy seekers love this destination: The Sir Francis Drake Channel separates the main island of Tortola from a string of more than 60 islands—some with resorts and some inhabited only by birds and iguanas. This means more coastline, beaches and secluded coves for relaxing. It also means a massive water playground ideal for all kinds of watersports: sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. There’s so much to do for you and yours to have fun and catch up on any missed celebrations—regardless of who you travel with or what you’re celebrating.

Where to Stay

This mix of islands offers a diversity of accommodations, from secluded to happening, with a focus on everything from wellness to active pursuits. Celebrating a romantic milestone? Rosewood Little Dix Bay on the island of Virgin Gorda offers pampering, yoga and upscale accommodations with outdoor showers, all amid a natural setting that highlights the tropical landscape and bluewater views – the perfect location for a couple looking to get away and just relax.

Looking for a place to bring family together? Oil Nut Bay, reopened since December 2020, caters to families and multigeneration travelers with villas, chefs for hire, a marina and more than 400 acres of wild space. Every resort offers plenty to do to fill any vacation, but one of the highlights of the British Virgin Islands is how easy it is to island hop.

BVI by Boat

In fact, the islands are so close together that many travelers can’t choose just one, instead opting for a charter-boat vacation. Power or sail, bareboat or crewed, a charter-boat vacation is the perfect way to see it all—on your own schedule. Boating gives you the freedom to choose a completely personalized itinerary. Those who simply wish to relax as much as possible during their getaway can book a crewed yacht with a captain and chef.

It’s a great way to celebrate or simply relax and let a captain handle the boat and a chef cater to your party’s tastes—whether that be a full brunch spread in the morning or a barbecue off the stern at sunset. While those who desire a more independent vacation might choose a bareboat charter and move from destination to destination completely at their own pace.

What to Do

For land- and sea-based travelers, one of the don’t-miss scenic attractions is the Baths, a collection of basalt boulders nestled together to create grottoes and tunnels, as well as overlooks ideal for photos.

Jost Van Dyke, off the backside of the main island of Tortola, is beloved as much for its gently sloping white-sand beach as it is for the lineup of open-air bars, including White Bay’s Soggy Dollar Bar and Hendo’s Hideout.

Take a short boat ride around the point into Great Harbour for a chance encounter with Foxy – the namesake of the beloved Foxy’s Beach Bar – or a pizza baked to perfection at Corsairs Beach Bar.

Come for the day to enjoy the famous Painkiller—a mix of coconut, pineapple and orange juices with rum and nutmeg—while lounging beachside. This island is also home to Ocean Spa BVI, the Caribbean’s only floating spa, where you can get a massage right on the ocean.

In between it all are endless hidden spots as well as off-the-beaten-path attractions and tours. The island of Anegada—the farthest island from Tortola—is not one that every BVI traveler visits. Those who do can take part in the unique experience of choosing your own lobster and having it grilled to order.

The Anegada Beach Club delivers island-style glamping with its luxury thatched-roof cottages complete with hammocks and outdoor tubs, allowing guests to commune with nature in the utmost comfort. This outpost isle is also a perfect choice for bonefishing, horseback riding and kitesurfing.

For those in your group who like to reach secret spots on foot, tour operator Hike BVI offers guided walks through the best of the islands’ wild spaces, from bat caves to jungle hilltop overlooks. It’s a fun and active way to make memories that can happen only here.

Those who scuba dive will certainly experience many of the hidden gems this destination is famous for—and perhaps discover a few of their own. The RMS Rhone is often considered the Caribbean’s most famous wreck dive. The steamer sunk in an 1867 hurricane and is now split into two halves off Salt Island. Dive it to encounter green turtles, moray eels and nurse sharks, and, inside the hull, glittering schools of glassfish.

Beyond the Rhone, the BVI offers an ever-growing list of dive sites, including “Sharkplaneo” – you read that right! After the devastating hurricanes in 2017, the group behind the sinking of the famous “Kodiak Queen” art reef took on the task of transforming out-of-commission airplanes into half-airplane/half-shark dive sites. Why, you ask? The hope is that these new dive sites will turn some heads, but also raise awareness of the importance and necessity of sharks in our waters.

There’s so much to discover and fall in love with that the British Virgin Islands quickly feel like a second home. Go and take it all in—from a cocktail on the white-sand beach to the Zen of sailing such calm waters—and you’ll know what locals mean when they say “BVI Love”: that feeling of perfect, blissed-out relaxation. After a year of uncertainty and postponements, we can’t think of a better place to celebrate getting back on track. So, whatever you’re celebrating, add the British Virgin Islands to your must-visit short list.

For those making immediate plans to visit, know that those who are not vaccinated can quarantine comfortably at their resort or aboard their yacht, while vaccinated travelers only need to present proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test taken within 5-days of arrival in the BVI.

For more information on the reopening of the BVI and to start planning your next getaway, visit their website.

The post Now’s the Right Time to Revisit the BVI appeared first on Islands.

Did you know that 28.5 million passengers took a cruise in 2018? According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), that’s nearly a seven percent increase from 2017. While cruising used to be geared more for affluent travelers, they’re increasingly appealing to the masses (from budget-conscious and luxury seekers to families and singles), which might explain the rise in the number of cruisers.

To keep the base price affordable, most cruise line fares include room, board, and basic amenities, such as standard dining and entertainment. But if you’d like to eat at a specialty restaurant, access 24/7 Wi-Fi, or book a massage, be prepared to pay extra.

Unless you’re sailing on one of the more all-inclusive luxury cruise lines (like Paul Gaugin Cruises or Crystal Cruises), you might experience a little sticker shock when you see your final cruise statement. If you’re not a savvy cruiser, this can put a huge dent in your wallet—and quickly deflate that post-vacation buzz.

But if you adopt a few strategies from cruise experts, you can score more on your cruise, keeping in mind that a “good value” isn’t always about saving money.

Use smarter booking strategies

To get the best value, either book far in advance (to snag those early-bird prices) or take advantage of last-minute deals (when cruise lines must fill empty staterooms), according to John and Heather Widmer. The couple, true working nomads, have been travelling around the world together since December 2013, chronicling their adventures on their blog Roaming Around the World. To date, they’ve sailed on 16 cruises together across 10 different cruise lines. Not surprisingly, they know a few tips on squeezing the most value from every cruise.

Beside booking early (or last-minute), John advises looking for repositioning cruises, which are longer, one-way cruises based on seasonal changes in demand. This allows he and his wife to indulge in affordable luxury, as they travel in off-peak times and stop at a variety of ports.

Another option? Consider booking through a travel agent, who often has access to group specials. This essentially allows you to ride on the coattails of a group tour—even if you don’t know anyone in the group—to take advantage of lower rates, notes Laura Glenn, who co-owns Island Dreams World Travel with her husband David. Laura, who has sailed on roughly 50 cruises herself, likens it to buying a block of hotel rooms to lock in a good deal, then sharing that good rate with others.

Finally, think about splitting a cabin with friends or family. “The third and fourth passengers in a room generally pay less than the first or second person,” says Laura. “If you split the total cost of the stateroom four ways, this makes it more affordable for everyone.”

Say no (or yes) to a guaranteed stateroom

In terms of saving cold hard cash, letting the cruise line choose your stateroom is usually a money-saver. “If you don’t care where you’re going to be on a ship, book the least expensive category that you’ll be happy with,” advises Laura.

While you can typically save money by not booking a guaranteed stateroom, Laura advises taking other factors into consideration, too. Sometimes the value isn’t in the money you save, but in the convenience of your location.

For example, if you’re traveling with others and want to be next door to them, you have zero control if you don’t choose the staterooms yourselves. Or, if you’re a bit claustrophobic, you might hate an interior room and want an ocean-view room. Conversely, if you’re prone to seasickness, you might want an interior room on the lower deck, which is less likely to rock. “It depends on ship,” notes Laura. “Megaships have stabilizers, so you don’t even feel like you’re moving.”

And sometimes, you can even get a room upgrade simply by asking the cruise line. Don’t expect it, says Laura, but it can happen.

Take advantage of onboard freebies

Before you get caught up purchasing all the “extras”, don’t lose sight of what’s already included with your cruise fare.

For instance, standard dining is complementary in the ship’s main dining rooms—and the food can be absolutely fabulous. From shrimp scampi and escargot to crème brulee and raspberry cheesecake, you can explore world-class cuisine at every meal. And you can usually order multiple entrees or appetizers at no upcharge, says John.

As for the amenities, events, and entertainment, you can spend the entire day hopping to different activities—for free—and never get bored. Depending on the cruise ship, you can explore pools, water-slides, hot tubs, rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks, fitness centers, basketball courts, arcades, karaoke, concerts, stand-up comedy shows, audience-participation game shows, movies, plays, art shows, liquor tastings, poolside parties, salsa dancing, scavenger hunts, and more.

Consider which extras are worth it

If you crave premium coffee, guzzle soda, or envision tropical drinks in your hand all day, you might want a drink package. But do the math before you plunk down the cash. On Royal Caribbean, for example, the deluxe drink package is $82 per person per day for unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. At roughly $5 a pop for a Starbucks coffee or soda and $8-$12 per beer, wine, or cocktail, drinks can add up quickly without a beverage package. But if you don’t think you’ll get your money’s worth, skip the package and shift those vacation dollars to something splurge-worthy—like a scuba-diving excursion.

Download the cruise line app

Most cruise lines offer a mobile app, putting vacation planning in the palm of your hand to pre-book onboard activities, make dinner reservations, and snag shore excursions. While this can save you money, it also eliminates the headache of planning your trip while you’re actually on your trip. Plus, for limited-seating activities (like excursions and specialty dining), booking early ensures you don’t miss out on key activities.

Cruise line apps help “to ensure that guests can enjoy vacations that are simpler, more efficient, and dramatically more connected,” explains Christina Caballero, Senior Manager of Public Relations at Royal Caribbean International. She notes, for example, that the Royal Caribbean app can help speed up the check-in process. “Guests take a quick selfie, scan their passports, and within minutes have their Set Sail Pass on their phones up to two days prior to departure. Guests who qualify for expedited arrival skip the longer lines and get from car to bar in 10 minutes.”

Plus, you can keep track of onboard expenses for your entire party, including any children with charging privileges. “Having the expense account at your fingertips is a perfect way to track and monitor your budget,” notes Caballero.

Lisa Beach is a seasoned freelance writer. Her work has been published in The New York Times, USA Today Go Escape, Good Housekeeping, Eating Well, and dozens more. Check out her writer’s website at www.LisaBeachWrites.com.

The post How to Get the Most Out of Your Next Cruise appeared first on Islands.