Get ready: 12 surprising yet important ways travel has transformed

As vaccinations continue to expand, an increasing number of people are taking to the roads. With international travel still quite challenging, many have chosen to embark on domestic journeys. This includes many of us at Dinogo. However, for those of us who have traveled, it’s been astonishing to see how swiftly crowds have returned to airports, flights, hotels, attractions, and restaurants. And let’s not even start on the rental car situation.

A lot has changed in the travel landscape. We’ve got you covered.

Keep reading to discover a few things that might surprise you when you start traveling again.

Watch out for service reductions

"Don’t expect daily housekeeping (unless you specifically ask for it or are staying at a top-tier luxury hotel). If you want it every day, research which hotels provide this service ahead of time. Additionally, room service has been significantly reduced or is unavailable in many places. Remember, ordering local Seamless, Doordash or Uber Eats is often cheaper and better anyway.

In Kenya, entry to the airport requires a printed COVID-19 test result; you cannot approach the check-in area, security, gate, etc., without it. So, make sure to print everything you can." - Brian Kelly, TPG founder/CEO

Always print your documents

"Print all your documents, especially COVID-19 test results and vaccination details. Different airlines have varying requirements, so it's important to check in advance. For instance, American Airlines flying from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Jamaica only accepted printed boarding passes; electronic versions were not permitted. The same went for Silver Airways from Fort Lauderdale to North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) in the Bahamas, where they required the Bahamas Travel Health Visa to be shown." - Nathan Richardson, executive VP

Prepare in advance

"You need to plan everything ahead of time. Reservations are essential for vineyards, hotels, dining, amusement parks, and more. While spontaneity has always been a joy of travel, that last-minute approach doesn't work in the COVID-19 era. Spend some time preparing your trip, allow for spontaneous adventures, but ensure you have confirmed plans to avoid missing out on experiences." - Scott Mayerowitz, executive editor

Anticipate schedule changes

"After traveling some in the last year, I expected to encounter packed planes, soaring prices in popular vacation spots (looking at you, Florida), and occasional reductions in services and amenities. However, what has recently caught me off guard for some upcoming trips is how limited -- and variable -- flight schedules still are, particularly beyond those sought-after leisure destinations.

In my previous routine flights between Houston and NYC, I could occasionally score a wide-bodied aircraft designed for international travel if my timing was just right. At the very least, I’d get a 737. Now, however, many of the available flights on the reduced schedule are regional jets, which isn’t my preferred choice for a -hour journey between two major cities.

In a somewhat different scenario, my nonstop summer trips to explore national parks have been switched to connecting flights as airlines continue to adjust their schedules. I wouldn’t have paid the price I did for a nonstop ticket had I known it would end up being a connecting flight. But by the time those schedule changes occur closer to travel, the previously affordable options also inflate in price, leaving you with a premium fare for your ideal itinerary but ending up with something completely different." - Summer Hull, editorial director

Prepare for crowded security lines

"BWI (Baltimore-Washington International) has three primary TSA security checkpoints, but one is currently closed. During my travels last week, the other two were quite busy — luckily, my Clear membership kept me moving quickly." - Benet Wilson, senior credit cards editor

Additionally, many airports, including BWI, have closed certain parking lots and reduced their rates. For instance, the daily rate for the hourly lot adjacent to the terminal dropped from $22 to $12. However, with the reopening of one long-term parking lot, the price for the hourly lot has now increased to $16 per hour." - Benet Wilson, senior credit cards editor

Be prepared for lounge chairs to be scarce

"At the hotel in Maui where we spent a week in early April, guests had to line up before 6 am to secure a set of lounge chairs by the pool. Arriving by 7 am might mean missing out entirely, especially on chairs with umbrellas for shade. This wasn't just an issue at our hotel; all accommodations were fully booked, and despite restrictions on amenities, travelers are eager to get back out there." - Juan Ruiz, editor

Rental cars are scarce

"I'm rarely surprised by anything, including crowds or full flights, even amid the pandemic. However, I was taken aback by the challenge of securing a rental car during a recent visit to Norfolk, Virginia. It felt like nearly every passenger arriving at ORF (Norfolk International Airport) that day was also seeking a vehicle. I found myself in line with many other frustrated travelers for over an hour — and even bumped into an old high school friend who was in the same predicament. I was fortunate enough to get an SUV instead of the Mustang I originally wanted, but I noticed that the agent didn't even attempt to upsell me on typical extras like insurance, GPS, or a toll pass. They simply handed me the keys and pointed me to the car. I believe this reflects the car rental shortage more than anything else." - Victoria Walker, senior writer

Mask mandates are chaotic

"As a New Yorker who initially stayed in a lot, I was taken aback by the varying attitudes towards mask-wearing. In some restaurants, servers don’t wear masks at all, while in other places, people are generally good about masking up but often pull them down to chat, as if it’s impossible to communicate with a mask on. It seems like local customs have emerged, but I find them more annoying than charming — we know masks help reduce transmission, so please keep them on as much as possible." - Zach Honig, editor at large

The price of renting a car is soaring

"Rental cars are quickly becoming one of the biggest frustrations for travelers. Before you finalize flights and hotel bookings — particularly to a sought-after destination — check the car rental prices. You don’t want to commit to other plans only to discover you’ll have to pay exorbitant rental fees. Additionally, enroll in every available credit card loyalty program. This can help you bypass the line at the airport and ensure a vehicle is waiting for you upon arrival. Earlier this month at Denver International Airport, I saved at least 90 minutes at Budget by using Fastbreak and getting dropped off there instead of going to the main counter — and I was the only one who got off the shuttle at that location." - Nick Ewen, senior editor

Airplanes and hotels are packed

"I've been astonished by how much the travel landscape has changed in just a few weeks. Back in Kauai in January, planes, airports, and hotels were nearly deserted. However, when I returned to Hawaii last month, I assumed that the extensive requirements for travelers would mean it would still be relatively quiet. I couldn’t have been more mistaken."

"It was as if a travel light switch had been turned on. My flights to Kona were fully booked. Seattle's airport was bustling with people, and Hawaii was once again teeming with tourists. In fact, the wait to check in at my hotel in Honolulu was over 45 minutes, even at the priority line. My return flights were similarly packed. It definitely feels like travelers are making up for lost time by booking trips again, at least within the country." - Clint Henderson, senior news editor

Rental car queues are lengthy

"Each time I've landed in Houston, Orlando, and Miami in recent months, the one consistent sight has been long rental car lines for every company, winding through the respective ground transportation areas. Without a rental car status that allows me to skip the queue, I would need to rearrange my schedule by several hours. Not entirely surprising given the rental car prices I've seen before each trip. $500 for a compact car over a weekend in Houston? Travel is definitely back." - Richard Kerr, director of travel partnerships

The era of spontaneous trips is over

"Prior to the pandemic, I thrived on last-minute, spontaneous getaways. However, those days of booking a flight or hotel at the last moment seem to be behind us, at least for now. I've scheduled several trips to the Catskills region of New York this year and found hotels and inns with very limited availability and high rates, even though some on-site amenities are still off-limits.

As my colleagues have noted, there is a significant demand for certain destinations and travel experiences. If you're planning a road trip or a long weekend in the mountains, you certainly won't be the only one. Therefore, you'll need to plan well in advance to secure accommodations and a rental car. This is without mentioning trips that require a negative COVID-19 test result or quarantine prior to arrival. Perhaps one day I'll manage to book a flight for that very evening, grab my bag, and go — but for now, I'm adapting to the need for advance planning." - Melanie Lieberman, senior travel editor

Image courtesy of Clint Henderson/Dinogo.