Prior to this pandemic, family vacations were simple. They consisted of a trip to Disneyworld, a week at an all-inclusive resort, or perhaps a booking on a cruise line that every family member was excited about. The only thing many had to worry about was forgetting the passports or a child forgetting their toothbrush or losing their favorite toy somewhere between the airport and the hotel. Now, the days of vacations look completely different - and for those who have taken one during the global lockdown, many things have changed.

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Over the summer, VRBO compiled data that reflected a surprising change when it comes to family vacations and the way they're taken. It now looks like those changes might be here to stay, at least for some time longer, as the world returns back to a state of normalcy. Everything has been reimagined and even the length of vacations, as well as the type of vacation, has been changed to suit safety needs. 'Flexcations' have been overwhelmingly popular and it's anticipated that as we move into a new year, these changes are definitely here to stick around, for a wide variety of reasons.

Giving Up Traditional And Routine Vacations

For many people, the biggest change this past year was to give up the typical or traditional vacation option. Many families have routine vacations that they take every year and this year, many of them didn't happen. Therefore, vacations were pushed to the back burner and weren't taken until much later in the year and for many people, a change in their work lives allowed this. With so many jobs offering work from home options and many people spending less time in the office, going on vacation become much easier without the physical need to be somewhere else.

Additionally, the school calendar was drastically altered for many school-aged children this past year. This meant more kids were at home and taking part in homeschooling or a hybrid program, where it wasn't necessary for them to be present, in-class, for much of the year's lessons. Lesson plans became virtual and available online, which gave parents easy access to the week's goals, classes, and intentions. This, combined with the aspect of working from home, families found ways to go on vacations without actually take vacation time, or by taking much less of it than usual. Vacation rentals as well as highly-accommodating hotels have made it super easy to connect to the internet and bring both work and classwork anywhere. If the trends continue through the next year, it's likely that flexcations will become the norm for many families.

 

Destinations No Longer Look The Same

This was the year that many people remembered that they're surrounded by nature. Rather than booking the typical vacation to a premier destination or a popular theme park, many people - families especially - opted for the lesser-crowded destination. This means that more families opted for vacation activities such as camping, RVing, and glamping, preferring to commune with nature rather than walk around people with a six-foot circumference.

This also meant that vacation rentals were up in popularity and even in popular destinations, such as beach towns, the potential for small crowds didn't stop anyone due to the fact that they rented an entire place. Having the option for something such as a beachfront property that belongs to one family for a week allows them to take in the sights, relax a little, and maintain the necessary distance between other people that have been required during the pandemic.

Experts anticipate that these vacation methods will likely continue into the foreseeable future, for several reasons. For starters, the method of bonding between family members has been completely transformed. With fewer options, families have learned how to enjoy one another's time and simply be thankful for the change of scenery rather than an entire extravagant, luxurious vacation, filled with socializing and constant motion. Secondly, the convenience of being able to take a flexcation and vacation while bringing along work and not missing a beat is something that's now highly valued.

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A balance has been restored to both work, home, and vacation life and for many, being able to work in a new location without feeling the stress of an office environment has truly made an impact. Lastly, with so many new vacation alternatives having been discovered such as renting an RV, discovering the joys of camping, and appreciating the solitude in vacation rentals, these same factors will continue to shape the future of travel as families realize it puts them in control, rather than relying on plane tickets, cruise cabins, and hotel accommodations.

Next: Traveling With Kids: 10 Travel Hacks That Will Get Your Family Through Your Next Vacation