After a two year pause, travel is back! In 2022, more and more travel restrictions are being lifted in Europe and further abroad. This means people are pressing play on travel once again! 

There are a number of important questions to ask and answer when booking a trip and preparing to travel in 2022. To help you prepare, Expat Explore has put together a list of important information to know for your trip. We have included frequently asked questions from our traveller community as well as important information from the travel industry. Take a look below to find out what you need to travel with confidence in 2022. 

Travel with confidence: Travel Planning 2022

• Is travel possible in 2022? 

We are excited to share that yes, travel is possible! At Expat Explore, our goal is to make travel possible for everyone. We have been pressing play on travel since mid-2021 and are excited to have more and more tours embarking each week as 2022 progresses.

We resumed our Europe tours in August 2021 with trips to Ireland and Greece. We’ve had a busy spring with several multi-country Europe tours on the road and are set for a full summer portfolio of tours! Our United Kingdom tours have been operating since September 2021, and even featured a festive season tour! 

Related: Read about one of Expat Explore’s biggest supporters’ first post-Covid lockdown trip to Ireland. 

Looking to the Middle East and Africa, our Egypt and Turkey tours resumed in May 2021 and have been running without incident for a full year now.

Our South Africa tours are kicking off again this month. We’re so excited to be back on the road in this beautiful region of the world, that Expat Explore co-founder Jakes Maritz joined the first South Africa Escape tour to operate in over two years. 

On top of all of this, our first South American tour of the year set off in April 2022 and our North America tours will resume in June.

Let’s not forget Asia! Expat Explore’s highly-anticipated first tour of Japan is scheduled for September while our Vietnam and Cambodia tours are set to take place in October. 

Phew! It’s all happening with Expat Explore when you travel in 2022! 

• Is 2022 a good year for travel?

While this return to travel is welcome, it is understandable that some people may have additional questions or may even feel unsure about travel in 2022. However, travel is possible! And 2022 is definitely a good year for travel. 

Vaccination rates hit much-needed highs around the globe and travel restrictions have fully-eased in most destinations around Europe and in most other destinations. Life feels like it is back to normal! Countries are excited to welcome tourists again. This is due to the hugely negative impact of Covid-19 on travel and hospitality. By visiting different destinations, you will help to stimulate the economy and travel industry. Whether it’s domestic or international travel, the knock-on effect has a positive impact! Additionally, several destinations and companies are offering promotions that make 2022 travel incredibly affordable! More on this below.

As long as you are prepared, you can travel safely and affordably in 2022. Better yet, you can travel with confidence with Expat Explore thanks to our flexible booking features.

• How has Covid-19 affected travel?

Covid-19 has undoubtedly had a huge impact on travel over the past two years. Some people may be wondering “is it safe to travel?” 

To put it simply, yes. You just need to make sure you are prepared and informed. While there have been many changes to travel rules and restrictions with regards to Covid-19, travel restrictions across Europe have been lifted. This is great news for those of us with wanderlust! 

The main things to remember about Covid-19 and travel in 2022 are testing and staying safe while travelling.

• Testing for Covid-19 on Expat Explore tours:

Travellers on Expat Explore tours need to provide a negative Covid-19 test before embarking on tour regardless of their vaccination status. This can be a PCR, Rapid Antigen or at-home Rapid Antigen test. Find out more information on testing requirements and how to travel safe here. 

Our priority is keeping our travellers and staff safe. By testing timeously, you help us do this. Better yet, it gives your fellow passengers peace of mind.

• Health and safety on Expat Explore Tours:

We ask our travellers to self-monitor for symptoms before departure and while on the tour. Additionally, while enjoying your tour, we will ask our travellers to wear face masks on the coach and on public transportation only in countries where it is legally required. Travellers will not need to wear masks on our coaches where the law does not require it. Most countries across Europe have removed their face mask mandates and the remaining are expected to follow in the next few weeks. We also encourage frequent hand sanitising and social distancing where possible.

Travel tip: Keep up to date with the latest travel and Covid-19 regulations for your home country when you travel in 2022 using websites like Sherpa. Airline websites also usually have useful information included in the booking process.

• How safe is it to visit Europe right now?

Our travellers and staff’s health, safety and wellbeing is our top priority on tour. As such, Expat Explore stays up to date with travel advisories in Europe and further abroad. 

Currently, there is war in Ukraine and we are constantly monitoring the situation. When it first escalated, our team immediately adjusted a small number of itineraries that included visits to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and which were impacted by the invasion of Ukraine. These changes have been communicated with our affected travellers and are reflected on our website. The rest of our tours remain unaffected.

It is helpful to note that Europe is a vast continent made up of dozens of countries. Our tours take place hundreds to thousands of kilometres away from the centre of the conflict. Expat Explore’s current tours operate at a far enough distance from the tragic situation in Ukraine that it allows our team to safely welcome you on board. 

Our team continues to monitor the situation and will adjust itineraries as required. Keep an eye on our travel advisories page for more info. 

• What is the best way to plan a trip and travel in 2022?

The best way to plan a trip in 2022 is to go through a reputable travel company or travel agent. By doing this, you take most of the hassle out of travel planning. This gives you peace of mind and allows you to focus on the most important thing – enjoying your trip! 

Group travel companies such as Expat Explore take care of the details for you. Our group tour packages include accommodation, transport, most meals and many bucket list-worthy activities. With all of these important travel details sorted, all you need to do is confirm flights, visas and travel insurance. Experienced travel companies are able to provide you with guidance for these travel plans. 

Additionally, it is good to note that rules and regulations do change – sometimes, at short notice. Therefore, it is important to stay updated and informed. Experienced travel companies will keep up to date with the latest travel info and inform their travellers as needed. 

• Is 2022 an affordable time to travel?

Yes! As mentioned above, the Covid-19 pandemic widely paused travel for nearly two years which heavily impacted the tourism industry. With things getting back on track, destinations, accommodation and local companies are keen to attract travellers. As such, you’ll find many exciting travel deals making this a great time to score affordable trips! It is also a good time to take advantage of current exchange rates while travelling in 2022. For example, an average cup of coffee costs $3 in the USA but €1 in Spain. This means that you could even save money while travelling!

Even if you are not able to embark on a trip in 2022, we highly recommend booking a tour this year. As inflation inevitably rises, so too will travel costs. However, when you book an Expat Explore tour for 2023 or 2024, all you need is a 10% deposit to lock in the tour cost. That means that when tour prices rise next year due to inflation, you will not incur any additional cost and will only need to pay the full 2022 price 45 days before the tour departure! With uncertainty surrounding exchange rates, now is the best time to secure your prices.

Related: Expat Explore has released brand new 2023 and 2024 dates. Book now to press play on real travel and enjoy these unbeatable prices!

• Anymore important travel tips?

The smartest thing to do when travelling in 2022 (and beyond) is to invest in comprehensive travel insurance. The best plan will provide cover against a range of eventualities; from missed connections and lost luggage to covid-related incidents to serious accidents. Find out more about travel insurance with this useful guide.

Did you know? Expat Explore requires all of our travellers to have travel insurance. This gives us (and you!) peace of mind while you’re on the road. 

Finally, our last tip is to keep up to date with the latest travel regulations before you jet off on your 2022 adventure. This is a repeat of our travel tip from above – but that is how important it is! With a bit of preparation, assistance from an experienced travel company and a positive attitude, you’re all set to travel in 2022! 

Related: Want to find out more about your favourite destinations? Watch our Travel Talk Webinars hosted by Expat Explore’s expert tour leaders now! 

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Now that you are equipped with this useful information, keep these handy travel tips in mind and you should be ready to travel with confidence in 2022! Take a look at our upcoming tours for travel inspiration and get ready to press play on travel – the world is waiting for you!