Travel Pods: An Innovative Pandemic Vacation Trend

The pandemic has left many of us isolated, bored and craving a change of scenery.  The disappointment of canceling summer vacations and postponing celebrations has sparked a desire for adventure and quality time with loved ones. But how can you do so safely? Consider joining a “travel pod!”

Travel pods, also called vacation pods, represent a new, innovative way to travel that emphasizes health and safety.  A pod consists of a small group of people who decide to travel together following agreed-upon quarantine guidelines.  The group may decide on certain protocols before the trip, like self-quarantining or getting tested for Covid.  Then after communicating each person’s comfort level, the group will determine how much interaction they would like and whether they intend to wear masks or maintain a distance during the trip.

Often, the travel pod will rent a private home, villa or cabin.  This limits exposure to other travelers and gives the group the option to have groceries delivered and eat meals in the home.  Similarly, a group may opt to charter a yacht or rent out a bed-and-breakfast. 

With contact-less check ins and strict cleanliness protocols, hotels and resorts also are an option for travel pods.  Large suites or resort villas offer more space to spread out and may even include full kitchens.  Some resorts are creating special accommodations for travel pods, like their own private floor, a dedicated table at the restaurant and reserved chairs on the beach.

Private tours are a great way for small groups to participate in activities while minimizing  risk.  Hire a local chef to conduct a cooking class or schedule a customized wine tasting at a winery.  Restaurants can offer a private room or outdoor terrace and local guides can create walking tours just for the pod.  Many tour companies are now offering small group options as well.  You can still enjoy a fabulous experience while keeping peace of mind!

Travel pods are popular with all types of groups: couples, friends, families with school-aged kids and multi-generational families.  Solo travelers can be paired up with others or can join an existing pod. The key is to find like-minded people and to define the plan ahead of time.  What activities will you participate in?  How will meals be handled?  Will expenses be divided equally?  What if someone needs to cancel?  Communicating upfront avoids disappointment and disagreements and helps ensure an enjoyable, relaxing trip.

This summer, we traveled with a pod of three families with kids.  We rented a big house, swam in the pool and cooked all our meals at the house.  Everyone chipped in on costs, cooking and cleaning (and doing dishes together was actually fun!).  It was one of the best trips we’ve had and a much needed respite from the stresses of life.

Travel pods have emerged as an innovative way to travel with safety in mind. Enjoying private experiences and sharing costs are great benefits to travel pods. Most importantly, these groups help you reconnect with friends and family while creating lasting memories.

Not sure where to start? Call a travel advisor! DIY vacation planning was already on the way out, but the pandemic has increased the need for travel advisors exponentially.  Professional advisors know the companies with strong health and safety protocols.  We also work with management companies for rental homes and villas as opposed to individual owners; these properties are vetted by a third party according to specific guidelines, giving travelers higher confidence as well as flexible cancellation terms.

If you need some help finding a villa, hotel or private tour for your pod, or if you are looking to pair up with other like-minded travelers, send me a note - I’d be happy to help!  We have small group pods traveling to wine country this fall and next spring/summer.  We would love for you to join us! Click here for more info. Cheers!