Bargain for the summer vacation?

Expert has tips for travelers

Created: 05/25/2022, 08:06

By: Dominik Göttler, Wolfgang Hauskrecht

For many, summer vacation is just around the corner.

© picture alliance/dpa/Paulo Mumia

The desire to travel is almost as great as it was in the record year 2019. Anyone who has not yet booked their summer vacation should hurry.

But bargains are still possible.

Munich – In Margit Thalmayr's travel agency, the phones are ringing non-stop these days.

"We have endless demand," says the 49-year-old from the Weltenbummler travel agency in Türkenfeld in the Fürstenfeldbruck district.

Thalmayr has been in business for 27 years.

But this year, she says, the mood is different than usual. Her customers' anticipation is greater than ever.

After more than two years of pandemic, the Germans are sitting on packed suitcases.

"The desire to travel is extreme," agrees Miriam Hördegen, travel expert at ADAC Südbayern.

While beaches and hotel pools were partially deserted during the pandemic years due to travel restrictions, bookings over the past three months have consistently exceeded the level of the record year 2019. Torsten Schäfer, spokesman for the German Travel Association (DRV), hopes that the overall booking level of 2019 is reached.

"The race to catch up is on."

Urlaun: The southern countries are still popular

Especially the south attracts the Germans.

Spain, Greece, Turkey and Egypt are particularly popular this year, says Miriam Hördegen from ADAC.

"Especially in Turkey, there are apparently no Russian guests, so a lot of capacity became free."

A large part of the campsites in the southern countries are already largely booked, says Hördegen.

Long-distance travel is also coming back, emphasizes DRV spokesman Schäfer.

The holiday destinations in the Dominican Republic or the Maldives were already in demand at Easter and still are.

Domestically, demand on the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts is high.

The bookings show: the sea lures – no matter where.

Corona pandemic: Some uncertainty remains

But a bit of uncertainty still resonates with customers.

Margit Thalmayr also noticed this in her travel agency.

"The first questions in our consultation are still about corona-related restrictions." Where do which rules apply?

Do I need a test or is my vaccination certificate sufficient?

And what happens if an infection intervenes at short notice?

Because every country goes its own way (see info box), it's not that easy to keep track of things.

People prefer to play it safe.

“Many call three or four times and ask whether the rules have changed,” says Thalmayr.

In addition, flexible tariffs with cancellation options are in demand like never before.

“And almost everyone takes out insurance for their trip.

Holiday offers vary extremely

But these uncertainties are just as little slowing down the Germans' desire to travel as the political crises in Europe or inflation.

"The Germans spend significantly more money because they haven't been away for the last few years," says DRV spokesman Schäfer.

And sometimes they have to.

Overall, according to the DRV, the price situation is largely stable without any major fluctuations.

But both Miriam Hördegen and Margit Thalmayr observe that prices in the high season have risen sharply in some cases - albeit very dependent on the travel destination.

“Above all, the fluctuations have become extreme.

An offer from an organizer can cost 200 to 300 euros more the next day,” says Thalmayr.

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This is also due to the flights, which are sometimes significantly more expensive than before the pandemic due to the high kerosene prices.

The airlines have usually already stocked up on kerosene.

But with the fuel that is now being bought, the price of crude oil is taking its toll.

A Lufthansa spokesman confirms that further price adjustments are likely this year.

Like the travel experts, he also recommends booking early.

The price increase for rental cars is even clearer – but this is not only due to the price of petrol.

The Corona rules for traveling abroad

Even if most of the Corona rules are lifted in everyday life, there are still some restrictions for travelers due to the pandemic.

In some popular holiday countries like

,

or

a corona test for unvaccinated people is still mandatory when entering the country.

Electronic registration is still required in some holiday destinations.

Other countries like

or

have lifted all entry restrictions.

The digital EU vaccination certificate is recognized throughout Europe.

The certificate is valid indefinitely for everyone who has received a booster vaccination.

For everyone who has only received the basic immunization, the validity expires after 270 days.

Depending on the entry regulations of the holiday destination, tests may then be necessary again.

Even when

, either proof of vaccination or recovery or a negative test is still required.

Before you go on vacation, we recommend taking a look at the website of the Federal Foreign Office, where all the information about the corona rules of the respective countries is broken down.

Holidays: Package tours can even become more expensive afterwards

It could be difficult for bargain hunters this year.

But there are some ways to not let the hole in your wallet get too big.

DRV spokesman Schäfer advises, for example, a package tour.

The organizers had already bought their contingents of hotels and flights last year, which is why there is “much better price protection” for package tours than if you book the modules yourself.

However, if demand is high, these quotas could soon be exhausted and package tours could become more expensive because tour operators would have to buy more at current prices.

Under certain circumstances, even package tours that have already been booked can subsequently become more expensive - even if this has rarely happened so far.

However, increases are only possible

if the organizer clearly reserves the right to do so in the terms and conditions and informs the customer at least 20 days before departure with justification.

As a house number, an increase of more than eight percent is not permitted.

Holiday bargains: hinterland and flexibility is required

Miriam Hördegen advises when looking for accommodation - regardless of whether it's a hotel, holiday apartment or campsite - not just look at the first row on the beach.

"In Croatia, for example, there are still one or two jewels in the hinterland where there are still places available." Last-minute bargains are also occasionally possible: But only if you are very flexible in terms of time and travel destination.

Margit Thalmayr has identified a division in which the demand is not as noticeable as elsewhere: cruises.

The industry suffered the most from the pandemic.

There are still places available for the summer.

"My feeling is: You could make a snapper there."