Trip Stacking: A Flexible Approach to Pandemic Travel

You know travel is messy when the U.S. Department of State suggests coming up with a solid backup plan. However, that’s precisely how some travelers are approaching pandemic travel—with a plan B, C, and sometimes even D.

What is Trip Stacking?

This strategy, known as trip stacking, involves booking two or more trips to prevent getting stuck at home when borders shut or new pandemic-related travel restrictions alter plans.

Expert Insights on Trip Stacking

Adam Armstrong, CEO of Contiki Holidays, stated, “There’s never been a better time to book a holiday from a flexibility perspective. You can book a holiday, put a little money down, and see what happens.” He emphasizes that this winter, he is implementing trip stacking himself, explaining, “This weekend I should have been going to Stockholm; however, due to the restrictions in Stockholm, we’re going to London.”

In February, Armstrong plans to ski in France, Austria, or Switzerland, describing his upcoming vacation as “semi-booked,” with refundable flight and hotel reservations. “We’re betting on where we think we will want to go and what will be open at the time,” he added.

Considerations for Trip Stacking

If you are a detail-oriented traveler who values a robust backup plan, you can adopt a similar strategy to hedge your vacation bets. Nonetheless, the peace of mind trip stacking offers can incur costs, particularly for travelers who might overlook critical details in the fine print. It is crucial to ensure that you are not subjected to last-minute cancellation fees.

At Contiki Holidays, travelers may receive a full refund of their trip deposit if they cancel within 45 days of making the booking, regardless of the reason, including a change of mind. However, travelers canceling within 45 days of their planned trip may face cancellation fees that could reach up to 100% of their fare, depending on the timing of the cancellation.

Josh Bush, CEO of Avenue Two Travel, advises anyone looking to try trip stacking without the assistance of a travel agent to meticulously review the terms and conditions relevant to their bookings. “Terms and conditions have gotten more restrictive,” he noted. Therefore, trip stacking becomes burdensome when flexibility is lacking.

Ranking Destinations by Risk

Bush also recommends that travelers rank potential destinations along a risk spectrum. “Think about whether or not a destination is more or less likely to have a knee-jerk reaction and close its borders,” he suggested.

Some destinations have demonstrated how rapidly they can shift their pandemic restrictions, while others have not. Bush highlights Mexico as an example of a trip that is more likely to proceed as planned. He perceives trip stacking as a means to shift travel plans along a calendar rather than being confined to a single option by a specific deadline. “We’ve utilized the trip stacking strategy in the past with the intention of completing both trips, just at different times,” he explained.

Innovative Solutions for Travelers

Meanwhile, travel app Hopper is integrating travel contingency planning into its product suite. It has introduced various services aimed at assisting customers in managing travel disruptions. Notably, it allows travelers to rebook canceled flights instantly on any airline through the Hopper app.

“Travelers want more flexibility,” noted Hopper economist Adit Damodaran. “They are significantly more uncertain about what travel will look like by the time of their trip compared to when they book it.”