Earlier in April, Original Travel conducted a survey of its client database. The results of this, combined with closely monitoring its incoming enquiries and its extensive experience of the travel industry, has enabled the luxury tour operator to predict what bookings it should first expect when lockdown ends. 

The Great Outdoors 

When asked what type of trip they would book for that all-important first holiday post-lockdown, 48% of Original Travel clients said they planned to visit somewhere outdoorsy to enjoy some wide-open spaces. A further 27% opted for somewhere Zen and low-key, having gotten used to a slower pace of life, whilst only 15% selected somewhere busy and buzzy to be around people again. Original Travel has long championed off-the-beaten-track destinations to encourage the concept of Undertourism, so this appetite for more space and fewer crowds very much plays to its strengths. You can read why and how to avoid the crowds here: https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/blog/getting-off-the-beaten-track 

Sample Itinerary: Original Travel's (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) aptly-named Call of the Wild Yukon itinerary is 12 glorious days of hiking, kayaking and exploring this vast and untouched Canadian wilderness. Prices from £2,845pp, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. 

Romantic Breaks 

Most respondents to the survey (59%) said their first trip away would be with just their partner. In addition, 80% of Original Travel's current enquiries are from couples who have had to cancel their weddings this year and want to make up for it with a bigger and better honeymoon in 2021. Add to this the widely-predicted trend that we will see a baby boom in nine months' time and that lots of couples will be hoping for a last-minute babymoon, and it's safe to say that there will be a big uptick in romantic getaways next year. You can read more about best places for babymoons here: https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/blog/baby-destinations-for-every-season 

Sample Itinerary: Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) has a five-day tour of Porto and The Douro Valley. You'll spend two nights at The Yeatman Hotel which offers vinotherapie treatments and two nights at the Six Senses Douro Valley, home to another fantastic spa. You'll enjoy private guided tours and tastings of port and wine and a romantic cruise along the Douro river on a 1950s motoryacht. Prices from £2,070 per person based on two sharing and including all flights, transfers and accommodation. 

3G (Three Generational) Travel 

According to Original Travel's survey, the purpose of that first trip away is overwhelmingly (85%) to simply enjoy being able to travel again. However, 12% will be travelling for a special occasion to make up for a missed celebration, such as a birthday or anniversary. This suggests big family get-togethers, which will also serve as a chance for relatives to spend quality time together after weeks of being kept apart. Multi-generational trips have been popular for some time, but the focus has been on grandparents spending time with grandchildren to give parents a much-needed break. Original Travel predicts that the focus of these trips will now shift towards shared experiences that will strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. You can read more about 3G travel here: https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/blog/three-generational-holidays 

Sample Itinerary: Original Travel's 15-day Kenya Family Adventure fits the bill perfectly. It includes wildlife safaris on game reserves where families can stay in a private-hire lodge and time spent on the coast in a fully-staffed secluded villa. It also includes two nights at the iconic Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, which will be new to everyone and an utterly unique experience. Prices from £6,350 per person with Original Travel (020  3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) based on two sharing and including all flights, transfers and accommodation. 

Short-haul Sojourns 

The industry seems to widely agree that short-haul destinations will be the first to make a comeback, until travellers' confidence has been restored enough to venture further afield. Unlike many of its competitors, Original Travel books a lot of trips to our near neighbour of France, a country it knows inside and out and where it has a network of well-connected contacts who can organise extraordinary exclusive access experiences (after-hours tour of The Louvre, anyone?). Even better, Original Travel recently launched a new collection of rail-only itineraries, each departing from London and travelling throughout France, as well as Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria and even Romania. These were introduced to appeal to those wanting to travel cleanly and greenly, but we suspect they will have an even wider appeal now, attracting those wanting to avoid airports and packed planes for a short hop away. 

Sample itinerary: Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) has a seven-night 'gastrainomy' tour which combines several of the finest culinary destinations in Europe into one 'gastrainomy' round trip. From London, take the train to Bordeaux for wine tastings, then on to Madrid, Seville (to sample tapas in the city that invented and perfected the concept), Barcelona for pica-pica, the Catalan equivalent of tapas, Lyon, the culinary capital of France ans Paris in time for one last classic bistro lunch before the Eurostar back to London. Prices from £3,655 per person based on two sharing and including all train tickets, six nights' accommodation and guided tours throughout. 

-Ends-  

For more information contact Rebecca Lowe:   

press@originaltravel.co.uk  

020 3582 4990  

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Notes to Editors:  

Over 180 respondents completed the survey. 

Original Travel curates customised itineraries, crafted by destination experts to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit and is staffed by a team that includes 1 dive instructor, 5 dive masters and a marine biologist. Having completed more than 3,000 dives in over 50 countries, equating to over 100 years' collective diving experience, the team pride themselves on their unparalleled expertise and knowledge of the best dive destinations across the globe.  

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they wouldn't find with any other UK tour operator, including:  

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting  
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long-weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. A great way to start the holiday sooner  
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel offset the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and other flights (even if booked independently)  
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £800,000 has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples