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Borders are opening and international holiday bookings with RAA Travel are booming, latest figures show.
Last month RAA Travel recorded a 170 per cent spike in overseas bookings, including airfares, accommodation and cruises, compared to September.
RAA Travel General Manager Gina Norman said many people were taking advantage of borders opening to catch up with families they have been separated from by the pandemic.
“A recent survey of our members also shows where they want to travel next year as borders open up,’’ Ms Norman said.
“The most popular overseas destination was Britain, followed by New Zealand and the USA.’’
Sharon Baxter has been separated from her daughter and grandchildren for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But they will celebrate Christmas together next month thanks to the opening of borders between Australia and the United States.
“My 11-year-old grandson Mason burst into tears when I told him I was coming over’’ Sharon, 59, said.
“I can’t wait to get over there – we are meeting in Los Angeles and I’m taking the kids to Disneyland – I’ll probably cry the whole trip over.’’
Sharon and her husband Robert, who are both double vaccinated for Covid-19, fly out from Australia next month and catch up with the family in California before spending Christmas at their daughter Lisa’s home in Washington DC.
“Lisa is with the RAAF and was posted to Washington in May 2020, and we haven’t been able to visit her or the grandchildren since,’’ Sharon, from Ethelton, said.
“People don’t understand unless they have been in this situation just wat it’s like to be separated from your family.’’
For more travel information visit Holidays (raa.com.au)