Christopher Elliott: Pro Travel Tips to Survive the Summer of 2023

Travel is officially back this summer, and along with it all the high prices and headaches that make it excruciating.

“Travel is chaotic this summer,” says Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface travel insurance company. “And travelers are looking for ways to manage the chaos.”

Fortunately, there are some new expert summer travel survival strategies that can help you get through it.

For example, Battleface has just partnered with AirHelp, an airline passenger claims management company, to create a travel insurance plan that pays you for every flight delay. The new program, AirPayout, sends you $110 if your airline delays you by three hours or more, cancels your flight within a week of departure, or diverts your flight. That’s in addition to any compensation your airline offers.

“Call it what you want: the post-Covid travel surge, revenge travel, or the new normal, but it seems like everyone is traveling right now,” says Christina Tunnah, World Nomads general manager of marketing and brands.

Travel insurance companies may be on to something. But this summer’s biggest pain points—crowds, delays, and high prices—will require more than a good policy. I have some pro tips on handling these issues. And in a moment, I’ll give you some advice that no other travel columnist dares to suggest.

How to Manage Summer Crowds

When everyone wants to go to Ocean City, Galveston, or Catalina at the same time, crowds are inevitable.

You can avoid the crowds of visitors by choosing an opposite destination. Consider a place on Florida’s northwestern Gulf Coast, like Destin, Fort Walton Beach or Panama City, which saw record visitor numbers during the pandemic. It has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with white sand and turquoise water. But it’s also just a short drive from big cities like Nashville and Atlanta. When the pandemic ended, people wanted to go further afield and the crowds thinned out.

David Demarest, a spokesman for The St. Joe Company, a land development company in Panama City Beach, Florida, says that driving vacations are a great opportunity to avoid the crowds and save money.

“With the growing uncertainties and expenses associated with air travel this year, perhaps travelers should refocus on driveable destinations,” he told me.

My favorite expert strategy for avoiding crowds is smart timing. Even on the busiest days during peak season, you can find moments of serenity early in the morning. Try to visit the hotel’s breakfast buffet at 6:30 am and you’ll find a cheerful staff eager to help you. At 10 in the morning, not so much.

And that crowded beach is practically abandoned at dawn, which is also one of the best times for a long walk.

Bottom line: This summer is not the time to save money on travel unless you can get creative. Consider a less expensive destination.

My unconventional advice: delay that trip!

I told you I had unusual advice for you, and here it is: if you want to survive summer travel, don’t go now. Everyone else is trying to hit the beach, visit a national park, or tour a popular museum. Your best travel strategy is avoidance.

I know that I know. A travel columnist telling you not to travel. But honestly, he had never seen it like this. If you can push your trip back until early September, you’ll avoid crowds, high prices and what Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection calls “Airmageddon.”

You can thank me later.