Looking Back: Reflecting on Travel in 2020

By Annette Cagle 

Most of us will remember 2020 for the disease and the masks and the lockdowns, the things that happened to us. The next decade will also be a challenge, but BTA is well prepared to keep you up to date on travel rules and changes. 

I’ve been in the travel business for decades, and 2026 will mark Brandywine Travel’s 40th year of business. While nothing could have prepared the world for 2020, we are more than prepared for 2027. Looking forward to the next year, I can tell you the travel scene will be nothing like it was even last January. 2026 has already added several approval requirements to visit many countries. 

bon voyage! 

Looking Forward: 2027 

Next year, those bucket list dreams will still come to fruition. The travel world of ETAs is facing several new realities. Vacationers are increasingly conscious, and airlines and cruise companies are updating their protocols almost daily. 

However, these trends open new opportunities for travel. With new nonstop destinations, tourism-dependent locales have offered people the chance to clear customs from other countries rather than a US gateway. 

These realities are here to stay. 

On the other hand, “conventional” travel options are proliferating. U.S. river cruise lines, like American Cruise Lines, are putting new, state-of-the-art vessels into service on the Mississippi and several other U.S. rivers. 

Domestically, river cruises won’t be the only attraction. The Rocky Mountaineer, a glass-domed luxury train, will be winding its way through Colorado and Utah. Canadians already have their own Rocky Mountaineer, but this will be the first experience for many Americans. These travel experiences do not require passports usually, which makes last minute travel easier. 

A thankful country 

Throughout the years at BTA, one thing has struck me: our country’s beauty. Most of us take for granted the diverse landscapes and scenery the United States of America has to offer—mountains, beaches, deserts, and forests. We have lakeside villas and road trips through the canyonlands. 

Too often, we forget that most other countries don’t have such a spectacular array of scenery. Their citizens need to travel abroad to see a tropical beach or a snow-capped peak. This year, I think many Americans realized how much there was to see in their very own backyards. 

So whether you’re planning that bucket list trip to Australia or you’re content to just travel around the USA, don’t worry. Travel will be better than ever. In the meantime, don’t forget to take a look at your own, big, beautiful backyard.  

Annette Cagle is the president of Brandywine Travel Agency, Inc. She has worked in the travel industry for over four decades and is a Certified Travel Counselor and a South Pacific and Europe Destination Specialist.