THE YEAR OF THE
Friendcation The pandemic may have kept people apart, but the time is ripe for reconnecting through travel BY JESSICA PADYKULA
TRAVELLIFE.CA SPRING 2022 | 14
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ou may not be able to choose your family members, but you can definitely pick your travelling companions. And after more than two years spent apart from some of our nearest and dearest, it’s no surprise we’re seeing a serious uptick in the “friendcation.” According to data from travel tech firm Amadeus, 2022 will be all about large and small reunion trips with group bookings having increased by 83 per cent since last fall. Destination searches match that sentiment, with Cancun, Hawaii and Las Vegas seeing a spike in searches–all popular group travel destinations. Having taken multiple trips with friends–from road trips to bachelorette parties to monthslong getaways–I can safely say there’s more to a successful “friendcation” than simply packing a bag and hopping on a plane. Choose your travel companions wisely Just because you have a great time with someone meeting up for dinner or drinks, doesn’t automatically mean you’ll make suitable travel buddies. Before you start
